NOTAM 9-2011 (Lewis)

Dear Golden Eagles,

I am saddened to report to you that Colonel Robert W. Lewis, USMC (Ret.) made his last take-off on Monday, August 15, 2011 in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri. Barbara, his loving wife of 55 years; son David and his wife Rhonda of Milwaukee, WI; son John of Wellsboro, PA; daughter Sherri and husband Craig Bevan of Twenty-Nine Palms, CA; and four grandchildren survive him. Services will be held with full military honors at 11 AM, Saturday, August 20, 2011 at the Dardenne Presbyterian Church, Highway N, O’Fallon, MO. Burial will be Monday, August 22 in a private ceremony at the family plot in the Resurrection Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK.

Col Lewis joined the Marine Corps in 1950, was assigned to flight training in ’51, and earned his wings in August ’52.  He joined VMF-122 and deployed to the Mediterranean aboard USS Coral Sea (CV-43) with Air Group EIGHT, flying F9F-5’s. In ’54 he was assigned to VMF-223 in Japan and, after returning to the states in ’55, joined the Third Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) at MCAS El Toro, CA. Bob flew FJ-3’s and the F-8 with VMF-235 at MCAS Beaufort, SC from ’58-‘61, and was a member of the Marine Corps East Coast Weapons team which competed in the first Navy/Marine “Top Gun” Weapons Meet at Yuma, AZ in ’59.

After a tour ashore, Bob joined Second MAW at MCAS Cherry Point, NC and served as Executive Officer of Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron-2 (VCMJ-2) from ’64-’66. He was responsible for the fleet introduction of the EA-6A, and flew electronic intelligence missions on the Cuban periphery.  In ’67-‘68 Col Lewis commanded VCMJ-1 in Vietnam. He flew 175 combat missions and helped develop ECM escort tactics in direct support of deep bombing missions in North Vietnam. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, and 13 Air Medals for his heroic actions.

Bob served significant tours as the Airborne ECM and Reconnaissance System Program Manager at Headquarters Marine Corps, and as the senior marine with the North American Air Defense Command at Colorado Springs, CO. He was Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group-12 at Iwakuni, Japan in ’74-’75. During this tour he directed the first overseas deployment of the AV-8A Harrier, and VMA-513 operated the year without an aircraft accident or serious incident.

Col Lewis attended Army War College and was Plans and Operations Director on the staff of Commander Naval Strike Forces Southern Europe. He reported as Chief of Staff, 4th MAW at New Orleans, LA in ’79, and retired in 1980.

Col Snake Lewis was an outstanding aviator and leader who led by example. He excelled in every challenging assignment, and played an important role in the introduction and deployment of vertical lift aircraft in the Marine Corps.

Bob was a proud Golden Eagle, a popular shipmate, an aggressive warrior, and loyal friend. He will be missed.

Sadly,

 

Bill Gureck, Pilot