Lt. Col Harold Eugene Wear

August 24, 1923 - March 12, 2016

Harold E. Wear, born August 24, 1923, in Colton, CA to Oscar Granville Wear and Florence Alice Branch Wear. Has was raised in Colton, CA and graduated from Colton High School in June 1941. After graduation, he worked at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego. One of the planes Consolidated Aircraft was working on was the B-24 aircraft. The B-24 would become Hal’s ‘home in the air’ in 1944. In December 1941 Hal terminated his employment with Consolidated Aircraft and enlisted in the Army Air Corps, trained at Shepherd Air Force Base, TX, then to an assignment at Ponce Air Base in Puerto Rico, then on to a brief assignment in Antigua, BWI. He then went onto Aviation Cadets and was commissioned October 13, 1943 as a bombardier. By January 1944, Hal was in Crew training at Peterson Field, Colorado (now known at the Air Force Academy). It was there in Colorado Springs that he married Helen Maxine Hanson on February 8, 1944. Following Crew training he was assigned to the 392nd B.G. in England, completing 30 missions by October 1944. His 5th mission was on ‘D Day’. Has was awarded: Air Medal w/Clusters and Distinguished Flying Cross. Hal Separated from the Air Force as a Captain in January 1945 and retained reserve status, eventually attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with over 40 years completed. Returning to civilian life, Hal was employed by Shell Oil Company and then with Southern California Edison Company for 36 years as a System Control Operator. Hal enjoyed recounting the history of WWII and he often told his story to the listening sons, grandsons, family and friends. He was an avid reader of that time in history. Organizations: Elks Lodge #386, Golf Chairman. Membership in several Air Force Organizations. He was preceded in death by his grandson James David Price He is survived by Helen, his wife of 72 years; his daughter Pam and sons Dennis and David (Lynn). He has numerous grandchildren, nephews and nieces.