Captain Gary L. Herod was a Texas Air National Guard

Texas Air National Guard

The Texas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Texas and a component of the Texas Military Forces...

 pilot who was killed when his T-33

T-33

T-33 may refer to:*T-33 Shooting Star a U.S. jet trainer*T-33 Light Amphibious Tank a Soviet light tankSimilar designations:*Alfa Romeo Tipo 33*London Buses route T33*Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T33...

 jet trainer crashed on the night of March 15, 1961.

Shortly after takeoff from Ellington Field

Ellington Field

Ellington International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in the U.S. state of Texas within the city of Houston— southeast of Downtown. Established by the Army Air Service on 21 May 1917, Ellington Field was one of the initial World War I Army Air Service installations when...

 southeast of Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

, Herod experienced engine failure. Although he could have ejected safely, he remained with the plane to ensure that it did not crash into the suburban homes of Houston neighborhoods. Herod initially turned his plane around in an effort to return to Ellington Field or another airport. He radioed air traffic control that he was going to bail out. When controllers asked for confirmation he replied “not yet”. These were his last words. Herod stayed with his plane until it crashed into what was then a vacant field surrounded by homes. The crash site was opposite the end of Atwell Drive on the north bank of Braes Bayou.

Capt. Herod was a member of the 182nd Fighter Squadron

182nd Fighter Squadron

The 182nd Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 149th Fighter Wing.-History:...

, of the 149th Fighter Wing

149th Fighter Wing

The United States Air Force's 149th Fighter Wing is a Texas Air National Guard unit located at Kelly Field Annex, Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas.-Mission:...

, of the Texas Air National Guard

Texas Air National Guard

The Texas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Texas and a component of the Texas Military Forces...

, based at Kelly Air Force Base

Kelly Air Force Base

Kelly Field Annex and is a former United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas. In 2001, the runway and land west of the runway became "Kelly Field Annex" and control of it was transferred to the adjacent Lackland Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio...

, in San Antonio, Texas.

Honors and Memorials

• The Air Force awarded Herod a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross
  Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
  The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
  
  .

• The "Hero Tree" was dedicated in Herod's honor on Memorial Day
  Memorial Day
  Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
  
   1961. The tree, stone marker, and plaque are located near the Meyerland Plaza
  Meyerland Plaza
  Meyerland Plaza is a large shopping center located in southwest Houston, Texas, United States.Meyerland Plaza is located in the Meyerland neighborhood of Houston and is just outside of the 610 Loop.-History:Meyerland Plaza opened on October 31, 1957...
  
  shopping center a few miles east of the crash site.

• The Gary L. Herod Elementary School is located near the crash site and is named in Herod's honor.

External links

• Home page of Gary L. Herod Elementary School