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Richard H. Helmick, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret), peacefully passed away at his home in Albuquerque, September 25, 1999. He was born in Harrisburg, PA on June 13, 1921. He had recently retired in May of this year as a Property Management Supervisor for Monarch Properties. He had a passion for flying since an early age. After graduating from Glendale College, he completed the U.S. Army Air Corp Pilot School and received his wings and commission in 1943. Col. Helmick was assigned to the 8th Air Force and the infamous, bloody 100 bomb group as a B-17 Squadron Commander out of England during World War II. He led 33 missions throughout Europe, including the first daytime bombing raid on Berlin. Col. Helmick also served in the Vietnam War as Base Operations Officer of Ben Hoa Air Field in 1969, the busiest airport in the world at that time. He logged over 5000 hours of flying in a variety of military aircraft. He held an FAA commercial pilot license. His military decorations include the following partial list, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with four Bronze and two Silver Oak Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Airforce Commendation Medal, Vietnam Medal of Honor, Air Force Presidential Citation and many others. Col. Helmick had assignments at the Pentagon, Alaska, California, Germany, Alabama, and Albuquerque. He most recently was Chief of Joint Personnel for Sandia Base until he retired from the Air Force in 1970. Col. Helmick is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children, Rick Helmick and wife, Patricia, their sons, Jason and Brett, George Helmick, Diane Sanchez and husband, Rick, and their daughters, Charla, Christa and son, Alex, Rob Helmick and wife, Teri and their son, Ryan, Tim Helmick and wife, Christine and Dwight Helmick and wife, Brenda and their sons, Dakota, Dalton and Dylan; brother-in-law, John Mooney and wife, Marie of Sacramento, CA; nephew, Randy Singh of Alamogordo; niece, Jennifer Richards of Sacramento, CA; and his faithful dog companion, Roland. Services will be held Thursday, 11:30 a.m., at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, with Father Paul Baca officiating. Interment will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be members of the Kirtland Air Force Base Honor Guard. French Mortuary, 1111 University Blvd. NE.
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