Avis de décès de Alfred-F. Savage

Lieutenant Colonel Alfred F. Savage, US Air Force retired, aged 87, died after a brief illness on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at Lahey Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. Col. Savage lived in Acton for 40 years and was a decorated command pilot who flew combat in WWII and was a Forward Air Control pilot in Vietnam. During WWII, he flew modified B-29s from Saipan and Guam as part of the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, photographing targets before and after air strikes. He took off directly behind the Enola Gay, and was responsible for the official photos of the atom bomb over Hiroshima and later, Nagasaki. These photos became part of the official record of WWII. Between WWII and Vietnam he was a Special Agent for the OSI (Office of Special Investigations), based in Paris. Col Savage was twice a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism - once in WWII and once in Vietnam. A citation that accompanied the Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (first oak leaf cluster) noted: "Major Alfred F. Savage distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Forward Air Controller near Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of Vietnam on 30 December 1966 . . . Through his detailed knowledge of the area and hostile positions, he accurately directed the fighter aircraft, despite poor weather conditions and unfavorable terrain. Secondary explosions, as a result of the air strikes directed by Major Savage, [inflicted] heavy damage to the hostile positions, and . . . a high casualty toll of the hostile force. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major Savage reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. " Fred Savage was the son of Richard Daniel Savage and Melina Paquette. As a child, his image served as the advertising campaign for his father's Midwestern cereal company, Georgie Porgie, travelling around the country with his father and brother and singing cowboy songs on radio stations with musicians, some of whom became country/western and bluegrass legends. Memorabilia from his early career is now part of the permanent collection at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN. In 1951, he met and married Margaret Mary Palensky, an artist, who currently has a studio at Emerson Umbrella in Concord, MA. Together they had four children, Madeline, Marybeth, Regina and Michelle. He retired from the military in 1971 and continued work with the Air Force in a civilian capacity as an electrical engineer. In his civilian tenure with the military, Col Savage helped to set up one of the initial U.S. ballistic missile early warning systems. He retired from the Air Force in 1981 to spend time with his wife, visiting Paris and the south of France. His great loves were his wife Margaret Mary, flying and his family. He is a graduate of Creighton University and the University of Colorado. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Mary, his surviving children, Madeline and her husband Jon, Regina and Michelle; grandchildren, Maddy, Cameron, Dana, Andrew and Jon; and his brothers Denis and Richard. Visiting hours will be held from 5-8pm at the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Friday, February 24. The funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 25, at St. Elizabeth's of Hungary, 89 Arlington Street in Acton, MA at 10am. Following the Mass, officers of the U. S. Air Force will present military honors at St Bernard's Cemetery, Concord. Concord's town flag will fly at half-staff on Saturday Feb. 25th in recognition of Colonel Savage's service to his country in the United States Air Force. Contributions in Col. Savage's name may be made to The Collings Foundation, a nonprofit that supports "living history" events involving transportation including aircraft, at P.O. Box 248, Stow, MA 01775. Arrangements are under the care of Charles W. Dee and Susan M. Dee, Dee Funeral Home of Concord. To share a remembrance of Col. Savage in his guest book please visit www.deefuneralhome.com