LtGen William Harold Fitch
November 6, 1929 ~ January 19, 2016
On January 19, 2016, Lieutenant General William Harold Fitch, USMC, died at age 86 from complications while hospitalized near his home in McLean, Virginia. Bill and his wife of 60 years, the former Margaret Marie Williams of Bartow, Florida, were married on August 7, 1955 and have spent the past 40 years enjoying their home in McLean, Virginia and living and working in the Washington D.C. area.
Bill's love and devotion to his family began in 1929 when he was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and, as a young boy, moved with his parents and sister, Beverly, to Fort Meade, Florida. Active in the Boy Scouts of America, Bill was drawn towards military service and aviation through accounts of WWII battles in newsreels at matinees and through his passion for modeling the airplanes flown over Europe and the Pacific. His early life in Fort Meade, Florida, as the eldest son of five children born to William and Leila Fitch, was deeply affected when his family lost their six-month old son, Bill's younger brother, Charlie, on January 19, 1936. As Bill grew older, it became evident to his siblings, Beverly Joan (one year older), Sharon Leila (ten years younger) and Jay Blaine (13 years younger), that Bill had taken-on the responsibility of being the 'man of the house' as his father frequently traveled on business trips, ultimately leading Bill to become a confident and generous benefactor who always came to the family's aid throughout his life. Most assuredly, the true love of his life came to him on his wedding day to Margaret Marie. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of knowing them or being a guest in their home has seen first-hand that Margaret Marie was the best thing that ever happened to him. With Margaret by his side, they traveled the US from coast to coast to accept more challenging levels of command interspersed with distant assignments in Europe and Asia. Over their sixty years together, they adored and complimented each other in every way as they have lived their lives with a harmony, dignity and grace rarely seen.
Setting the precedence for his life's work and his service to his country and the Marine Corps, Bill inherited his drive to succeed and uncompromising work ethic from his parents who had survived WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII. Accordingly, Bill had the intelligence and determination that led him to complete his Bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in just three years and immediately volunteer for service and flight training as the Korean War began, even though he had never flown before. He completed two years of flight training on April 2, 1952 as the Korean War was ending and was designated Naval Aviator No. T-2146 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Further, he explained that he did not choose the Marine Corps lightly but one fateful Saturday night, while on liberty just before the deadline for winging and commissioning ceremonies, he saw the movie "Flying Leathernecks" starring John Wayne as a Marine Wildcat Fighter Pilot in combat during WWII and that confirmed his choice!
Bill's choice was right on target as he proved to be a gifted aviator and dedicated leader of Marines during times of both war and peace. Bill's timing into the aviation arena was perfect as he experienced the early 1950s and the now long forgotten days of propeller driven aircraft. Flying F4U-5N Corsairs off of the WWII-era aircraft carriers, USS Wright, USS Coral Sea and USS Tarawa on his 1st deployment around the world and then for his 2nd deployment in the AD-4B Skyraider flying from the USS Saipan in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan in support of the Korean War Armistice, put him in a unique position that allowed him to be among the first to transition into jet aircraft with the Marine Corps.
His first of many major contributions to Naval Aviation came as a test pilot at VX-5, NAS China Lake, CA, when he invented, co-developed, and aerial tested what was later granted U.S. patent # 3, 122, 056 for the Multiple Carriage bomb rack which evolved into the Multiple Ejector Rack (MER) and the Triple Ejector Rack (TER) used to carry and systematically release bombs from countless military aircraft.
His military decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (two awards; one award with Combat "V"), Distinguished Flying Cross, four single mission Air Medals, 25 strike/flight Air Medals, and Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) as well as other campaign and service awards.
Specifically, his award of the Silver Star, the nations third highest award, was for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 533 (VMA(AW)-533), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. His actions as the Aircraft Commander of an A-6 Intruder on an extremely dangerous bombing mission to attack a downtown Hanoi target the night of February 21, 1968 and destroy the communications station known as Radio Hanoi and therefore 'Hanoi Hannah's' ability to broadcast orders and intelligence to the NVA and Viet Cong in South Vietnam and continue to harass US troops. Accordingly, his A-6 Intruder Bombardier Navigator on that historic mission, then 1st Lt and now Retired Colonel, Charlie Carr and Bill have exchanged congratulatory telegrams on the anniversary of their successful mission every year until 2013 when Bill wrote to Charlie saying, "Happy Anniversary Charlie, and I wish us both many more in the years ahead. Thumbing through my log books, I find many 1st Lt Carr missions. Charlie, you kept me alive a long time. Warm regards, Bill."
On September 1, 1984, Bill retired from the Marine Corps as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation (DCS-Air). Over his thirty-four year career, he commanded two squadrons, an aircraft group, a Marine Amphibious Unit, a Marine Amphibious Brigade, and a Marine Aircraft Wing, logging 6, 895 accident-free flight hours. Bill had flown 121 different types of aircraft, including 45 models of military propeller & jet fixed-wing and 29 different models of tactical rotary-winged aircraft. On July 11, 1984, he closed-out his seventh log book with a final flight in the OV-10B.
For the next twenty-seven years following his military retirement, he was a senior consultant to Hughes Aircraft, Bell, Boeing and Raytheon, providing seasoned counsel and technical advice on the development, acquisition and operational use of numerous projects significant to National Defense. He was a powerful innovator and continued to be highly influential in aeronautic and weapons development. Raytheon's CEO, Tom Culligan, wrote upon Bill's retirement that he was one of their most senior and distinguished consultants whose intelligence, candor and wise counsel warranted their deepest respect, admiration and gratitude for the many contributions Bill made over the past twenty-seven years.
General Fitch is survived by his wife of 60 years Margaret Marie, his two sisters, Beverly Hickman-Butler of Largo, FL and Sharon Sockalosky-Ahearn of Wauchula, FL, and by his younger brother, Jay Blaine (also a decorated combat Marine helicopter pilot of the Vietnam War) of Pensacola, FL. Bill was predeceased by his younger brother, Charlie in 1936 and by his parents, William and Leila in 1969 shortly after Bill and Jay returned from Vietnam.
Many nieces and nephews join the list of mourners for their Uncle:
Two daughters and two sons by his older sister Beverly: Leigh, K, Robert and Biff.
Three daughters and three sons by his younger sister Sharon: Elizabeth, Michelle, Leigh, Edward, Steven and Kyle.
Three sons by his younger brother, Jay: Avatar, a veteran of the USCG, Jason, a Navy Commander, and Eric.
Additionally, his great-nephew, Corporal Stephen Coty Sockalosky, USMC was killed in action in Afghanistan on Oct 10, 2010.
Bill will be profoundly missed by those who knew him as husband, brother, friend, mentor, and collaborator.
Lieutenant General William H. Fitch was laid to rest at Quantico National Cemetery on February 4, 2016 with full military honors. The Deputy Commandant for Aviation, LtGen Jon Davis, USMC, presided over the burial and funeral services.
Semper Fidelis!
The family requests donations to the Humane Society of Fairfax County in lieu of flowers.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Bill's love and devotion to his family began in 1929 when he was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and, as a young boy, moved with his parents and sister, Beverly, to Fort Meade, Florida. Active in the Boy Scouts of America, Bill was drawn towards military service and aviation through accounts of WWII battles in newsreels at matinees and through his passion for modeling the airplanes flown over Europe and the Pacific. His early life in Fort Meade, Florida, as the eldest son of five children born to William and Leila Fitch, was deeply affected when his family lost their six-month old son, Bill's younger brother, Charlie, on January 19, 1936. As Bill grew older, it became evident to his siblings, Beverly Joan (one year older), Sharon Leila (ten years younger) and Jay Blaine (13 years younger), that Bill had taken-on the responsibility of being the 'man of the house' as his father frequently traveled on business trips, ultimately leading Bill to become a confident and generous benefactor who always came to the family's aid throughout his life. Most assuredly, the true love of his life came to him on his wedding day to Margaret Marie. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of knowing them or being a guest in their home has seen first-hand that Margaret Marie was the best thing that ever happened to him. With Margaret by his side, they traveled the US from coast to coast to accept more challenging levels of command interspersed with distant assignments in Europe and Asia. Over their sixty years together, they adored and complimented each other in every way as they have lived their lives with a harmony, dignity and grace rarely seen.
Setting the precedence for his life's work and his service to his country and the Marine Corps, Bill inherited his drive to succeed and uncompromising work ethic from his parents who had survived WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII. Accordingly, Bill had the intelligence and determination that led him to complete his Bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in just three years and immediately volunteer for service and flight training as the Korean War began, even though he had never flown before. He completed two years of flight training on April 2, 1952 as the Korean War was ending and was designated Naval Aviator No. T-2146 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Further, he explained that he did not choose the Marine Corps lightly but one fateful Saturday night, while on liberty just before the deadline for winging and commissioning ceremonies, he saw the movie "Flying Leathernecks" starring John Wayne as a Marine Wildcat Fighter Pilot in combat during WWII and that confirmed his choice!
Bill's choice was right on target as he proved to be a gifted aviator and dedicated leader of Marines during times of both war and peace. Bill's timing into the aviation arena was perfect as he experienced the early 1950s and the now long forgotten days of propeller driven aircraft. Flying F4U-5N Corsairs off of the WWII-era aircraft carriers, USS Wright, USS Coral Sea and USS Tarawa on his 1st deployment around the world and then for his 2nd deployment in the AD-4B Skyraider flying from the USS Saipan in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan in support of the Korean War Armistice, put him in a unique position that allowed him to be among the first to transition into jet aircraft with the Marine Corps.
His first of many major contributions to Naval Aviation came as a test pilot at VX-5, NAS China Lake, CA, when he invented, co-developed, and aerial tested what was later granted U.S. patent # 3, 122, 056 for the Multiple Carriage bomb rack which evolved into the Multiple Ejector Rack (MER) and the Triple Ejector Rack (TER) used to carry and systematically release bombs from countless military aircraft.
His military decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (two awards; one award with Combat "V"), Distinguished Flying Cross, four single mission Air Medals, 25 strike/flight Air Medals, and Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) as well as other campaign and service awards.
Specifically, his award of the Silver Star, the nations third highest award, was for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 533 (VMA(AW)-533), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. His actions as the Aircraft Commander of an A-6 Intruder on an extremely dangerous bombing mission to attack a downtown Hanoi target the night of February 21, 1968 and destroy the communications station known as Radio Hanoi and therefore 'Hanoi Hannah's' ability to broadcast orders and intelligence to the NVA and Viet Cong in South Vietnam and continue to harass US troops. Accordingly, his A-6 Intruder Bombardier Navigator on that historic mission, then 1st Lt and now Retired Colonel, Charlie Carr and Bill have exchanged congratulatory telegrams on the anniversary of their successful mission every year until 2013 when Bill wrote to Charlie saying, "Happy Anniversary Charlie, and I wish us both many more in the years ahead. Thumbing through my log books, I find many 1st Lt Carr missions. Charlie, you kept me alive a long time. Warm regards, Bill."
On September 1, 1984, Bill retired from the Marine Corps as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation (DCS-Air). Over his thirty-four year career, he commanded two squadrons, an aircraft group, a Marine Amphibious Unit, a Marine Amphibious Brigade, and a Marine Aircraft Wing, logging 6, 895 accident-free flight hours. Bill had flown 121 different types of aircraft, including 45 models of military propeller & jet fixed-wing and 29 different models of tactical rotary-winged aircraft. On July 11, 1984, he closed-out his seventh log book with a final flight in the OV-10B.
For the next twenty-seven years following his military retirement, he was a senior consultant to Hughes Aircraft, Bell, Boeing and Raytheon, providing seasoned counsel and technical advice on the development, acquisition and operational use of numerous projects significant to National Defense. He was a powerful innovator and continued to be highly influential in aeronautic and weapons development. Raytheon's CEO, Tom Culligan, wrote upon Bill's retirement that he was one of their most senior and distinguished consultants whose intelligence, candor and wise counsel warranted their deepest respect, admiration and gratitude for the many contributions Bill made over the past twenty-seven years.
General Fitch is survived by his wife of 60 years Margaret Marie, his two sisters, Beverly Hickman-Butler of Largo, FL and Sharon Sockalosky-Ahearn of Wauchula, FL, and by his younger brother, Jay Blaine (also a decorated combat Marine helicopter pilot of the Vietnam War) of Pensacola, FL. Bill was predeceased by his younger brother, Charlie in 1936 and by his parents, William and Leila in 1969 shortly after Bill and Jay returned from Vietnam.
Many nieces and nephews join the list of mourners for their Uncle:
Two daughters and two sons by his older sister Beverly: Leigh, K, Robert and Biff.
Three daughters and three sons by his younger sister Sharon: Elizabeth, Michelle, Leigh, Edward, Steven and Kyle.
Three sons by his younger brother, Jay: Avatar, a veteran of the USCG, Jason, a Navy Commander, and Eric.
Additionally, his great-nephew, Corporal Stephen Coty Sockalosky, USMC was killed in action in Afghanistan on Oct 10, 2010.
Bill will be profoundly missed by those who knew him as husband, brother, friend, mentor, and collaborator.
Lieutenant General William H. Fitch was laid to rest at Quantico National Cemetery on February 4, 2016 with full military honors. The Deputy Commandant for Aviation, LtGen Jon Davis, USMC, presided over the burial and funeral services.
Semper Fidelis!
The family requests donations to the Humane Society of Fairfax County in lieu of flowers.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Uncle Bill – you will be missed! Thank you for your love and years of mentorship. You were our family’s patriarch, a model of dedication to your family, Country and the Marine Corps. I love you dearly and will never forget the lessons and example you showed me my entire life. Semper Fidelis! Jason
Margaret, Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss.
Our Corps has lost one of its most renowned aviators who was a true leader and patriot. A man who selflessly served his country in war and peace. Please accept my prayers for and condolences to the family. The General was my former Commanding General when I served with the 1st MAW in Japan and I had the distinct honor of spending time with the General last year before his illness over took him.
Mrs. Fitch, Please accept my condolences on the loss of your husband. I am sorry that I was not able to attend the services at Quantico. Dan “Little Danny Hahne”, Mrs. Fitch’s 2d Grade Class, North Springfield Elementary School Colonel, USMC (Retired)
God’s Blessings on the Fitch Family as they deal with this this loss.
Margaret, We were sad to learn of the loss of your dear husband. Our friendship has spanned many years back to our days in Japan and Cherry Point, NC and it was always a pleasure visiting with you two. We hope you are well and that fond memories sustain you during this sad time. Warm Regards,
Mrs. Fitch, you and the entire Fitch family are in my thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time. Gen Fitch was a tremendous Marine, leader and mentor. He will live in my heart and soul forever. God Bless & Semper Fidelis, Spider
Thank you for your service to our country Uncle Bill you will be greatly missed.
Bobbi and I send our most sincere condolences to Margaret Marie and the entire Fitch family. We first met Gen Fitch and Margaret Marie through his brother Jay Blaine, our old friend, when he commanded the A-6 Group at Cherry Point. He was always a gracious gentleman and scholar and his contributions live on.
Sending our love and deepest condolences.
General Bill Fitch was an officer and a gentleman in the very best sense of those words. While I only had one chance to meet and visit with him, it was a great honor to do so, particularly as it was in company with his brother, Jay Fitch, with whom it was my privilege to fly many, many hours in combat. Jay often spoke of Bill, and how Bill had been his mentor. I am living proof that Bill was a good teacher, and Jay a good pupil. May Bill rest in Peace, and may the warm and loving light of God’s countenance shine upon him for eternity.
Our sincere condolences to Lt. Gen. Bill Fitch Family and his to his brother Jay Fitch and their Families. Bill and Jay Fitch were legends in the Marine Corp. I never had the opportunity to meet Bill but I was friends with other Marines that shared heroic stories about the two Marine Brothers. May Good bless your Families and may He comfort you through these lonely times. Semper Fi, Col. Jim Leslie USMC Retired
To all the family, my mother, Martha Ruth Williams Wood, was Margaret Marie’s first cousin. Margaret Marie lived with my grandparents, Thomas Edward and Della Kee Whitten Williams, in Bartow, Florida for some time following the death of her mother. We became friends when we visited them several times at their home with my husband, Bill Hinman, my parents, Dr. and Mrs. M. T. Wood, and our daughter, Della Williams Hinman. My mother had always loved them and it was our great joy to know them as well. She took such an interest in our daughter, Della, who loved to sing as did MM. God welcomed both my mother and Margaret Marie home on the same day-February 12, 2016!!! What a comfort to think of the family together. With love and hope to meet the extended family some day. Joanne Wood Hinman Winston-Salem, NC
Gene Newbold and I (back in the 80’s) were close to Margaret and Bill Fitch. Bill was a great guy and, of course, a great Marine!. I have sent a check to The Humane Society in Bill’s memory. Love, Sarah