HUSTON, Duayne R.

HUSTON, Duayne R. (Cedar Rapids, IA, July 5, 1922--Sun City, AZ, Dec. 22, 1996). Huston attended grade and high school at Olds, Iowa, graduating in 1939. After school he entered the lumber business with his father until his enlistment in the Army Air Force Reserve in 1942.

Huston took training as a liasion pilot in the Civilian Pilot Training program at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, in Kirksville, Missouri, in 1943. After completing the pilot training program he was called to active duty. Basic training was taken at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and he was then sent to Kessler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, for mechanics training. He married Janet Anderson in 1944.

In 1944 he entered engine school at Willow Run, Michigan, to train as an engine specialist for Pratt & Whitney engines. After completion of that school, Huston was assigned to the 333rd Airdrome Squadron at Richmond, Virginia. The Richmond Base was a transition school for the training of P-47 pilots. Huston was among some of the 333rd Airdrome Squadron men that built the Mock-up of a P-47 for the training of the pilots.

In December, 1944, the 333rd was sent to India and Huston spent about six months with the CBI Headquarters working on the flight line and flying as engineer with various Staff Officers. In June he was assigned as Flight Engineer on General Charles B. Stone's plane, "Charlie's Aunt". It was a B-25J and soon they took off for China. General Stone was appointed the Commanding General of the 14th Air Force after the resignation of General Chennault. The headquarters moved from Kunming to Peshei, China, at that time.

After the war ended, the 14th Headquarters moved to Shanghai. Many flights were made in Eastern China looking for and inspecting new bases for the various fighter and bomber groups that needed to be moved closer to the coast. Huston received the Bronze Star Medal for his performance during this time and returned to the States in 1946 and back into the lumber business.

In 1951 he moved to Dubuque, the corporate headquarters of the SPAHN AND ROSE LUMBER COMPANY and became a Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of the firm in 1976. He was a past president of the DUBUQUE SHOOTING SOCIETY.

Huston was a charter member of the Aviation Hall of Fame. He also was a charter member of the 14th Air Force Association and served as its secretary beginning in 1975.

---

Source:

P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association. Online: http://p47pilots.com/P47-Pilots.cfm?c=incP47BiographyHome.cfm&vm=BIO&pilotid=260&p=Duayne%20R.%20Huston