In Memoriam

Lt. Doyle was a pilot's pilot. He was a rare person who understood his role as well as ground crew. He gave us great respect when around us. A truly great man.

Tom and I were classmates during UPT in 85/86.

I still remember him as a great guy.

Hard worker but at the same time fun to be with.

Big loss not only for the viper community.

I am seeking to have contact with peaple who new Tom. I was his flight instructor in August 1978, Dillingham airfield, Oahu, Hawaii. At that time Tom was 14-15 years old, cadet of CAP. After 10-12 days of training flights I let him fly solo

glider "Schweizer SGS 2-33" .

I met Tom and his father accidently one day at Vacaville gliderfield near San Francisco about 85/86. I was happy and proud to hear that he became flight instructor, just graduated AF Academy in Colorado, looked forward to be assigned to F-16 squadron.

Than 2-3 years later it was March 31 1988. I wish I did not buy newspaper that day. I will always remember his smile.

Only left are memories of good times and photos.

Andre Volant, San Bruno, Calif.

Tom was a freat man and I was lucky to be able to call him a friend. He told me one day in 8th grade that he was going to attend he academy and he made it happen. I tear up everytime I think about Tom. If anyone has his unit information I would appreciate it.

John Graham

Lt. Doyle served in the 10th TFS

Tom and I met in grade school, and finished High school together; Tom was preparing for the A.F. Academy when he was about 12 years old, he knew what he wanted in life; to serve his country. I remember when his Viper went down; I wasn't surprised that he rode it to the ground, to save lives in the Village of Forst; that was the tom that I always knew!

Charles W. Read

We were best friends from 8th grade until his death and there isn't a week that goes by that I don't think of him. He was loyal. extremely intelligent and had a remarkable sense of humor. I only wish we could have gone to college together. To this very day I read the countless letters he sent me from the academy and laugh. I truely miss and long for my best friend to this very day. I have many friends but none have ever filled his shoes. He was one of a kind and I truely loved his friendship.

I was 17 years old when I met Tom. He lived in our house during his assignment to the US Air Force at Hahn Airbase that time. Tom taught me many things like working hard, believe and playing Cribbage. We also did some physical workout during the evenings lifting weights. - Even today 23 years later I still miss him and I still can hardly believe why it was him who had to go that early. - A true friend from Germany, Carsten

Lt. Doyle lost his life while doing everything he could to keep his aircraft from crashing into a heavily populated area. Although one other unfortunate soul was lost, Tom stayed inside a fireball of a plane trying to guide it away from a town. Flying that tempermental engine over Germany always had a risk and we all knew it. No finer pilot.

My husband was a physician and Hahn was his first assignment after he went on active duty with the Air Force. We got there in Aug. 1987. I never met Lt. Doyle, and didn't know anything about him, but I did know that one of our pilots had been killed, and I've never forgotten about that. Having grown up with my father in the military, I've always felt any loss in the service of our country, whether I knew the person or not. I'm especially impressed to learn that Lt. Doyle stayed with his plane to steer it away from a village. That happens so often. One of my family's friends did the same thing, in Vietnam. I wish that was publicized more, so that all Americans would hear about the caliber of people we have defending our country.

Thinking of Tom...he was a classmate and fellow soaring instructor at the academy. He was one of the first people I knew you died in a place crash. Gone too soon.

Lt. Doyle and I were good friends. I arrived at Hahn AB 8/86 and was assigned to the 10th TFS, 50th TFW. I remember Lt. Doyle very well. We participated in numerous exercises together. He was a leader! Professional beyond my vocabulary can describe. The morning he arrived at the aircraft he shook my hand and as always asked how "she" was. We completed our walk around together and he climbed the ladder and jumped in the cockpit. Always high energy. I strapped his shoulder harnesses and he would always say, "Thanks Chief". We cranked and completed our preflight checks. He always snapped me a crisp salute as he taxied away. I always felt (to this day) a tremendous pride and patriotism knowing Lt. Doyle was flying my jet. Crew Chiefs know the pilots and the pilots know the Crew Chiefs. He always told me I did a, "shit hot job"! God Bless Lt. Doyle. My eternal Wingman. OORAH!!!!

I served at Hahn AB 5/86-5/88 10TH TFS engine shop. I was the assistant crew chief to help launch/recover Tom the day of the incident. He was a good man and treated us all with great respect.

Sgt. Stephen Walsh

I would like to have a contact with people who new Tom. I was his flight instructor in August 1978 at the Dillingham airfield, Oahu, Hawaii. At that time Tom was 14 years old cadet of Civil Air Patrol. After 12 days of training flights I let him fly solo on

glider Schweizer SGS 2-33.

I met Tom and his father one day at Vacaville glider field near San Francisco in 1985. I was happy and proud to hear that he became flight instructor at the Academy, that he graduated Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, he was looking forward to be assigned to F-16 squadron.

Than 3 years later it was March 31 1988 that F-16 crashed in Germany. I wish I did not read newspaper that day. I will always remember his smile. Only left are memories of good times and photos.

Andre Volant, San Bruno, California.

I knew Thomas when he was Cadet Commander of his Oroville Cadet Squadron, CAP. I was Cadet Commander of the Chico Cadet Squadron, CAP. We did activities together. He was an amazing young man. He knew what he wanted... I knew why he wanted those things... few others do.

I heard about his heroics later in my life and was saddened at how it ended... RIP Thomas, you did it right....

Clif Gates