461st plaque

461st Bombardment Group (H)

Noel L. Dahlander, Jr.

Noel Dahlander

Courtesy of Robert Dahlander

Noel L. Dahlander Jr., 99, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force Reserve, Retired, died November 14, 2017 in Saint Petersburg FL where he had lived since 1999.

Noel was born in Hackensack, NJ in 1918 and was raised on Staten Island.

During World War II, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps December 13, 1942 qualifying as a pilot.  After his commissioning, he married Grace Helen Parker, on December 21t, 1942.  He flew combat missions in the European theater with the 461st Bombardment Group while serving as an Assistant Operations Officer.  Noel and Grace raised their family in New Milford, PA.  Noel was a career reserve officer whose active service included the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.  He retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel on October 6, 1978.  He taught science at Seton Catholic Central High School, Binghamton, NY retiring August 1, 1984.

In retirement, Noel and Grace moved from their home in New Milford, PA to Port Saint Lucie, FL where they lived for several years before moving to Saint Petersburg, FL in 1999.  He volunteered at the MacDill Air Force Base pharmacy in Tampa, FL for many years.

Noel was preceded in death by Grace who died in Saint Petersburg August 24, 2007.  He is survived by 3 sons, 3 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.  Noel 3rd, 72, served in the Air Force flying combat missions in Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia.  After a career as a commercial pilot, he retired from US Airways and lives with his wife, Connie in Port Charlotte, FL.  Walton, 70, retired after a career as a public school teacher specializing in children with special needs.  He lives in Great Bend, PA.  Robert, 65, retired from the U.S. Army after 30 years of enlisted and commissioned service including service in Saudi Arabia and Iraq during the Gulf War.  After 13 additional years of private practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, he retired.  He lives in San Antonio, TX with his husband, John.

A memorial service was held November 16, 2017 at the Westminster Suncoast retirement community, Saint Petersburg.  An inurnment will be conducted at the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetary on a future date to be announced.

Cadet Noel

Courtesy of Robert Dahlander

Cadet Noel Dahlander

Enlisted Discharge

Courtesy of Robert Dahlander

Noel Dahlander's discharge enlisted cadet status.

Separation Record

Courtesy of Robert Dahlander

Separation Record from active duty December 13, 1942

Certificate of Service

Courtesy of Robert Dahlander

Certificate of Service presented 2 December 1945

Certificate of Service

Courtesy of Robert Dahlander

Certificate of Service presented 2 December 1945