Col. Mallon

Col. (ret.) Richard "Dick" MallonCol. (ret.) Richard "Dick" Mallon, age 91, of San Antonio, TX, and formerly from Maple Lake, Mentor, MN and Grand Forks, ND passed away on Tuesday, October 23rd at The Mission at Air Force Village I (one) in San Antonio. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, November 10th at 11:00 AM at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Mentor. A time of gathering for family and friends will be held for one hour before the memorial service at the church on Saturday. Interment of cremains will be at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery, Mentor, and local arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Erskine, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to one of Dick's favorite charities, The Cancer Research Center of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com.Known as "Dick" to his friends, he was born Richard William Mallon on September 1, 1921 to William and Ottilie (Ploegert) Mallon in Janesville, Wisconsin, the first of three children.Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942, Mallon was selected for training as a pilot. After completing his flight training in Lewistown, Montana, he joined the 615th Bomb Squadron, 401st Bomb Group, in Deenethorpe, England. He flew 30 combat missions in the B-17G, including the historic first daylight raid over Berlin. He concluded the war as a production test pilot, taking B-29 bombers on the first flight after manufacture.After the war, he flew in support of the South American Geodetic Survey, helping map major portions of South America.During the Korean War, he flew seven combat missions in the B-29 as a Flying Safety Officer.While stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, he met and married Staff Sergeant Mildred Markey.Colonel Mallon was a Command Pilot with over 5,000 flight hours, and is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the European Theatre of Action medal, and numerous other medals.A man of many talents, he designed and built a racing go-kart; in which he won several races. He drafted and helped build his retirement home in Minnesota. He spearheaded the fundraising drive which resulted in the new Saint Lawrence Catholic church in Mentor, Minnesota. A devoted husband, he served his wife's every need during her final illness. A loving father of five, and a friend to all, he was popular with everyone he met.On Tuesday, October 23, 2012 Colonel (retired) Richard W. Mallon passed from this life at The Mission at Air Force Village I (one) in San Antonio, TX at the age of 91 years.Dick was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Mildred, in 2004 and by his brother Kenneth.He is survived by his sister Jean Muncy of Bradenton, Florida, five children and 11 grandchildren.