Carl W. Sprague

Carl W. Sprague, 94 of Winchester and formerly of Woodstock VA. and Westboro MA. passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Westminster Canterbury. Service and burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. He was the son of the late Carl C. and May Spokesfield Sprague of Westboro MA. And also was preceded in death by his wife, Hanora Nicholas Sprague and his former wife, Jean Sprague; a daughter, Diane V. Bagley; a sister, Marion Zuretti and a nephew, David Zuretti. His education included, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, BBA and MA at Jackson College in Honolulu Hawaii, Military Schools, Academic Instructors School, Air Tactical School, Air Command and Staff School, and Air War College. After retiring from the Air Force he owned and operated a Ladies Dress Shop for seven years, then a Franchise with General Business Services for seven years. All in the Washington Area. Carl was born March 20, 1921 in Worcester, Massachusetts. He graduated Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 1940. Aviation Cadet (Pilot) Class 42D Columbus MS. He joined 81st Bomb Squadron in May 1942 and flew co-pilot to Egypt July 1942. He participated in 41 combat missions. He returned to the U.S. in May 1943. He instructed B-25 at Greenville, S.C. until September 1943. He was then sent to B-17 Instructor School, Columbus AFB, Ohio. Then he instructed the B-17 at Avon Park, Florida until December 1944. He returned to ETO Italy and the 428th Bomb Squadron, 310th Bomb Group at Corsica for a second tour in B-25s. He flew 25 missions as a group leader then flew the B-25 to Hunter AFB, GA and separated August 1945 at Ft. Devens MA. As a civilian he was a flight instructor and then flew DC-3 for Pan American Airways, Latin American Division, Miami until he was recalled by Army Air Corps in February 1947. Assigned to 62nd Troop Carrier Group, C-82 at Bergstrom AFB, TX, then McChord AFB, WA. He spent winters in Alaska in 1947 and 1948 supporting the Army from Ft. Lewis on winter maneuvers. He dropped hay on Operation HayLift, January 1949 in NV. He was assigned to C-54 school Great Falls, MT, then to Berlin Airlift. Then he spent 1950 to 1959 in MATS flying C-47 in Athens, Greece, flying the C-74, C-54, and C-124 at Brookley AFB, AL on the Atlantic routes and then the C -124 in Hawaii on the Pacific routes. From 1959-1962 he was Associate Professor Air Science AFROTC, Amherst MA. Then he was transferred to the Pentagon Air Staff, Plans Division 1962 to 1965, then to Joint Staff JCS in Directorate of Logistics. He retired in 1969 as Lt. Colonel from Andrews AFB, MD. His decorations included the, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, and Legion Merit. Carl is survived by his loving daughter, Carolyn ""Dickens"" Rosenberry and companion Jim McDowell of Jupiter, FL.; 16 nieces and nephews; 29 grand nieces and nephews including a very close and dear grandnephew, Paul Guzzi and wife Christine of Millis MA.; a very special friend since firast grade, Norman Bowman of Westboro MA. And many dear and loyal friends especially in Woodstock, VA. and Westminster-Canterbury of Winchester, VA. Memorial donations can be made to Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka KS. 66675 or the Woodstock Rescue Squad P.O. Box 221 Woodstock, Virginia 22664.

Carl W. Sprague

February 22, 2016