Harold Millage "Hal" Powers

July 26, 1920 – February 25, 2002

POWERS, Harold "Hal" Millage, Lt. Col., USAF (RET), 81, born July 26, 1920, in St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada, passed away on Monday, Feb. 25, 2002. Hal moved to Orlando in 1925 with his parents, Harvey Milton Powers and Mary Florence Crowe. He graduated from Orlando High School and attended the University of Florida. In 1942, Hal joined the Army Air Force as a B-17 bomber pilot. After training in Texas and Tennessee, he and his crew were sent to Horham, England, as part of the 95th Bomb Group. The 95th Bomb Group flew the first daylight bombing run over Berlin on March 4, 1944, and were the only bomb group awarded three presidential citations. During his first tour of duty, Powers brought his crew home safely from 25 missions. He served two tours of duty each during World War II and the Korean War and served as a forward air controller during the Vietnam Conict. Powers served as Deputy Director of Operations at Patrick AFB, Florida, during the Apollo Moon Missions. He retired from active service in 1969 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He then launched a successful twenty-year career in real estate in the Orlando area.

Hal was an avid fisherman and the ultimate outdoorsman. He was an outstanding all-star basketball player at OHS and was on the 1939-40 Florida All-State basketball team. He was offered a basketball scholarship to play at the University of Kentucky. He led the 95th Bomb Group to the 8th Air Force Basketball Championship during World War II. He was a member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society, the 95th Bomb Group Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Orlando Old Timers Athletic Association.

Hal is survived by his caring and devoted wife, formerly known as Audrey Rush Kouloheris. He was previously married to Rebecca Ann Holton with whom he had six children, Daneen (Ronnie) Duncan, Gayle {Ron) MacNichol, Kitt (Jimmy) Lumley, Mike Powers, Harold J. Powers and Donald M. Powers; grandchildren include, Rebecca (Parry) Duncan, Reid Duncan, Nick (Donna) MacNichol, Lindsey MacNichol, Sarah Travis, Michael Jon Powers, and Forrest Powers; great-grandchildren are, Katie Brown, Shannon Brown, Zachary MacNichol, Trace Bradley and Tanner Bradley.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2002, at the Park Lake In Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Dan DeBevoise ofciating. In lieu of owers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the 8th Air Force Heritage Museum in Savannah, Georgia.

Hal, May You Fly High Forever.