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- The News and Advance
Published May 8, 2008
World War II Ace Pilot Made a Home in Lynchburg
by Dave Thompson
Two Navy Crosses, three Silver Stars, a Distinguished Flying Cross and ace fighter pilot status in World War II defined the military life of retired Navy Captain Theodore Hugh Winters, Jr.
Winters, who died April 25 at age 95, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935, and went on to serve 26 years in the Navy, earning multiple additional awards, including two Purple Heart awards.
He moved to Lynchburg's Westminster-Canterbury retirement community a few years back with his wife of 72 years, Helen Purkrabek Winters, to be near his daughter and son-in-law.
"He loved flying," said his daughter, Holly Winters Perrow, of Lynchburg. But she said he had less of a flare for the academic aspects of his training. "He hated every minute of the Naval Academy," she said. "He hated all of it. He loved to hunt and fish, and he didn't really like to study."
But the nuisance of academia was not enough to keep him away from his dream. "His father said, 'You do not want to go into planes,' " Perrow said, "They are never going to be anything in the Navy."
But Winters wouldn't be dissuaded, and the work eventually paid off.
"He said the first time he stepped into an airplane, it was like heaven," she said.
Winters served as the commander of fighting squadrom VF-19 during World War II, notably in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in October of 1944.
In 1985, Winters published "Skipper: Confessions of a Fighter Squadron Commander 1943-1944", detailing his experiences in that post.
Perrow said her father didn't talk much about wartime, so most who knew him outside of his profession remember the hunting and fishing stories.
Judge Mosby Perrow III, who married Holly Winters in 1965, said he asked for her hand in marriage on a hunting trip.
The Thanksgiving bird-hunting excursion afforded him the perfect opportunity, he said, except for one small detail.
"I could never get him alone," Mosby Perrow said. "He had an admiral down there with him."
He finally caught Winters alone in the kitchen, an intimidating sight in his rubber kitchen gloves. But he said his piece, and waited for the worst.
"I thought he was going to pitch me out," Perrow said.
"He listened and then peeled off the gloves, stuck out his hand, said, 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' "
On the few occasions Winters did reminisce about his wartime days, one of his favorite stories was the time he crash-landed his plane on a naval carrier, according to his daughter.
His plane had received several enemy shots, and he lost control of his steering mechanism. Grabbing the plane's guidewires, he maneuvered the plane back onto the carrier. She said the plane had 48 bullet holes in it.
On the homefront, Holly Perrow said her father was strict, but always fair.
And she said his military decorum didn't vanish, even after a long life with four children and ten grandchildren.
"He was a perfect gentleman until the day he died," Holly Winters said.
"He wore a tie to every meal at Westminster-Canterbury," which, she said, forced his nurse to learn the art of tying one. "She said, 'I've never put on a tie, but I learned how to do it for Captain Winters.' "
The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk, Virginia
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Obituary: Theodore H. Winters Jr. '35
Lynchburg - Theodore Hugh Winters Jr., died April 25, 2008, in Lynchburg.
He was born March 11, 1913, in Society Hill, South Carolina, to Theodore Hugh Winters and Emily Bassett Winters.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Hellen Purkrabek Winters. In addition, he is survived by three daughters, Susan Winters McKenry and her husband James R. McKenry of Virginia Beach, Holly Winters Perrow and her husband Mosby G. Perrow III of Lynchburg and Hamlin Winters Harritos of Clemson; ten grandchildren, Henry Steele Lewis III, Hugh Winters Lewis, Christopher Lewis, Chamie Grandy Valentine, Christina Selden Grandy, Hellen Perrow Carrington, Alexandra Perrow Wood, Mosby Garland Perrow IV, Katherine Harritos Wallace and Amy Winters Harritos; and eleven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter, Christina Winters Lewis.
Hugh graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1935, began a 26 year naval career and retired with the rank of captain. He served on the battleship USS Pennsylvania and the destroyer USS Truxton before becoming a naval aviator.
During World War II, he saw action in North Africa and the Pacific Theater. He was skipper of the fighter squadron, Fighting 19, and an ace, with eight confirmed victories in aerial combat against Japanese aircraft. He and his wingman saw the sinking of three Japanese carriers in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. For his war service, Hugh was awarded two Navy Crosses, three Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, two Purple Hearts and other decorations. But he was most proud of his squadron's unique record of having no bomber or torpedo plane from his air group lost to Japanese fighters while under VF-14 escort.
After the war Hugh was instrumental in the creation of the Blue Angels, skipper of the carrier USS Roosevelt, and chief of staff to Commander Air Forces Atlantic Fleet.
In retirement, at the instigation of the men in his squadron, Hugh wrote a book, "Skipper, Confessions of a Fighter Squadron Commander 1943-1944," about their war experiences.
Hugh enjoyed many hobbies, especially hunting, fishing and golfing with his friends almost up to the day he died.
The family wishes to express its appreciation for the care and support given by the Gentle Shepherd Hospice and sixth floor Drinkard Westminster-Canterbury staffs.
A memorial service will be conducted Friday at 11 a.m. in St. John's Episcopal Church with the Reverend Michael R. Sullivan officiating. A reception for family and friends will follow in Magill Hall.
A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, August 29, in the Old Post Chapel of Arlington National Cemetery. Interment with full military honors accorded by the United States Navy Honor Guard will follow the service.
Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tharpfuneralhome.com.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1913 - 2008 (95 years)