Capt William B.Ecker 1924-2009

William Ecker was born in Omaha,Nebraska. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 until 1974. He is most famous for his role in the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. On October 23, 1962, he led the first low-level reconnaissance flight over Cuba and (together with his wing man Lieutenant Bruce Wilhelmy) took the first close-up photos of the Soviet missile bases in Cuba. During this mission, they both flew F-8 Crusader aircraft.
After the end of the Missile Crisis, Ecker received the DFC for his service. The unit he commanded, VFP-62, received the first peacetime Navy Unit Commendation in history From President John F.Kennedy in a ceremony on November 26, 1962.