WILLIAM R. MUSCHA, LCDR, USN
William Muscha '87
Lucky Bag
From the 1987 Lucky Bag:
William Robert Muscha
Bill hailed from Fargo, North Dakota and spent his plebe year with the boys from Four, most notably John L., Dave S., and Mike H. After garnishing honors as the plebe chow-call scheduler, Bill bolted for cruise and eventually returned to his new niche in Mother B. — Seventh Heaven. In Lucky 7, Bill distinguished himself as an aero stud, a dedicated CCD teacher, a fine violinist, a Con Squad instructor, the First Class Ticket Coordinator, a great guy for K.H., R.M., and I to rumble, and an outstanding roommate. After graduation, Bill will put his aero ability to work as an NFO, and hopefully land in the space program. When I reminisce about "my Academy days," the first person who will come to mind will be my friend and roommate, Bill Muscha. I don't think I'll ever forget Bill's warm, friendly, often mischievous grin, and his loyal friendship during the glory years of 7th Company. Thanks for everything, Bill, GO BISONS! Sandy. JAM.
William Robert Muscha
Bill hailed from Fargo, North Dakota and spent his plebe year with the boys from Four, most notably John L., Dave S., and Mike H. After garnishing honors as the plebe chow-call scheduler, Bill bolted for cruise and eventually returned to his new niche in Mother B. — Seventh Heaven. In Lucky 7, Bill distinguished himself as an aero stud, a dedicated CCD teacher, a fine violinist, a Con Squad instructor, the First Class Ticket Coordinator, a great guy for K.H., R.M., and I to rumble, and an outstanding roommate. After graduation, Bill will put his aero ability to work as an NFO, and hopefully land in the space program. When I reminisce about "my Academy days," the first person who will come to mind will be my friend and roommate, Bill Muscha. I don't think I'll ever forget Bill's warm, friendly, often mischievous grin, and his loyal friendship during the glory years of 7th Company. Thanks for everything, Bill, GO BISONS! Sandy. JAM.
Loss
William was lost on May 8, 2002 when the T-39 Sabreliner he was piloting crashed into the Gulf of Mexico during a training flight. He was an instructor in Training Squadron (VT) 86.
Other Information
From the Associated Press via St. Petersburg Times on May 16, 2002:
PENSACOLA -- The loss of two Navy training jets and seven crew members last week in the Gulf of Mexico may never be explained, a fellow aviator said Wednesday at a pair of memorial services.
The T-39 Sabreliners, used for navigation, radar intercept, electronic warfare and other nonpilot training, vanished from radar about 40 miles south of Pensacola on May 8. Neither sent a distress signal.
"I do not know now, nor do I ever expect to answer or understand why this happened," said retired Navy Capt. Charles Tinker in his eulogy. "I fear it will remain a tragic mystery."
Tinker is chief pilot for Raytheon Aerospace LLC, which has a contract to fly the T-39s, a military version of a popular business jet.
Harry White, spokesman for Pensacola Naval Air Station, where the planes were based, said he still could not confirm whether they collided.
Navy investigators have not decided yet whether to find and bring up wreckage from below 210 feet of water, White said. No remains have been recovered.
About 800 people filled the base chapel to memorialize the two Raytheon pilots, both Vietnam veterans. They were retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Homer "Gray" Hutchinson III, 57, of Pensacola; and retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Marshall F. "Fritz" Herr Sr., 59, of nearby Pace.
The service then moved to Barrancas National Cemetery, also on base, where a pair of white and orange T-39s flew over in formation before one broke away left and the other right. An honor guard fired three rifle volleys and played taps.
There was a second memorial later for all seven crew members at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, also part of the base. About 1,800 mourners, including Florida Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan, attended.
The other victims included two instructors, Navy Lt. Cmdr. William R. Muscha, 36, of Fargo, N.D.; and Royal Saudi Air Force Maj. Ambarak S. Al-Ghamdi, 32, a native of Albaha, Saudi Arabia, who between them left behind 11 children.
The remaining crew members were students: Navy Lt. Christopher T. Starkweather, 26, of Fort Atkinson, Wis.; Navy Ensign James T. Logan, 26, of Woodland Hills, Calif.; and Marine 2nd Lt. John N. Wilt, 23, of O'Fallon, Ill.
From Travis Manion Foundation:
Muscha graduated from the Naval Academy in 1987 and was assigned to Fighter Squadron 21 at NAF Atsugi, Japan upon completing flight training. Fighter Squadron 21 was assigned to the carrier USS Independence, where LCDR Muscha deployed twice to the Arabian Gulf. In 1994, he returned to the United States and served as a flight instructor at both NAS Pensacola and NAS Corpus Christi, TX. In the following years of service William earned master’s degrees in aeronautical science as well as in military art and science.
LCDR Muscha is survived by his wife, six children, as well as his parents and sister.
He has a marker in North Dakota.
Photographs
Remembrances
From the Naval Academy Alumni Association's updated "In Memoriam" page:
Bill was one of my plebe year roommates along with David Sewell. He came from Fargo with his violin case and a dream to be a Navy pilot. He was a great American who was taken from us way too soon. John Loesch '87
A year after his death, the Crowne Point, FL community his family once lived in renamed a street in his honor, calling it 'Paper Muscha Way'.
Related Articles
John Wilt '00 was also lost in this collision.
William is one of 5 members of the Class of 1987 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
