By Erik Lacayo
Fresno Bee (California)
Copyright 2006 McClatchy Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
HANFORD, Calif. — A local pilot killed in a plane crash last week was remembered Wednesday as adventurous, yet safe and always prepared while flying.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters said goodbye to a colleague for the second time this week during a memorial service for George “Sandy” E. Willett Jr. at the Kings County Fairgrounds.
“That old boy could sure fly,” said Mark Ward, a longtime friend.
Willett, 52, a DynCorp International employee, and CDF Battalion Chief Robert Stone were killed Sept. 6 while flying over a wildland fire in the Tulare County mountains.
A funeral service for Stone, 36, of Visalia, was held Tuesday.
The two men were directing firefighters battling the blaze when their scout plane crashed on a ridge in the Mountain Home State Forest north of Balch Park. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
DynCorp pilot Lee Monson described Willett as a meticulous pilot.
“I’ve never seen someone fly an airplane like he can,” Monson said.
Monson said he was a relief pilot for Willett in Porterville and was scheduled to fly the OV-10A Bronco scout plane that crashed.
“I’m anxious to find out what happened,” he said.
About 25 fire engines parked outside a large tent where Willett’s memorial service was held. Visitors were greeted by a large American flag hung on two fire engine ladders.
Ward described his friend as a fun-loving guy who liked fast cars and motorcycles almost as much as fast planes.
Ward joked about Willett wearing polyester in the 1970s and shared stories about Willett driving his old 1974 Pontiac Firebird and parking his Harley-Davidson inside a friend’s living room.
“He will be mad if you don’t laugh at something today,” Ward told the crowd. “He does not like sadness.”
CDF Chaplain Jim Cook joked that Willett and his wife, Judy, enjoyed going on spring break trips even though they are older than typical spring breakers.
Willett was born in Fresno and started crop dusting with his father.
He graduated from the College of the Sequoias Police Academy and worked for the Lemoore and Santa Barbara police departments.
Before working with CDF as a DynCorp pilot, Willett flew in Colombia for a federal drug eradication program.
“He told me he’d kill me if I asked about his mission [in Colombia], so I didn’t ask,” Ward joked.
CDF director Ruben Grijalva said firefighters would be comforted whenever they saw Willett flying above a fire they were battling.
“He had a passion for firefighting and a passion for flying,” Grijalva said.
Grijalva said all firefighters know they can be injured or killed but “it is still unexpected and tragic when it does occur.”