Roll Call Tribute

Published in Houston Chronicle from December 6 to December 7, 2012

Lt. Richard Collins
Lt. Richard Wallace Collins "Rip" received his eternal wings on November 30, 2012. Rip was a father, husband, devout Christian, Aggie and former fighter pilot in 35th Fighter Wing, 40th Fighter Squadron, WWII. Born November 11, 1923, in the Houston Heights to Donald Lee and Sarah Posey Collins, he moved to Joinerville, Texas where he graduated from Gaston High School. He attended Texas A&M until joining the Army Air Corp in 1942. As a Fighter Pilot of P-51s and P47s in the Pacific Theater, Rip flew 92 missions against the Japanese. While escorting B-29s flying to Japan, he saw the atomic bomb detonate over Nagasaki.
After his service, Rip returned to A&M to receive his Bachelor of Architecture. After graduation, he worked as a contractor in Victoria and Houston and, late in life, became a Representative for Aid Association for Lutherans. Rip loved music, evangelism, men's bible group for which he wrote lessons for 7 years, electronics and Scotties. He participated in the AFA, CAF and Eagles and founded the 40th Fighter Flight Test Squadron Association.
Rip is survived by his wife of 29 years, Marilyn; his son, Richard Ronald Collins DDS and wife, Sharon; daughter, Rue Elaine Collins Wright and husband, Bill and stepdaughter, Allison Elaine Finer Afuta and husband, Meir. His grandchildren are Cara Dawn Collins; Richard Dath Collins, DDS and wife, Angie; Paul Tapley Collins; Sarah Ashley Harmon Duncan and husband, Trey and Caleb Joseph Harmon. Great grandchildren are Bella Rue and Cade Wesley Duncan and Richard Harrison Collins. Scotties: Babs and Scot.
A memorial service will be officiated by Reverend Steven Simon at 11 am Saturday, December 8 at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church located at 14200 Memorial Drive, Houston 77079, and burial will be at 2:30 pm Monday, December 10 at Houston National Cemetery.
Much love and appreciation is extended to the Palliative Care Unit of the VA Hospital for their care of Rip.
Memorials may be made to Christ Memorial Lutheran Church.
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Sent by Henry C. Dethloff

Lt. Richard Wallace "Rip" Collins '45 received his eternal wings on November 30, 2012. The son of Donald Lee and Sarah Posey Collins, he was born on November 11, 1923 in Houston, Texas and grew up in Joinerville, graduating from Gaston High School. Rip Collins began his studies at Texas A&M in 1941, joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, earned his wings and was assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing, 40th Fighter Squadron, piloting P-51s and P-47s in the Pacific. Collins flew ninety-two combat missions against the Japanese!

At 11:02 AM on August 9, 1945, he was providing escort to a crippled B-24 returning from a bombing mission over Japan. He "saw in the distance an extremely bright flashing fireball, rising up through a cloud cover, rapidly growing in size." That was quickly followed by a "milti-colored boiling, growing, color-changing ball of fire" which soon disappeared." "A tall, irregular stove pipe shape" cloud began to reach to the heavens. What he had witnessed was the atomic bomb exploding over Nagasaki--and the effective end of World War II.

On August 15, Emperor Hirohito accepted the Americans' terms of surrender. The formal surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 by Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz for the United States. On September 3, in Baguio, Luzon, in the Philippine Islands, General Wainwright and Maj. Gen. Edmond H. Leavey ('15) signed documents formally accepting the surrender of the Philippines to the United States. On September 8, General Douglas MacArthur, escorted by the 7th Cavalry and the 302nd Reconnaissance Troop commanded by Capt. Don H. Walton ('42). On the sides of Capt. Walton's scout car was emblazoned, We've Never Been Licked, and the Texas flag flew from the radio antenna. "Nothing could better symbolize the fact for Texas Aggies in military service that the war was over."

Following the end of the war Rip Collins completed his studies at Texas A&M, earning the Bachelor of Architecture degree. He became a contractor in Victoria and Houston and was active in church and community affairs. He participated in the AFA, CAF, and Eagles and founded the 40th Flight Test Squadron Association. [See Houston Chronicle, Friday, December 7, 2012; and Texas Aggies Go To War: In Service of Their Country, Henry C. Dethloff, with John A. Adams, Jr., p. 203. ]