Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Harry, Haulenbeck Bristol, of Lompoc, California, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, November 20. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. The date is still to be determined.

Harry, "Bud," was born February 28, 1922, in New Haven, Connecticut, and was a member of Newark Academy, Newark, New Jersey class of 1941, where he played three sports. He was a freshman at North Carolina State University when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. After one year of college, he enlisted and was called-up for Aviation Cadet training in January 1943. He graduated as a fighter pilot with the rank of second lieutenant in 1943. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross, 20 Air Medals, the Belgium Croix de Guerre and two Presidential Unit Citations as a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot. He logged over 105 missions and flew five sorties on D-Day. He completed an accelerated program at Purdue University, graduating with an Aeronautical Engineering degree in June 1948.

After the war, he continued flying and served three years as a test pilot. He also completed one year in Research and Development at the Pentagon. Following that, he served seven years for the Secretary of the Air Force for Special Projects at Los Angeles, California working on the classified reconnaissance satellite Corona Program and others. After retiring from the Air Force in 1969 he worked for Hughes Aircraft Company continuing his work on military classified programs for the next eighteen years. He also served as president of the Fighter Pilots Association for several years.

Upon retirement, Bud enjoyed traveling, playing golf and volunteering with several organizations. To his family, he left behind a legacy built on integrity, loyalty and love. He was preceded in death by his father, Harry H. Bristol, Sr.; and stepfather John Jones; mother, Belle Garretson and brother Lt., Frank Bristol, who was shot down and lost at sea during the Japanese invasion. He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Renne Bristol, son Peter (Irene) Bristol of Thousand Oaks, California, a daughter, Barbara Smith of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, stepsons, Mike (Kathy) Rayburn of Denver, Colorado; Frank (Janine) Rayburn, of Santa Clarita, California and stepdaughters, Debra (David) Louks of Newbury Park, California, and Nancy Rayburn of Lompoc. Bud and Renne were blessed with 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Father Tom Cook will celebrate a memorial mass on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at 10 am at La Purisima Catholic Church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.starbucklind.com