Born in 1949, Major Donald R. Backlund was a native of Kenosha Wisconsin. He was accepted to the Air Force Academy in 1967 where he received many honors. He was named the Outstanding Cadet in Military History and in 1970 he published a paper on air power in Aerospace Historian Magazine. He was a distinguished graduate from the Academy in 1971 and then went on to receive his Masters' Degree in history from the University of Indiana. He entered helicopter training school and completed advanced helicopter training at the 1551st Flying Training Squadron (FTS) at Hill AFB, Utah. He was then assigned to Nakon Phanom Air Base in Thailand with the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. He took part in the evacuation of Phnon Phen, Cambodia in 1975, and then in the rescue of the merchant ship SS Mayaguez. Backlund piloted one of four rescue helicopters attempting to recover U. S. Marines pinned down by hostile Cambodian automatic weapons fire. Major Backlund received the Air Force Cross for his heroism in rescuing the Marines. Upon his return from Thailand, he was assigned as an instructor and flight examiner to the 1551st FTS and in 1978 graduated from fixed wing training. Backlund was killed in 1979 in the crash of his A-10 Thunderbolt after being selected for promotion to major three years below the zone. Major Backlund was honored posthumously in 1980 with the dedication of Backlund Hall, Building 1019, at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico by the Military Airlift Command, the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, and the 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing .
From the description of Donald R. Backlund collection, 1967-1979. (US Air Force Academy). WorldCat record id: 716312392
