KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Descendants of Lt. Leroy Wolfe visited Keesler Air Force Base March 10 for a special tour of the training facility named in his honor.
Wolfe’s daughter, Jean Wolfe-Zartman, 88, and two of his granddaughters, Barbara Howard and Nancy Hagy, made the trip to Keesler to honor his legacy. Wolfe is known for the numerous contributions he made to modern airpower during the late 1910s to early 1930s, including the first known demonstration of telephone contact from ground to plane.
According to a Wolfe Hall poster, during the test, he was able to order flowers from his aircraft.
Wolfe also tested early parachute techniques, gave aerial warfare demonstrations and won multiple air races. He died in a plane crash in 1932.
Wolfe Hall was built at Keesler 20 years ago in his name and is currently the home of the 335th Training Squadron. A member of the unit reached out to Howard to set up a visit and cake cutting ceremony.
Wolfe-Zartman, Howard and Hagy made their way to Keesler from Florida to visit the building and share stories and pictures of Wolfe.
Although the family’s visit was brief, Wolfe-Zartman recounted many of the photos of Wolfe and his family from his childhood and through his time at Yale University shown to guests gathered for cake and coffee.
As the visit wrapped up, the family expressed their gratitude to the Airmen at Keesler and the 335th TRS for carrying on Wolfe’s legacy.
“It’s wonderful the kids get to come here,” Wolfe-Zartman said.