USAF Retired
      General Murray A. Bywater, USAF Retired, died May 1, 2004 at Air Force Village West in Riverside, California at the age of 89.
      Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, General Bywater was a graduate of the University of Utah after which he entered the U.S. Air Corps Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas. He rose in rank from a Second Lieutenant to Brigadier General and served 31 ½
      years in the Air Force.
      As a pilot, his first tactical station was March Field, California. While serving there, he met and married the former Frankie Lale Galloway of Riverside. They were married in the St. Francis of Assisi Flyer's Chapel of the Mission Inn, Riverside, California, July 2, 1941.
      For two and a half years, he commanded a bombardment group in the Asian Theater during World War II and flew 276 hours of combat. He was shot down on a mission over the island of Jaluit in the Marshall Islands, but landed his crippled aircraft on a friendly atoll thus saving the wounded crew and aircraft. He was the youngest full colonel of the Air Force at that time. He made the first United States aircraft landing on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from which the atomic bomb aircraft was launched. His group made the first land-based Medium Bombardment strike on the Japanese mainland.
      General Bywater's major commands included the supersonic F-84F Fighter Wing, the supersonic B-58 Bombardment Division, the B-47 Training Wing, and the Titan Two Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Task Force in the Wichita/McConnell Air Force Base area. He completed his military service as Chief-of-Staff of the Second Air Force.
      Following his service with the United States Air Force, General Bywater was Airport Manager of the Salt Lake City International Airport and developed its current Master Plan. He earned his Master Degree in Airport Management at that time. Subsequently, he was the Airport Director of the Riverside, California airport. In that capacity, he also served as President of the Aviation Technical Advisory Committee of the Southern California Association of Governments.
      General Bywater was a member of the Kiwanis Club for almost 50 years. He was a Daedalian, a member of the University of Utah Emeritus Alumni Association, a member of The Retired Officer's Association, and a member of the Military Order of the World Wars. He was a High Priest and member of the Vista Heights Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
      General Bywater is survived by his wife of 62 years, Frankie, a daughter, Terri Milton, a son-in-law, David Milton, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
      Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 12 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Dr. where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.