Francis Herbert, Jr.

Francis Edward Herbert, Chief Warrant Officer-4 (USAF, Ret), age 101, a native of Ayer, Massachusetts, passed away in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.
Francis was a 1937 graduate of Ayer High School. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1942, with his first duty being assigned as an Army Air Corps air traffic controller. He served in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. He loved telling the story about leaving the Islands for his first “R and R” in 1945 when the pilot announced halfway home that the war was over. He never returned to the Aleutians for the rest of his belongings, but instead married the love of his life, Helen, one week after landing. They made the decision to make the Air Force a career, with Francis serving at Grenier Field, NH; RAF Sculthorpe, UK; Clinton County AFB, Ohio; Thule AFB, Greenland; Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana; Travis AFB, California; and Toul-Rosieres AFB, France. The family also lived in Casablanca, Morocco when Francis served as advisor to the Moroccan Government on aircraft movement operations during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1968 he was assigned to Pleiku AFB, Vietnam as a Flight Facilities Officer. He was credited as the first air traffic controller to detect and track enemy missile activities utilizing the Ground Position Navigation-14 Mobile Radar. His efforts resulted in the awarding of the Legion of Merit Medal. Francis was assigned to Keesler AFB, Mississippi as an instructor for the Air Traffic Control Officer’s Course in 1969. After an honorable 30 plus years of military service, CWO-4 Francis Herbert, “Mr. Air Traffic Control” retired in 1972 as the last Air Force Air Traffic Control Warrant Officer. He continued serving his country as a civilian Air Traffic Control Instructor at Keesler AFB for another 20 years.
Francis was preceded in death by Helen, his beloved wife of 73 years; parents, Francis and Bertha (Robinson) Herbert; and his siblings, June Fisher, Grace Wheeler, Edwin Herbert, Violet Woodman, Robert Herbert, Marjorie Lozeau, Lorraine Herbert, and John Herbert.
He is survived by his children, Barry Herbert (Patricia), Pamela Herbert Manners, and Wendy Herbert Warren (Hoyt); six grandchildren, Tracy Manners Jerry (Kirk), Brian Herbert (Kristen), Kristen Manners (Lacy), Heather Warren Butts, (Jason), Stacey Herbert, and Allison Warren Rose (Stuart); four great-grandchildren, Dylan Jacob Herbert, McKenna Anne Herbert, Carter Herbert Manners, and Kaylee Elizabeth Gains; a multitude of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends.
Friends are invited to join the family for a military graveside service at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at Biloxi National Cemetery. The service will be live streamed at www.riemannfamily.com under Mr. Herbert's online obituary.  The family would like to thank Keesler Air Force Base and the Biloxi High School AFJROTC for their participation in the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Riemann Family Funeral Home, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi is serving the family. The online guestbook may be signed, and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com