1931-2007

Melvin (Mel) D. Duncan, 76, a third generation Wyomingite, died Oct. 11 at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.

He was born Sept. 5, 1931, in Cheyenne, to the late Wesley Ernest Duncan and Blanche Martha (Kopsa) Duncan. He graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1949. He married Norma Jean Lockman in Cheyenne on Dec. 5, 1953.

He joined the Wyoming Air Guard on Nov. 12, 1948, while he was still in high school as an aircraft armorer. During his lengthy military career he served as an airplane mechanic, crew chief and flight engineer. His almost 43 years of service included 25 years as chief master sergeant. At retirement, he was the most senior chief master sergeant on a national basis in the active Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. He also served as senior enlisted advisor for the Wyoming Air National Guard, during which time he was responsible for the acquisition and restoration of the static aircraft on display at the Wyoming Guard base. He served in the both the Korean and Vietnam wars and also served as an Air Guard historian for many years. He retired Sept 5, 1991.

Mr. Duncan spent a good portion of time at the cabin he built himself in the old mining town of Morgan in the Snowy Range. He authored two books, "The Medicine Bow Mining Camps" and "Place Names of the Medicine Bow National Forest" in addition to a self-published history, "Flight 409," about the plane crash that occurred on Medicine Bow Peak in 1955. He devoted considerable time to preserving the memory of the Flight 409 victims and in their honor, established a stone memorial and bronze plaque off the Snowy Range Scenic Bypass (Miner's Cabin Overlook) in view of the crash site. He frequently gave presentations and programs on Wyoming history.

He served on the Wyoming Aviation Hall of Fame Board, the Wyoming National Guard Museum Board and the Wyoming Board of Geographic Names. He was a member of the Wyoming State Historical Society and was a member of the First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years.

He is survived by his wife, Norma; son, John Duncan (Robin, flight nurse, Wyoming Air National Guard) of Sheridan; and two daughters, Nancy Winter (Jeff) of Indianapolis, and Sandra Richtermeyer (Mike Santen) of Mason, Ohio.

Also surviving are two sisters, Betty Pickard and Louise Oster; sister-in-law, Francis Duncan; and brother-in-law, Ralph Oster; as well as five grandchildren, Staff Sgt. Matthew Duncan (Staff Sgt. Amber Duncan), Eielson A.F.B., Fairbanks, Alaska, Patrick Duncan, Sheridan, Christopher Winter and Sean Winter, Indianapolis, and Luke Duncan Richtermeyer, Mason; and one great-grandchild soon to be born in Alaska.

He was preceded in death by infant daughter, Janet Duncan; his brother, Donald Duncan; and brother-in-law, Clinton Pickard.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. today at the First United Methodist Church followed by a reception at Allison Hall.

Military honors will be provided by the Wyoming Air National Guard. Cremation will be at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wyoming National Guard Museum, 624 E. Pershing Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 8200l.

This is a paid obituary.