Colonel Comstock later served in Korea and Vietnam. He was the President of the 398th Memorial Association and died on January 26, 1996, following a two-year battle with cancer. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, being carried to his final resting place by four Army horses pulling his flag-draped coffin on a caisson.



A rifle volley over the grave and the soul-stirring notes of “Taps” announced that Comstock’s final mission here on earth had been recorded. He was 72.



It was Wally Blackwell, Association secretary, delivering a eulogy at the funeral, who offered these words on behalf of his fallen comrade; “Bill had a very meaningful and productive life, with a good crew aboard. He had many close friends in the 398th and we will surely miss him, but we can all expect to see him again at 30,000 feet”.



A retired Air Force colonel, Comstock’s career spanned World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam. His decorations included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, as well as the Air Medal with six clusters.



The men of the 398th knew him briefly in 1944-45 as "pilot" in the 602nd Squadron. The men and women of the Association knew him much longer as “president”. He was the man who had led the organization that grew from a little band of 30 in 1976 to about 2,000 at his death.