Lanny Allen York

Lanny Allen York grew up in Muscatine County and graduated from Muscatine High School. He began flying airplanes at the age of 16 and earned his pilots licenses while a senior in high school. York joined the Air Force in June 1970. After training, 1LT York was deployed to Southeast Asia. He was stationed at Nakhon Phanom Airbase in Thailand. As a pilot he flew QU-22 high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. On August 25, 1972 1LT York lost power in his plane during take-off and crashed. He was rescued from the wreckage and evacuated to a military hospital in Okinawa, Japan. He had 2nd and 3rd degree burns to over half his body including his face, neck, and legs. 1LT York succumbed to his injuries on September 16, 1972. His body was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Muscatine.