On Saturday, September 13, 2014, Herbert William Sawyer, 88, went to his final rest. He had resided at The Veranda of Pensacola Retirement Community, Pensacola, FL for the last few months, and was recently hospitalized with a brief illness. Herb was a veteran of WWII, serving as a B-24 Radio Operator and Gunner with the 408th Bombardment Squadron, 22nd Bombardment Group (Heavy), the "Red Raiders". The 408th then a part of 5th Air Force, carried out combat and reconnaissance missions against Japanese airfields, installations and shipping in New Guinea, the Philippines, Borneo, Formosa, China and ultimately mainland Japan. His military decorations include the American Theater Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 8 Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. A native of Lancaster, PA, Herb attended Franklin & Marshall College under the GI Bill and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business. While attending to his undergraduate studies, he started working at RCA's Lancaster Plant, ultimately spending a career with the company spanning 35 years. Herb rose to be an executive and Senior Manufacturing Manager with both RCA's High Power and Tube & Laser Divisions. He led manufacturing and engineering teams that made key contributions to the design of miniaturized Vidicon cameras used in NASA's Apollo Series of spacecraft, Skylab and the Space Shuttle, bringing the first video transmissions of the Moon's surface back to earth. Herb also assisted in the development of high-power switching technologies as part of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory's Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor. He was a life member of both the B.P.O.E.(Elks Lodge # 134) and the Air Force Association and a former member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Herbert's wife of 61 years, Marie E. (Bermel) Sawyer, predeceased him on February 10, 2014. He is survived by three sons; Eric (Sue) of Atlanta, GA, Herbert Thomas (Barbara) of Pensacola, FL and Stephen (Tammy) of Rio Rancho, NM; grandchildren, Lillian, Elizabeth, Matthew, Madison and Mackenzie Sawyer. Herbert's interment will be in the family burial plot at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Lancaster, PA. At the request of the family, the burial ceremony will be private. The family wishes to thank the outstanding staffs at The Veranda and Emerald Coast Hospice for their care and thoughtfulness during his final days.