NEWPORT NEWS - Moses Jefferson Long died February 9, 2016 at the Warwick Forest Nursing Home. Moses was born August 15, 1924 to Grady and Bessie Long in Canoe, Alabama. His wife of 69 years, Ethel B. Long preceded him in death. He had four brothers, Grady, Jr., Leslie, Edward, Roy and two sisters, Jessie Mae Flowers and Mary Lee Johnson, all of whom also preceded him in death. He is survived by his son Moses J. Long, Jr. of Suffolk (Jeri) and two daughters, Madoline L. Wallace and Dorothy L. Burch (Bob) of Newport News. Other survivors include six grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren. Immediately after his High School graduation in 1942, Moses joined the Army Air Corps during World War ll. After graduation from flight school and additional flight training, he transferred overseas and as a 2nd Lieutenant was assigned to the 15th Air Force in Italy and joined the 49th Fighter Squadron of the 14th Fighter Group. He flew 35 combat missions over cities in Hungary, Austria and Germany. On his 35th mission he was shot down by ground fire supporting the invasion of southern France and received severe burns to his hands and face from the crash landing. Moses was captured by the German Army and spent eight months as a prisoner of war in Germany. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Clusters and the Purple Heart. At the end of World War Il, Moses remained in the Air Force for another two years and married Ethel Barrett of Smithfield, Virginia. After Moses left the Air Force he attended the apprentice school at NACA's Langley Research Center and worked as a Mechanical Engineer for NASA until his retirement 35 years later. Moses worked on most of the major space age projects including the Scout orbital launch vehicle, the lunar orbiter, the Apollo lunar landing and the Viking Mars landing. He was the project manager for the construction of the National Transonic Facility. Moses remained in the Air Force Reserve over the years and retired as a Lt. Colonel. Moses received his B.A. degree in Business from George Washington University. The family will have a private graveside service in celebration of Moses' life and he will be interned at the St. Luke's Cemetery in Smithfield. In lieu of flowers please make donations to St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Newport News or your favorite charity. Arrangements are in the care of Peninsula Funeral Home.

Moses J. Long, 2 Lt., 0-816126, 513 S. Conception St., Mobile, Al., POW 8/14/44 France (P-38J 43-28643, # 42, MACR 7953, Luftgaukommando Report ME 2274);
Long hit either by flak or small arms fire at approx. 1805 hrs at 43o43'N. 05o02'E. One engine of Lt. Long's P-38 observed in flames. He was last seen settling down in the valley at this point., Montfrin, France,
In fact his airplane crash Eyguiéres, Quartier de Roquemartine, North-East of Arles.
Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)

1 aerial victory