Ernest “Baylor” Randle, born in 1928, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2025, just shy of his 97th birthday. Baylor was a long-standing member of Alamo Liaison Squadron where he flew the recognizable yellow and blue Taylorcraft L-2 Trainer.
Baylor’s passion for aviation began as a teenager working a paper route to pay for flying lessons. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951–1952, with the 182nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron in Korea. Many years later, and a lifetime fulfilled with family, friends and colleagues, Baylor was honored with a Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award recognizing his over 50 years of safe flying.
The 182d Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard 149th Fighter Wing located at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas. In 1950, Texas Air National Guard was federalized and placed on active-duty, commensurate with the Korean War. The unit was assigned to the Ninth Air Force and re-designated a Fighter-Bomber unit. From its base in Japan, the 182d Fighter-Bomber unit was engaged in combat operations over South Korea.
Baylor often flew his L-2 in a missing man formation (position #2, left and behind the lead aircraft) when Alamo Liaison Squadron was asked to perform the ceremonial routine. His role was to turn left when over the field or the viewing ground, as the formation continued straight ahead. This was performed in recognition of a departed soul, and meant as a final farewell message. Baylor’s farewell from Cannon Field will be often remembered in the kindness and devotion that he brought day in and day out, both as a pilot and a friend.
In 2023, Alamo Liaison Squadron acquired the blue and yellow L-2, as a donation in part from Baylor Randle. The aircraft remains in the museum’s collection of WWII L-birds. “Baylor’s L-2” will perpetually be recognized for his stewardship and many flying years spent with this living vestige of history at Cannon Field.
FMI: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-antonio-tx/ernest-randle-12526625
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