EBLING, Donald C. July 6, 2008, age 91 Beloved husband of the late Karen. Dear father of Donald W. Valerie, James Vanessa and Robert. Loving grandfather of Lauren and Lindsey. Proudly served as a Staff Technical Sergeant in the Army Air Corps in WWII as part of the 553rd AAF Base Unit of the Air Transport Command in the China-Burma-India Theater CBI. For his service he was awarded the Asia-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 4 Bronze Stars, the American Theater Ribbon, The Distinguished Unit Badge, The Air Medal, The World War II Victory Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, and was also awarded the China Air-Medal and the Chinese Airforce Wings from Generalisimo Chiang Kai-shek. He was recognized as a Rifle Sharpshooter and was trained as an Airplane Maintenance Technician. He became a C-46 Crew Chief in charge of 6 men who repaired and maintained C-46's and B-17 aircraft overseas, and B-25's, B-26's in the U.S. He flew over the Himalayan Mountains Known as the Hump from India into China and Burma supplying materials and troops in support of the Flying Tigers AVG Group located in Kunming, China and other areas of China, Burma and India. He flew wounded soldiers back out without a fighter escort, unarmed and in treacherous flying conditions commonly known as the "Aluminum Trail" – some of the worst flying conditions on Earth. He was also very proud of his work helping to restore the B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Lady and other aircraft as part of his volunteer work with the Yankee Air Force at Willow Run Airport. He was a life long outdoorsman with a passion for flyfishing, bird and Deer hunting, flying, boating, and all sports. He was also a Cub Scout Leader and coached Little League baseball in Dearborn Heights. He was a longtime member of Ducks Unlimited, The Michigan Duck Hunters Association, Trout Unlimited, The Ruffed Grouse Society, The Burma Star Society, the Hump Pilots Association, a Life Member of the National Rifle Association, and a founding member of the Lovells Hook and Trigger Club in Lovells, MI. He worked as a Sheet Metal Worker and later as a Tool & Die Machinist for Edfri Industries. As a young man he worked closely with his father George Ebling Henry Ford's personal photographer – recognized as one of the best photographers in the world by Henry Ford in the book "Henry's Lieutenants", appeared in several Ford Motor Company car advertisements and public service movies for the Michigan State Police, and was part of Ford's Apprentice Program as a Metal Pattern Maker. He was a Stone Mason and Carpenter and built his own 22 foot Cabin Cruiser boat the "Hornet" which he kept at the Riverview Yacht Club. He was a graduate of Dearborn High School class of 1935, attended the University of Michigan as a Chemical Engineering major, and was a graduate of the Wright Aeronautical Company's Engine Maintenance School in New York. Donald was a loving, generous and supportive father whose life spanned the eras of the Model A and modern computers. Memorial Service to be held at a future date. Donations in lieu of flowers to the Yankee Airforce at Willow Run Airport, P.O. Box 590; Belleville, MI 48112-0590, Ducks Unlimited Inc., Memorial Contributions, One Waterfowl Way; Memphis, TN 38120 or Memorial/Honorary Gifts, Trout Unlimited, 1300 N. 17th St. Suite 500; Arlington, VA 22209-3801. Arrangements by the Dearborn Chapel of the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home 313 561-1500.