Nolte 37-Year Air Force Vet

Reginald G. Nolte served more than 37 years in the Air Force and wrote a book about his exploits in World War II.  "Thunder Monsters over Euurope: A History of the 405th Fighter Group in WWII" sold more than 3,000 copies.  Nolte retired as a colonel in 1981 from the 410th Bombardment Wing at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich, and moved to San Antonio.  From 1975 to 1979, Nolte was deputy for logistics at Kelly AFB.  Nolte died Sunday of diabetes and heart failure.  He was 67.  Born in Milwaukee, Wis., he was a dedicated baseball player and played with chapionship teams in Milwaukee, Madison, Wis., and Pasadena, Calif.  Private Pilot - He was a proficiant pilot and flew with flying clubs in Milwaukee and Pasadena.  In 1943, Nolte enlisted and joined the 405th Fighter Group in Tampa, Fla.  He served in England in 1944 and in six campaigns in France, Belgium and Germany.  In December 1945, Nolte was released from active duty and entered the University of Wisconsin.  On Sept. 9, 1949, he and Francile Mathison, a fellow student, were married in La Crosse, Wis.  He graduated in 1951with a degree in economics and majors in English literature and zoology.  He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Arnold Air Society, which cited him as a "distinguished military graduate."  After graduation, Nolte re-entered the Air Force as a second liutenant.  During the Korean War he served at Chanute AFB, Ill., as manpower management officer.  He later served in Milwaukee and Riverside, Calif.  At Hamilton AFB, Calif., he was executive officer for the base.  "My husband was a man of wide interests," his wife said.  "He was an avid historian and a collector of English literature and poetry.  He was a highly dedicated staff officer and exhibited a professional approach to his various positions."  Nolte was a life member of the Air Force Association and the Reserve Officers Association.  Additional survivors are two sons, Reginald D. Nolte of Selfridge AFB, Mich., and David R. Nolte of Atlanta, Ga.; two daughters, Nancy L. Brown of Bellaire and Barbara K. Sullivan of Kennesaw, Ga.; and six grandchildren.  Services are to be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Porter Loring Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Gordon Kuenemann officiating.  Burial with military honors will be in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.