Yes, I'm fairly sure that the Alex Wheeler who died in Santa Maria WAS F/O Alexander Blair Wheeler of 19 Sq. Looking online I found his wedding in 1948 see below:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2982...eler_inga_van/.
In the Santa Maria obituary, it mentions his childhood in China with missionary parents. and a search on his father , Dr. W Reginald Wheeler reveals that he was a missionary in China. Below is a link to his collected papers at Cornell University. He even wrote a book about his missionary journey - A MAN SENT FROM GOD, by W. Reginald Wheeler. 333 pp. Westwood,. New Jersey, Fleming H. Revel1 Co., 1956. :
https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/.../RMM04284.html