Stamschror, Charles J.

I flew the F-100A at Nellis AFB in late 1957 while going through advanced gunnery training. It was with the 3595th Stu Squadron. After my completion of the Nellis Advanced Training Program, I was assigned PCS to George AFB, at Victorville. CA and assigned to the 436th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing.  The 436th was just starting to upgrade to the F-100 C’s and D’s, so I flew the F-100A only 2 more times which was June 14th and 15th of 1957.

In 1958, I was assigned to the 13th AF in the 405th Tactical Fighter Wing and flew with the 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the F-100 C, D, and F.  While flying in the 405th Wing, I was made the Project Officer in charge of delivering 36 F-100 A’s to the Chinese AF in Taiwan. These were, as I said, 100A’s, but they were given the Dash 7 engines which really made them a much hotter machine than the old F-100A that I remember from Nellis AFB.  I personally got to deliver five of these aircraft from Cuba Point in the PI. which included the first and last aircraft of the 36.  One heck of a party was given after the last bird was delivered.

After active duty, I went to work for United Airlines. Got to fly a lot of different A/C, up to a rating in the 747-400. “Firecan Dan” was one of my ground school instructors on the B-747-400 at the Denver Flt. Training Center. He helped a lot by quizzing me on the A/C systems while BBQ’n and tipping a bunch of beers at his condo in Denver. While working for the UAL, I flew with the Reserves {C-124’s (ugh) at Andrews and C-141’s out of Travis}. Spent 26 years with United.

Some of the schools I had the pleasure of going to while on active duty were: Winter Survival (Stead), Water Survival (Numazu), Jump School (Ft. Benning), Forward Air Control (Biloxi), and Jungle Survival (Clark) Oh ya, I forgot to mention that I had the pleasure of going through Primary Pilot Training with Gale H. (Wee Willie) Wilson and later, while stationed at Homestead we went through jump school together at Ft. Benning. I wish I had taken notes on all the wild things Willie did so that I could look back on them and reflect on those good old days.

I’ve been blessed to have been married to a beautiful, truly fantastic lady for the past forty-one years, have two children and two grandchildren, and now live In Los Altos, CA.

Bob Fizer said that he feels as though he has never worked a day in his life because of the flying jobs he has had. I too feel the same way. I’ve gotten to know and fly with some of the world’s finest, and I cherish the things I have learned from them. Life has been a great ride!

My thanks to all you Hun Drivers.