“John was a WWII, U.S. Navy veteran who served as an Aviation Radioman aboard PBMs and PB4-Y2s, was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force, received his pilot wings and Instructor Pilot status and flew for 27 years serving as Commander, 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Hahn AFB, Germany during the transition from F-100D to F-4D aircraft and volunteered for Vietnam.
Leading a flight of three F-4D Phantom Jets, John was shot down and held as a Prisoner of War at the well-known “Hanoi Hilton” until all POWs were released on March 14, 1973. Upon his release, John was assigned to the Eastern Test Range, Patrick AFB as Director of Range Support until retirement.” (1)
Source: (1) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90421967/john-stewart-finlay
John S. Finlay, III, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on October 30, 2011.
JOHN STEWART FINLAY, III of Indian River Colony in Melbourne, FL died at home – he was the son of Jack and Helen Finlay. John received a BS degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland and a MS degree in Bacteriology from Ohio State University. He married Carolyn W on June 3, 1949.
John was a WWII, U.S. Navy veteran who served as an Aviation Radioman aboard PBMs and PB4-Y2s, was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force, received his pilot wings and Instructor Pilot status and flew for 27 years serving as Commander, 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Hahn AFB, Germany during the transition from F-100D to F-4D aircraft and volunteered for Vietnam.
Leading a flight of three F-4D Phantom Jets, John was shot down and held as a Prisoner of War at the well-known “Hanoi Hilton” until all POWs were released on March 14, 1973. Upon his release, John was assigned to the Eastern Test Range, Patrick AFB as Director of Range Support until retirement.
John went back to work April 28, 1980 as a Senior Engineer for Planning Research Corporation (PRC) and as Senior Engineer for Lockheed at the Kennedy Space Center, FL until 1990. His awards include: Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Carolyn; children, Carol Ann of Sevierville, TN and John, IV (Mary) of Cary, NC; grandchildren, John, V of Raleigh, NC, Brian of Fayetteville, NC and brother, King (Ginny) of Quakerstown, PA. He was preceded in death by son, Robert. A graveside Memorial Service [was] held on June 29, 2012.
Published in FLORIDA TODAY on May 20, 2012.
Leading a flight of three F-4D Phantom Jets, John was shot down on 4/28/1968 and held as a Prisoner of War at the well-known “Hanoi Hilton” until all POWs were released on March 14, 1973.
