Gordon E. Peterson

Preferred Name: Gordie
Date of Birth: March 14, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Auburn, NE

I spent most of my USAF career in the cockpit. Most of my flying time was in the F-100. Those units were with the 174th Iowa ANG; 428thTFS/478thTFS, Cannon AFB; 4515th CCTS/4514th CCTS StanEval IP Upgrade Section, Luke AFB; F-100 Graduate USAF Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB; 612TFS/Wing Stan Eval; Phu Cat AB Vietnam; 307TFS Torrejon AB, Spain. The USAF aircraft I flew during my career: PA-18, T-28, T-33, RF-84F, F-86, F-100 (2200hrs), F-4C/D/F, T-29. O1, C-47. Total SEA missions were 360 (01 FAC & F-100).

The various types of assignments (PCS/Squadron/Wing) included were: TAC CASF deployments to Cuban Missile crises 1962, Homestead AFB (where I met my lovely wife); CASF Nuclear Alert at Misawa AB, Japan; Kunson, ROK; Aviano AB, Italy; and Incirlik AB, Turkey. TAC jump qualified Forward Air Controller. Member of the first TAC FACs to SEA in 1964 TDY as FAC advisors to the VNAF. Air Officer Commanding (USAFA Cadet Squadron 10, Outstanding class of 1973). ALO for US ARMY Airborne Brigade Mainz, Germany. I was permanently grounded in 1981 by Brooks AFB Aerospace Medical Center for exposure to Agent Orange and the onset of Diabetes. The VA is taking good care of me now.

I retired from the USAF at Luke AFB in 1985 with 27 USAF & ANG years of service. I took off my Air Force Uniform on a Friday and went to work on Monday for General Electric at the Center For Advanced Airmanship in Tempe, AZ as Simulator/ Ground School Instructor for the foreign F-5 students at Williams AFB, AZ. The contract ended in 1990 and GE’s bid on the F-16 was won by Singer. I then took a High School AFJROTC job in Hemet, CA to teach Aerospace Science and Military History for four years. I did part time work for the 2000 Census and volunteered as the treasurer for our Home Association.