Walter “Dan” Druen
Preferred Name: Dan
Nickname/Call Sign: Black Dan
Date of Birth: January 24, 1927
Highest Military Grade Held: Lieutenant General
Hometown: Lynchburg, VA
Biography
Units Assigned
- 2/1944-1/1947 U.S. Army Air Corps
- 11/1950-12/1951 Aviation cadet program, commissioned 2dLT, Craig AFB, AL
- 12/1951 Jet Fighter Training, Nellis AFB, NV (F-86)
- 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron/4th Tactical Fighter Group (F-86 -100 missions)
- Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
- 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Clark AB, Philippines/Luke AFB, AZ
- Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, VA
- USAF Headquarters, Plans and Operations Directorate, Washington, D.C.
- 6/1968-8/1969 George AFB, CA
- 8/1969 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Director of operations, Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand (F-4 – 173 missions)
- 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Commander, McConnell AFB, KS
- 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, Commander, MacDill AFB, FL
- Chief Air Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Iran
- Deputy commander/Commander, Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, TX
- 17th Air Force at Sembach AB, Germany
- 8/1980 16th Air Force, Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy
- 7/1981 Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe /Deputy commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Southern Area, Naples, Italy
- 1982 Retired USAF
Awards & Decorations
Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Distinguished Flying Cross (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal (with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Flight Info
F-80
F-86
F-100
F-104
F-105
A-10s
F-4
F-5
F-15
Flight hours: 5000+
Military Education
- Fighter Weapons School
- Armed Forces Staff College
- 6/1968 Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC
Civilian Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA
Sometimes We Flew by
Lt.Gen Druen writes about his early days as a fighter pilot in F-86 and F-100’s in the 50’s and 60’s. A highly entertaining book about young pilots, hot planes and alcohol and that combination thereof.A series of short stories about his experiences. Like the time his 16 plane squadron mock strafed the golfers on the famed Desert Inn golf course in Las Vegas.
Sometimes We Flew Too (A Fighter Pilot’s Last Chapter) by Dan Druen
A continuation of stories by Lt. Gen. Dan Druen
Destination Clifford by Dan Druen (fiction)
Destination Clifford, A tale of one young man from Virginia, Valerius McGrady, who served honorably those last days of the Civil War with General Lee. He did not shirk his pledged duty.
The fighting at the battle of Petersburg was intense, it was evident the North would be the overall victors. But, the Confederate’s tenacity drove those cold and hunger men of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to Appomattox Court House and surrender. Valerius, an eighteen-year-old sergeant, assumed command of his artillery unit after his officers had been killed. Through his dedication and determination his unit made those heart-rending miles in the face of menacing opposition. They were there when the order came to stack guns and fold battle flags. Defeat was extremely difficult to accept.
Paroles were distributed, now the only way home was to walk. The journey for Valerius was arduous, but really the start of a new beginning. The risks and gains along the way only deepened his resolve to continue on to Clifford and the girl he had left behind.
When the trek ends, he has made some friends, lost some comrades, and eliminated an insidious enemy. He truly understands what it means to be alive.
- Biography
-
Biography
- Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info
-
Units Assigned
- 2/1944-1/1947 U.S. Army Air Corps
- 11/1950-12/1951 Aviation cadet program, commissioned 2dLT, Craig AFB, AL
- 12/1951 Jet Fighter Training, Nellis AFB, NV (F-86)
- 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron/4th Tactical Fighter Group (F-86 -100 missions)
- Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
- 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Clark AB, Philippines/Luke AFB, AZ
- Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, VA
- USAF Headquarters, Plans and Operations Directorate, Washington, D.C.
- 6/1968-8/1969 George AFB, CA
- 8/1969 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Director of operations, Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand (F-4 – 173 missions)
- 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Commander, McConnell AFB, KS
- 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, Commander, MacDill AFB, FL
- Chief Air Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Iran
- Deputy commander/Commander, Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, TX
- 17th Air Force at Sembach AB, Germany
- 8/1980 16th Air Force, Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy
- 7/1981 Commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe /Deputy commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Southern Area, Naples, Italy
- 1982 Retired USAF
Awards & Decorations
Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Distinguished Flying Cross (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal (with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)Flight Info
F-80
F-86
F-100
F-104
F-105
A-10s
F-4
F-5
F-15Flight hours: 5000+
Military Education
- Fighter Weapons School
- Armed Forces Staff College
- 6/1968 Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC
Civilian Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA
- Photos
-
- Books by Dan Druen
-
Sometimes We Flew by
Lt.Gen Druen writes about his early days as a fighter pilot in F-86 and F-100’s in the 50’s and 60’s. A highly entertaining book about young pilots, hot planes and alcohol and that combination thereof.A series of short stories about his experiences. Like the time his 16 plane squadron mock strafed the golfers on the famed Desert Inn golf course in Las Vegas.
Sometimes We Flew Too (A Fighter Pilot’s Last Chapter) by Dan DruenA continuation of stories by Lt. Gen. Dan Druen
Destination Clifford by Dan Druen (fiction)
Destination Clifford, A tale of one young man from Virginia, Valerius McGrady, who served honorably those last days of the Civil War with General Lee. He did not shirk his pledged duty.
The fighting at the battle of Petersburg was intense, it was evident the North would be the overall victors. But, the Confederate’s tenacity drove those cold and hunger men of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to Appomattox Court House and surrender. Valerius, an eighteen-year-old sergeant, assumed command of his artillery unit after his officers had been killed. Through his dedication and determination his unit made those heart-rending miles in the face of menacing opposition. They were there when the order came to stack guns and fold battle flags. Defeat was extremely difficult to accept.
Paroles were distributed, now the only way home was to walk. The journey for Valerius was arduous, but really the start of a new beginning. The risks and gains along the way only deepened his resolve to continue on to Clifford and the girl he had left behind.
When the trek ends, he has made some friends, lost some comrades, and eliminated an insidious enemy. He truly understands what it means to be alive.