Biography

Participated in the famous “Red Richard” project when Gen. DeGaulle kicked us out of France because we were requesting nukes on his precious soil. Flew in the first wave of F-100s to open up Lakenheath AB on or around 10 Jan 1960. Flew a tour in the F-104 in Vietnam then flew for American Airlines for almost 30 years. Accumulated around 23,000 flying hours. Never bailed out of a fighter or crashed an airliner. Had a few hair raising events though. I wanted to be a fighter pilot when I was in the third grade. I stayed in the cockpit on one flying machine or another for about 40 years. I still cannot believe how privileged and lucky I was. Wonderful career and worked with some amazing people.

Units Assigned

• Pilot Training Spence AB in Moultrie, Ga
• Basic training at Webb, AFB, TX
• 1957 Luke AFB, AZ F-84F
• Initial F-100 check-out, Nellis.
• 1958-1961 494th TFS, 48th TFW at Chaumont, France and Lakenheath, England. F-100
• 1961-1965 476th TFS, 479th TFW, George AFB, CA F-104
• F-104 DaNang AB, RVN

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

Military Education

• ROTC

Civilian Education

• Univ. of Illinois 1956