Gilbert Warren Ahl

Biography

I entered the USAF as a totally naive farm kid and with no college degree. With the exception of 7 years as a navigator (thanks to a devious recruiter filling a quota) and 2 years at CENTCOM as a staff puke writing letters to each other, flying Fighters, especially the F-100 was the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Nine years of overseas assignments were not only pleasant but reinforced the belief of how lucky we are to be Americans. Flying combat missions with Misty was the highlight of my career. (MISTY was the callsign  a top-secret squadron in Vietnam tasked with disrupting the transfer of enemy supplies and equipment down the Ho Chi Minh trail).

I am humbled by warriors like Bud Day and proud to have served. Throughout the balance of my flying career, each time I flew down INITIAL, I wondered how much longer am I was going to be able to do this.

Other than flying, one of my most memorable experiences was on a return flight to JFK from Saudi Arabia. Upon landing the Captain made the announcement “Welcome to the United States of America” where upon the majority of passengers erupted into cheers and applause. They were all foreigners, most of whom were of Arabic descent!

Units Assigned

• 8/1959-9/1960 Navigator Aviation Cadet, Harlingen Texas
• 9/1960-12/1960 Crew Training, Randolph AFB, TX (KC-97)
• 1/1961-7/1963 314th Air Refueling Squad, KC, Dow AFB, ME (KC-97)
• 8/1963-6/1966 100th Air Refueling Squad, Pease AFB, NH (KC-97)
• 7/1966-1/1967 315th Troop Carrier Wing, Langley AFB, VA (C-130)
• 2/1967-2/1968 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Class 68E, Moody AFB, GA
• 3/1968-10/1968 4514th, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100)
• 11/1968-3/1969 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phu Cat, Viet Nam (F-100)
• 3/1969-6/1969 Det 1 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Operation Commando Sabre, Misty), Phu Cat AB, Vietnam (F-100)
• 7/1969 Finished Misty tour at Tuy Hoa after 416th move from Phu Cat (F-100)
• 7/1969-10/1969 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, IP, Phan Rang AB, Vietnam (F-100)
• 11/1969-2/1972 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, IP, RAF Lakenheath, UK (F-100)
• 2/1972-4/1972 F-4 Conversion Luke AFB, AZ (F-4)
• 5/1972-6/1974 Flt CC/Ops Off 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, UK (F-4D)
• 7/1974-11/ 1975 IP/Flt CC, 27th TFS, MacDill AFB, FL (F-4E)
• 11/1975-6/1977 314th Air Division, Staff Officer, Osan AB, ROK
• 8/1977-2/1980 IP, 63rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/56th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ops Off, MacDill AFB, FL (F-4D)
• 2/1980-4/1981 IP, Chief Stan/Eval, 56th Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill AFB, FL (F-4D)
• 7/1981-7/1982 Director Ops, USAF Sect., United States Military Training Mission (USMTM) Riyadh Saudi Arabia
• 7/1982-10/1984 Staff Puke, Security Assistance Division, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB FL
• 10/1984-6/1987 56TFTW Deputy Commander Resources, MacDill AFB, FL
• 6/1987 Retired USAF

Awards

 Legion of Merit
 Distinguished Flying Cross
 Meritorious Service Medal
 Air Medal (with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 Joint Service Commendation Medal
 Commendation Medal  (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Presidential Unit Citation (with Valor device and Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
 Good Conduct Medal
 Combat Readiness Medal
 National Defense Service Medal
 Vietnam Service Medal (with 4 devices)
  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
 Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Flight Info

KC-97
C-130
F-100
F-4 D/E

Military Education

• SOS – Correspondence
• Air Command and Staff – Correspondence
• Industrial College of Armed Forces – Correspondence

Civilian Education

• Antioch College
• University of Maine
• University of New Hampshire
• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Completed degree requirements at SNHU for BS in Business Management in 1966 through off duty education program offered by USAF.