John R. Gilchrist

Super Sabre Society member John R. (Jack) Gilchrist, was born January 18, 1934 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1953 he married his sweetheart, Carol Sue Klose.  They had two sons, John Robert Jr. (deceased) and Daniel Robert, before he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and was commissioned a 2^nd Lt in the Air Force on February 4, 1956.

In 1956, he was stationed at Hondo Air Base, Texas for primary pilot training in T34 and T28 aircraft. He was then stationed at Webb Air Force Base, Big Spring, Texas for advanced Pilot training in the T33 and where he earned his pilot wings in July, 1957 two weeks after his third child Linda Sue was born. . He attended gunnery training at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona flying the F-84-F aircraft. He attended Nellis Air Force Base for advanced gunnery school flying the F-100-A.

In 1958 he was assigned to the 53^rd Fighter Day Squadron at Landstuhl Air Base, Germany, flying the F-100-C aircraft. The squadron was redesignated 53^rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. The mission was expanded to include delivering air to ground ordinance and 24 hour nuclear alert. The 53^rd squadron deployed to Wheelis, Air Base, Libya for gunnery training. During this time his fourth child, Leslie Ann was born.

In 1961, he received PCS orders to the 309^th Tactical Fighter Squadron at George AFB, California, flying the F-100-D. In September, 1961 the 309th deployed to Spangdahlam, Germany in support of the Berlin crisis.

He attended Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in January, 1962, graduating in March, 1962. During that time the 309^th, 306^th, 307th and 308^thsquadrons or the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing were transferred to Homestead Air Force Base Florida. He returned to George AFB in time to clear out of base housing and travel to Florida. In early 1962 he deployed with the 309^th to Okinawa to sit nuclear alert for the F-100 outfit that was converting to F-105 aircraft. The 309^th was extended in Okinawa for an additional three months due to the Cuban Missile Crisis. TAC selected the 309^th squadron to conduct night low level navigation missions carrying bombs and illumination flares. The pilot would locate the target, pull up from 500 feet to drop the flairs, then position to release the bombs or napalm. During his stay at Homestead AFB, he attended Safety Officer School, followed by Jump School at Fort Benning.  In 1964 he was deployed with the 308^th squadron to Turkey for a 3 month rotation. The flight to turkey was non-stop using two sets of KC 135 tankers and seven separate air to air refuelings. The flight took over twelve hours. It was the longest non-stop F100 squadron deployment at that time. He returned just in time to attend the birth of his fifth child Lisa Marie. This was the end of his F100 flying days.

Upon his return to Homestead AFB, he received orders to Fort Benning, Georgia as an Air Liaison Officer with the 2^nd Infantry Division. He deployed with the first ground troops, the 1^st Air Calvary Division, to Vietnam in August 1965. He traveled to Vietnam on the USS Geiger ship that normally held 1500 passengers but was carrying nearly 3000, and took 32 days.  He flew the O1E Bird Dog. His call sign was Top Sail Hotel. He lived in tents and ate C rations. He was Jack the Fac.

After Vietnam he was stationed at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona from 1966 to 1968 where he was an F4 instructor pilot.

From 1968-1970 he was an Air Officer Commanding (AOC) at the Air Force Academy, 31^st Cadet Squadron.

He attended Command and Staff at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, graduating in 1971 as a distinguished graduate. He also earned his Master’s Degree in Political Science from Auburn University

Next came Langley Air Force Base from 1971 to 1975, where he held several jobs including Assistant Director of Personnel, Assistant Chief of Staff of TAC, and Executive Officer to the TAC commander and afterwards attended the National War College, Fort McNair, D. C., and was a Distinguished Graduate in 1976.

He was the Commander of the 3^rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, flying the F-4-E at Clark Air Base, Philippines. 1976 to 1977 and Commander, Cope Thunder (PACAF Red Flag) Clark Air Base, Philippines. 1977-to 1978 and later Director of Operations, 314^th Air Division, Osan Air Base, Korea. 1978-1980 and Vice Commander, 405^th Tactical Training Wing, flying the F15 Eagle, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona 1980-1982. His last assignment was as Chief of Staff 12^th Air Force, Bergstrom AFB, Texas 1982-1984.

Colonel Gilchrist retired from the Air Force in May, 1984

Units Assigned

• 2/1956 commissioned a 2^nd Lt in the Air Force
• 1956 Primary Pilot Training,  Hondo Air Base, TX (T-34, T-28)
• 7/1957 Advanced Pilot Training, Webb Air Force Base, TX (T-33)
• 1957 Gunnery Training, Luke AFB, AZ (F-84)
• 1957 Advanced Gunnery Training, Nellis AFB, NV (F-100A)
• 1958 53^rd Fighter Day Squadron/53^rd Tactical Fighter Squadron,  Landstuhl AB, Germany/Wheelis AB, Libya( F-100-C)
• 1961 309^th Tactical Fighter Squadron, George AFB, CA/ Spangdahlam, Germany (F-100-D)
• 1/1962-3/1962 Squadron Officer School,  Maxwell AFB, AL
• 3/1962  309^th/306^th/307^th/308^thsquadrons/31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead AFB, FL/George AFB, CA
• 4/1962-1964 309^th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Okinawa (F-100)
• 1964 308^th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Incirlik, Turkey (F-100)
• 1964-8/1965 2^nd Infantry Division, Homestead AFB, FL
• 8/1965-1966 1^st Air Cavalry Division, Vietnam (O1-E)
• 1966-1968 F-4 IP, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ
• 1968-1970 31^st Cadet Squadron  Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force Academy
• 1970-1971 Command and Staff at Maxwell AFB, AL
• 1971-1975 Assistant Director of Personnel, Assistant Chief of Staff of TAC, and Executive Officer to the TAC commander, Langley AFB, VA
• 1975-1976 Distinguished Graduate, National War College, Fort McNair, DC
• 1976-1977 3^rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Commander, Clark AB, Phillippines (F-4E)
• 1977-1978 Cope Thunder (PACAF Red Flag), Commander, Clark AB, Philippines
• 1978-1980 314^th Air Division, Director of Operations, Osan AB, Korea
• 1980-1982 405^th Tactical Training Wing, Vice Commander, Luke AFB, AZ (F-15)
• 1982-1984 12^th Air Force, Chief of Staff,  Bergstrom AFB, TX
• 5/1984 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

 Legion of Merit (2)
 Distinguished Flying Cross
 Bronze Star medal
 Meritorious Service Medal (2)
 Air Medal (9)
 Air Force Commendation Medal
 Combat Readiness Medal
 National Defense Service Medal
 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
 Vietnam Service Medal (3)
 Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
 Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Command Pilot Wings
 Master Parachute Wings
Vietnamese Parachute Wings

Flight Info

T-34
T-28
T-33
F-100 A/C/D
O1-E
F-4E
F-15

Military Education

1962 Squadron Officer School
1970-1971 Command and Staff School
1975-1976 National War College

Civilian Education

1971 MS/Political Science,  Auburn University
1976 MBA, University of Pittsburgh