Hawkins, Phillip A.

Phillip Ardath Hawkins

Preferred Name: Phil

Nickname/Call Sign: Hawk

Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel

Hometown: Sharpsville, IN

Following release from USAF active duty in 1960, I returned to The Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company as an agent in Springfield, Illinois. I then joined the Illinois Air National Guard (170th TFS), and 10 months later the unit was called to active duty during the Berlin crisis.

When again released from active duty with USAF in August 1962, I returned to the insurance agency in Springfield. The company was in the process of extending its operation to St. Louis.

In October 1963 I accepted a GS-12 position with the Air National Guard Unit as an Air Technician (the best job that I ever had). At the time there was no retirement provision other than from the military duty. Supposedly, it was about to come about, but with a family, I decided that it was time to join the airlines.

In the fall of 1966, I Joined Braniff International Airways, starting off as a flight engineer on the Boeing-707 that provided me with my Vietnam tour transporting troops. I eventually made Captain flying the Boeing-727. Braniff declared bankruptcy in 1982, reorganized and continued operations until 1989, again declaring bankruptcy. They reorganized, but I did not return a third time.
My family had started a wood products manufacturing company which we operated until 2000. I then decided that it was time to look into an active retirement.

I lost my wife Sharon in 2011 and now I stay busy with housework, yard work, family history, music, etc. There is just no end to the things that one can find to do.

Update: “2018.06.03 Flew with Dean Cutshall in his F-100 F #563948. Taxied, take-off, turns, rolls. Whooooopie!!”
Seems like a good final ending for the bio. Great way to celebrate my 3 June 85th birthday.

To see Phil Hawkins info and photos at the ACPL Genealogy Center go to https://www.genealogycenter.info/military/peacetime/search_philliphawkins.php

Units Assigned

6/13/1955 Appointed a reserve officer in the United States Air Force, serial number 3048502. (BU, Indpls, IN)
12/2/1955 Ordered to active duty, Lackland AFB, 27 Jan 56, preflight.
9/6/1956 Grad Pre-Flt, Graham AB, FL, Aircraft Flt Hrs T-34 = 39:48, T-28 = 90.25, Total = 130.13 hrs.
3/28/57 Granted aero rating of pilot Bryan AFB, TX 28 Mar 57. Aircraft (a/c)T-33 = 107 hrs.
6/13/1957 Temporary promotion to 1st Lt.
7/8/1957 Completed combat crew training, Luke AFB, AZ. a/c T-33 = 30:25 hrs, F48F = 40:55 hrs.
9/1957 USS Patch to Bremerhaven, Germany troop train to Paris, train to Chaumont, Haute Marne, Fr.
9/24/1957 Assigned 494th FBS, 48 FBW, Chaumont AB, Fr. F100D.
5/23/1958 Completed Forward Air Controller course, Ramstein, Germany.
11/5/1958 Completed 7 days Combat Survival Indoctrination, Code of Conduct, 60 hour field exercise.
12/9/1958 Promoted to the permanent grade of 1st Lt.
6/23/1959 Diploma Squadron Officer School correspondence course.
7/1/1959 Certificate designated Bomb Commander.
4/14/1960 Relieved from extended the duty (personal request). Honorable discharge. a/c F100D&F = 588:20.
11/18/1960 Assigned 170th TFS, Ill ANG, pilot, AFSC 1115A, F84F.
9/18/1961 Unit ordered to extended active duty (Berlin Crisis).
6/9/1962 Certificate Deep Sea Survival Training, Langley AFB.
8/1/1962 Relieved extended active duty with honorable service. Unit re-organized as the 183rd TFG.
10/20/1963 Accepted a full-time GS-12 position with the unit, designation Stan/Eval Flight Examiner.
11/21/1963 Certificate Stan/Eval course, Langley, AFB. (Filing return flt plan 22nd – heard of Kennedy death.)
4/10/1964 Awarded Senior Pilot Rating.
1/10/1966 Promoted to Major. Job title change to Flying Training Instructor.
1/25/1966 Awarded the Combat Readiness Medal.
2/16/1967 Reassigned 184th TRS, Fort Smith, AR, Air Ops Officer. (civilian job change to Braniff Airways, Dallas) (Capitol AP, IL, 170th TFS/183TFG – a/c T-33A = 309:05 F84F = 1418:05.)
6/2/1968 Honorable discharge AR ANG (difficult commute from TX to Ft. Smith, AR + missed the fighter business). a/c T-33A = 26 hrs. RF84F = 175.3 hrs. Total USAF flight time = 2775.5 hrs.
10/25/1972 Assigned 9001st USAF Academy Liaison position.
11/21/1975 Completed the nonresident Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
6/13/1976 Promoted to Lt. Colonel.
3/17/1977 Appointed Deputy USAFA Liaison Officer Coordinator, NE TX.
6/3/1980 Promoted Colonel.
11/10/1980 Assignment approved to AFELM US Forces Japan, MA as Deputy Chief of Staff J1, to retain additional duty USAFA LO. Training site changed USAFA to CINCPAC, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
2/20/1981 Member of the USAFA Superintendent’s LO Advisory Board.
4/4/1981 Two week tour Of active duty USFJ Joint Command, Yokota AB, Japan
10/24/1981 Appointed Liaison Officer Coordinator NE TX (23 officers assigned)
3/1982 Participated in the Majors Promotion Selection Board.
12/6/1982 Letter to the Academy resigning LOC position. Building a business following Braniff bankruptcy (13 May 82). Training location changed CINCPAC to Personnel Ctr., Randolph AFB, TX.
1/31/1983 Attended Reserve Components National Security Course 31 Jan – 11 Feb, Little Rock, AR.
7/20/1984 Requested a transfer to the retired reserve.
9/18/1984 Reserve Order EM-2015, relieved current assignment, Deputy Chief of Staff, USFJ, assigned to the Retired Reserve Section.
3/8/1993 Placed on the USAF Retired List, grade Colonel, authorized basic pay for 37 years 11 months 20 days. Eligible for medical care under the uniform services.
3/23/1999 Granted VA 10% disability, hearing.