Michael Willard Stover

Preferred Name: Mike
Nickname/Call Sign: Smokey
Date of Birth: February 19, 1944
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN

“While in my Junior year of college I enlisted in the 122 TFG at Fort Wayne, IN with 19 other college guys to go to pilot training. I went to Basic Training at Amarillo AFB, TX in AUG/SEP 1966 and upon graduation was assigned to the 122nd Supply Sqdn, 122 TFG Fort Wayne for duty. In February 1966 I was commissioned 2LT and left for Pilot Training at Williams AFB, Chandler, AZ in April 1967. After completion of UPT in May of 1968 I spent 90 days on EAD transitioning into the Republic F-84F. Transition into the North American F-100D/F was completed at home station Fort Wayne in 1971. Transition into the F-4 was completed at Luke AFB, AZ in 1979.

I worked as a civilian throughout my career flying nights, weekends, summer camps and deployments whenever possible. Managed to accumulate 2797 hours during my 21 and a half years of service.

Married Linda Barna in October 1966 and still going.

Three children, all boys. The middle son is a full timer in the ANG at Rickenbacker Joint Base, Columbus, OH and just passed 20 years of service including 5 deployments to Saudi, Iraq and Afghanistan.

I retired from the Indiana Air National Guard and USAF in November 1987.”