Skip to content

Today in History – September 30, 1966 – LtCol W.M. Fowler ejects from F-100 #553502

30 September 1966 – LtCol Walter “Mel” Fowler’s F-100 #553502 is hit in the engine by gunfire over SVN. He came close to capture or death by closely advancing Viet Cong before his wingman suppressed the advancing VC and he was picked up from the rice paddy by an Army Helo. Fowler was serving with

Read More »
Join The SSS
Update My Bio
Main Menu
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • Unit Patches & Other F-100-Associated Imagery
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact
  • Member’s Area

Stover, Michael W.

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Stover, Michael W.

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
Biography
Pilot Information

“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.”

Units Assigned

  • 1967-1968 3526th Pilot Training Squadron, Williams AFB, AZ Class 68-G (T-41, T-37, T-38 – 233 Hrs)
  • 1968-1972 163rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/122nd Tactical Fighter Group, Fort Wayne, IN (F-84F – 755 Hrs)
  • 1971-1979 163rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/122nd Tactical Fighter Group/122nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, IN (F-100D/F – 1050 Hrs)
  • 1979 555 Tactical Training Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ (F-4C)
  • 1979-1987 163rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/122nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, IN (F-4C, F-4E – 738 Hrs)

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

T-41
T-37
T-38
F-84F
F-100D/F
F-4C
F-4E

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • Basic Training, Amarillo AFB, TX
  • UPT Class 68-G, Williams AFB, AZ
  • Sqdn Officers School and Air Command & Staff via correspondence
  • F-4 Transition, Luke AFB, AZ

Civilian Education:

  • PanAmerican University, Harlingen, TX
  • Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN
  • BA/Psychology, University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, IN

Wall of Honor Location

Our Mission

The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2023 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top