Robert W. Fizer
Preferred Name: Robert
Nickname/Call Sign: Fiz
Date Of Birth: 07-01-1931
Highest Military Grade Held: Major, O4
Hometown: New York City, NY
Biography
Born on Staten Island, New York City
Entered the Air Force on March 9th 1951. Basic training at Sampson AFB NY. June of ’51 I was sent to Lowry AFB for B B-29 gunnery training. Sept of ’51 I was sent to Randolph AFB for Combat Crew Training. March 9 9th, th, 1952, on a blind date, I met Barbara Jeanne Ellis.
I was sent to Barksdale AFB as a tail gunner on B B-29’s. I collected over 1000 hours as a gunner on B B-29’s and applied for Aviation Cadets in the fall of 1952. I was accepted into the Aviation Cadet program and went to Lackland AFB for preflight training in April of ‘53. I took primary training at Hondo in the Piper and T T-6.
I took basic at Laredo AFB for the T T-28 and T T-33. I graduated in June, class of 54 54-L. August 14,1954 I married Barbara.
T-33 gunnery training at Laughlin AFB and then on to Luke AFB for F F-84 84G gunnery training.
From Luke I went to Korea, back to Luke, to Clark AB, England AFB, Bien Hoa, Luke, Wheelus and back to Luke where I retired in March of 1971.
I totaled out at a little over 4000 hours, with just under 3000 in the F-100. The rest was spread out in the a/c listed above.
As an active reservist with no college degree I knew I was out in 20.
In Oct of ’71, I started with Cessna Aircraft Company as a Citation Demo pilot. In late summer of ’77 I took over as Manager of the Demonstration D Dept. and held that job till Oct 1990.
I collected many fighter pilots to join the Citation Demo team. I had 15 pilots, 12 who had been fighter pilots, 3 were ex Thunder-birds. After leaving Cessna I flew a Challenger along with Bill Hosmer for about a year and a half.
My heart attacked me and I hung up the jets in 1992. I flew some photo missions for my son Mike with AOPA for a few years and my heart attacked me again in 2000, so I hung it all up. I closed the book with over 12,000 hours and 2 daughters, one son and 4 grandchildren.
For highlights, I’d have to list the Fighter Weapons School for a 1 1st st Lt. with limited total flying time; a wonderful 12 weeks with 20th Century Fox filming The Hunters; staying in the cockpit for almost my entire career career; seeing the world with the Air Force and 128 country’s with a Cessna Citation.
Since March 9th 1951, I’ve never worked a day in my life. Totally retired since 2000 and enjoying golf and poker in Wichita KS.
Units Assigned
- 12/54 – 12/55 310 310th th TFS Korea. F-86F/T T-33.
- 12/55 – 03 03/6 /1 14 14th th and Academic Sqs. Luke AFB AFB, AZ , F-84G, T T-33, L L-20, F84F, F100C/F.
- 03/61 – 04/64 510 510th th TFS Clark A AB, B, Philippines F F-100D/F, L L-20.
- 04/64 – 12/65 510 510th th England AFB AFB, LA , F-100D/F.
- 12/65 – 09/66 510 510th th TFS Bien Hoa AB, RVN F-100D/F.
- 09/66 – 07/67 Wing Stan/Eval Luke AFB AFB, AZ , F-100D/F, L L-20.
- 07/67 – 04/70 Wheelus AB, Libya North Africa. Liaison to 20 20th th TFW F-100C/D/F, L L-20.
- 05/70 – 03/71 Wing Command Post Post, Luke AFB AFB, AZ , . F-100D/F
Awards & Decorations
Flight Info
Military Education
- SOS, Fighter Weapons School January – March 1959
Civilian Education
- High School
- Biography
-
Biography
Born on Staten Island, New York City
Entered the Air Force on March 9th 1951. Basic training at Sampson AFB NY. June of ’51 I was sent to Lowry AFB for B B-29 gunnery training. Sept of ’51 I was sent to Randolph AFB for Combat Crew Training. March 9 9th, th, 1952, on a blind date, I met Barbara Jeanne Ellis.
I was sent to Barksdale AFB as a tail gunner on B B-29’s. I collected over 1000 hours as a gunner on B B-29’s and applied for Aviation Cadets in the fall of 1952. I was accepted into the Aviation Cadet program and went to Lackland AFB for preflight training in April of ‘53. I took primary training at Hondo in the Piper and T T-6.
I took basic at Laredo AFB for the T T-28 and T T-33. I graduated in June, class of 54 54-L. August 14,1954 I married Barbara.
T-33 gunnery training at Laughlin AFB and then on to Luke AFB for F F-84 84G gunnery training.
From Luke I went to Korea, back to Luke, to Clark AB, England AFB, Bien Hoa, Luke, Wheelus and back to Luke where I retired in March of 1971.
I totaled out at a little over 4000 hours, with just under 3000 in the F-100. The rest was spread out in the a/c listed above.
As an active reservist with no college degree I knew I was out in 20.
In Oct of ’71, I started with Cessna Aircraft Company as a Citation Demo pilot. In late summer of ’77 I took over as Manager of the Demonstration D Dept. and held that job till Oct 1990.
I collected many fighter pilots to join the Citation Demo team. I had 15 pilots, 12 who had been fighter pilots, 3 were ex Thunder-birds. After leaving Cessna I flew a Challenger along with Bill Hosmer for about a year and a half.
My heart attacked me and I hung up the jets in 1992. I flew some photo missions for my son Mike with AOPA for a few years and my heart attacked me again in 2000, so I hung it all up. I closed the book with over 12,000 hours and 2 daughters, one son and 4 grandchildren.
For highlights, I’d have to list the Fighter Weapons School for a 1 1st st Lt. with limited total flying time; a wonderful 12 weeks with 20th Century Fox filming The Hunters; staying in the cockpit for almost my entire career career; seeing the world with the Air Force and 128 country’s with a Cessna Citation.
Since March 9th 1951, I’ve never worked a day in my life. Totally retired since 2000 and enjoying golf and poker in Wichita KS. - Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info
-
Units Assigned
- 12/54 – 12/55 310 310th th TFS Korea. F-86F/T T-33.
- 12/55 – 03 03/6 /1 14 14th th and Academic Sqs. Luke AFB AFB, AZ , F-84G, T T-33, L L-20, F84F, F100C/F.
- 03/61 – 04/64 510 510th th TFS Clark A AB, B, Philippines F F-100D/F, L L-20.
- 04/64 – 12/65 510 510th th England AFB AFB, LA , F-100D/F.
- 12/65 – 09/66 510 510th th TFS Bien Hoa AB, RVN F-100D/F.
- 09/66 – 07/67 Wing Stan/Eval Luke AFB AFB, AZ , F-100D/F, L L-20.
- 07/67 – 04/70 Wheelus AB, Libya North Africa. Liaison to 20 20th th TFW F-100C/D/F, L L-20.
- 05/70 – 03/71 Wing Command Post Post, Luke AFB AFB, AZ , . F-100D/F
Awards & Decorations
Flight Info
Military Education
- SOS, Fighter Weapons School January – March 1959
Civilian Education
- High School