Skip to content

Today in History – April 5, 1962 – 1962 Neil Armstrong takes X-15 to 54,600m

Neil Armstrong and the X-15 by Bob van der Linden, Posted on Tue, July 23, 2019, Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “Released from duty in mid-1952, Armstrong returned to Purdue where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. His love of flight and engineering drew him to the National Advisory

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
    • 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

Slavey, Elmer L.

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Slavey, Elmer L.

Elmer L. Slavey

Preferred Name: Elmer
Nickname/Call Sign: Misty 39
Date of Birth: February 13, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Jeffersonville, IN
Headed West Date: January 12, 2017
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Album
Books

Major Elmer Slavey from the 52nd Fighter Squadron at Phan Rang, had several thousand hours in F-86’s and F-100’s, and was one of the more experienced Hun drivers in Vietnam. (From the book Bury Us Upside Down)

After Retirement  Elmer moved to Mexico, ran a boat charter business, and played poker semi-professionally in Las Vegas. From 1973-1990 he was a Real Estate Broker and owned Moon Valley Realty. In 1990 until 2000 Elmer lived in Rocky Point Mexico (Puerto Penasco) and owned a Boat Charter for 5 years. In 2000 he became Las Vegas Poker Player and said :see you at the Venetian.”

Units Assigned

  • 1951 Enlisted USAF
  • 1953 USAF Aviation Cadet (PA-18, T-6, T-28, T-33)
  • 1954 Pilot Training (Class 54J), Big Springs, TX
  • 1954-1955 Combat Crew Training Nellis AFB, NV (F-86)
  • 1954 Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM (F-86)
  • 1954 Bitburg AB, Germany (F-86)
  • 1955-1957 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Etain, France (F-86)
  • 1957-1963 612th/614th/613th Tactical Fighter Squadrons, England AFB, Alexandria, LA, Aviano AB, Italy (F-100)
  • 1963-1967 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
    TDY tour, Misawa, Japan
  • 1965 4514th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ
  • 1967 352nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phan Rang AFB, Vietnam (F-100)
  • 1/1967-1/1968 Misty 39, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Det. 1, Phu Cat AB, Vietnam  (F-100F)
  • 1968 522nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM (F-100)
  • 1971 4429th Combat Crew Training Squadron/433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ (F-4)
  • 1972 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn, Thailand (F-4)
  • 1972 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Silver Star
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Air Medal
Air Medal (34)

Flight Info

PA-18
T-6
T-28
T-33
F-86
F-100
F-4

Wall of Honor Location: Foil: 10 Panel: 2 Column: 1 Line: 53

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • 1950 High School Graduate

Elmer L. Slavey, LtCol USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on January 12, 2017.

Charter Super Saber Society member Elmer Slavey headed west January 12th, 2017. Elmer was a highly respected and decorated F-100 pilot with the Silver Star, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 34 Air Medals to his credit.

Elmer was born Friday, January 13, 1933, in Jeffersonville, Indiana and enlisted U.S. Air Force after High School in 1952 as an Aviation Cadet, training in PA 18, T-6, T28, and T33 aircraft. He earned his Pilot Wings and was Commissioned in Big Springs Texas in 1954 and assigned to Combat Crew Training Nellis, Las Vegas, F-86s and later Clovis, NM, and Bitburg, Germany, also in the Sabre Jet. From 1955-57 Elmer was our ambassador fighter pilot in Etain, France, flying F86s with the 563rd TFS.

His F-100 check out was in 1957 at England AFB, Alexandria, LA. There he flew with the 612th TFS, 614th TFS, and 613th TFS, with two six-month TDY tours to Aviano Air Base, Italy. In 1963, Elmer headed to Clovis NM in the 430th TFS, with two six-month TDY tours to Misawa, Japan, and next to Luke AFB, Phoenix, AZ, 4514th CCTS, followed by Phan Rang AFB, Vietnam, 352nd TFS in 1967 and as an early F-100F Misty pilot (Misty 39) at Phu Cat AB, Vietnam.

Elmer headed home later in 1968 to Clovis: 522nd TFS, 4429th CCTS and bailed to Davis Monthan to check out in F-4s in the 433rd TFS, and in 1972, once again was in the heat of combat at Udorn, Thailand, in the 555th TFS.

Not a peace-time tempered fighter pilot, Elmer headed to Luke AFB and retired in 1972 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He is highly respected and admired by his fellow warfighters and friends.

He is survived by his wife Charlene.

Slavey, Elmer With Fish
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
Click To View

Wall of Honor Location

Purchase Book
Purchase Book

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 © 2025 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top