Thales A. Derrick 

Preferred Name: Tad
Nickname/Call Sign: Meteor
Date Of Birth:  January 9, 1935
Highest Military Grade Held: Lieutenant Colonel, O5
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT

  • Thales A. Derrick - before
  • Thales A. Derrick - now

Biography

See the Units – Education – Awards – Flight Info section
“The friendships made in the USAF were among the very best of my life.  I have often told those, who asked about my 20-year military career, that I would gladly do it all again!  Thanks to the SSS for helping keep all of us in touch.  The SSS leadership is doing a great job!”

Units Assigned

  • 1954-1957 Enlisted service and Undergraduate Pilot Training (T-34. T-28, T-33).  Advanced training  (F-86F).
  • 1958 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV (F-100 A/F)
  • 1958-1959 506th Tactical Fighter Wing, Tinker AFB, OK  (F-100 D/F)
  • 1959-1961, 4510th Combat Crew Training Group, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100 C/F)
  • 1961-1964 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, Lakenheath AB, England (F-100 D/F)
    1964-1968 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, NM, (with TDYs to Vietnam/Japan/Korea) (F-100 D/F)
  • 1968-1969 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea (F-100 C/F)
  • 1969-1971 HQ PACAF, Hickam AFB, HI (T-33A)
  • 1971-1972 ACSC, Maxwell AFB, AL (no flying except for U-3a “Blue Canoe”)
  • 1972-1974 USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis AFB, NV (A-7D)

Awards & Decorations

 Distinguished Flying Cross
 Meritorious Service Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Air Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  Air Force Commendation Medal
 Combat Readiness Medal
 Good Conduct Medal
 National Defense Service Medal
 Expeditionary Forces Medal
 Vietnam Service Medal (USA)
Vietnam Service Medal (Vietnam)
 Korea Defense Service Medal

Flight Info

F-100 A/C/D/F
T-33 A
A-7D
Flight Hours:
Combat Flying Time – 173.3 hours
Total Flying Time – 3,839.4 hours
Airplane SE Land Prop – 506.4 hours
Airplane ME Land Prop – 56 hours
Airplane SE  Land Jet – 3,104.3 hours
Airplane ME Land Jet – 153.4 hours
As Flight Instructor – 1,196.3 hours
As Pilot in Command – 3,258.4 hours

Military Education

  • 1963 Squadron Officer School – Correspondence
  • 1971-1972 Air Command and Staff College – Residence

Civilian Education

  • BS/Business Management, University of Omaha
  • MS/Systems Management, University of Southern California (USC)
Biography

Biography

See the Units – Education – Awards – Flight Info section
“The friendships made in the USAF were among the very best of my life.  I have often told those, who asked about my 20-year military career, that I would gladly do it all again!  Thanks to the SSS for helping keep all of us in touch.  The SSS leadership is doing a great job!”

Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info

Units Assigned

  • 1954-1957 Enlisted service and Undergraduate Pilot Training (T-34. T-28, T-33).  Advanced training  (F-86F).
  • 1958 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV (F-100 A/F)
  • 1958-1959 506th Tactical Fighter Wing, Tinker AFB, OK  (F-100 D/F)
  • 1959-1961, 4510th Combat Crew Training Group, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100 C/F)
  • 1961-1964 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, Lakenheath AB, England (F-100 D/F)
    1964-1968 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, NM, (with TDYs to Vietnam/Japan/Korea) (F-100 D/F)
  • 1968-1969 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea (F-100 C/F)
  • 1969-1971 HQ PACAF, Hickam AFB, HI (T-33A)
  • 1971-1972 ACSC, Maxwell AFB, AL (no flying except for U-3a “Blue Canoe”)
  • 1972-1974 USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis AFB, NV (A-7D)

Awards & Decorations

 Distinguished Flying Cross
 Meritorious Service Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
 Air Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  Air Force Commendation Medal
 Combat Readiness Medal
 Good Conduct Medal
 National Defense Service Medal
 Expeditionary Forces Medal
 Vietnam Service Medal (USA)
Vietnam Service Medal (Vietnam)
 Korea Defense Service Medal

Flight Info

F-100 A/C/D/F
T-33 A
A-7D
Flight Hours:
Combat Flying Time – 173.3 hours
Total Flying Time – 3,839.4 hours
Airplane SE Land Prop – 506.4 hours
Airplane ME Land Prop – 56 hours
Airplane SE  Land Jet – 3,104.3 hours
Airplane ME Land Jet – 153.4 hours
As Flight Instructor – 1,196.3 hours
As Pilot in Command – 3,258.4 hours

Military Education

  • 1963 Squadron Officer School – Correspondence
  • 1971-1972 Air Command and Staff College – Residence

Civilian Education

  • BS/Business Management, University of Omaha
  • MS/Systems Management, University of Southern California (USC)
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