Alfred J. Westerberg, Jr.
Preferred Name: Fred
Nickname/Call Sign: Heavy
Date of Birth: April 9, 1938 (November 18, 2017)
Highest Military Grade Held: Colonel, O6
Hometown:
Biography
Alfred “Fred” Westerberg, Jr. started his Air Force career at Luke, AFB in Arizona in 1963 flying the F-100 “C” and “D” models. He was then assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, at Homestead AFB in Florida. The Vietnam War had Fred Stationed at Korat Air Base in Thailand, after which he headed back to Luke to fly the F-100F.
IN 1967 Fred joined the New Jersey Air National Guard (NJANG), a relationship that would last until 26 years. His flying career was not limited to the ANG, he was hired by PanAmerican Airlines in 1967, now with Boeing 707’s out of JFK airport.
In January of 1968, the “Pueblo Crisis” (which began with the seizure of the American ship USS Pueblo by North Korean forces) saw Fred Westerberg, Jr. recalled to active duty with the 119th Tactical Fighter Wing out of New Jersey. In May 1968, the 177th Tactical Fighter Group/119th Tactical Fighter Squadron was assigned to the 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina. The 177th TFG/119th TFS returned to New Jersey, in June 1969, and transitioned into the F-105 ‘Thunderchief” in 1970.
After being furloughed from PanAm in 1970, Fred was hired by the NJANG as a temporary technician working with the Thunderchief (F-105). Shortly thereafter he was hired by PanAm’s business jet division as a demo pilot, flying their FalconJets.
In 1982 Alfred married Susan and they bought a home in Cranbury, NJ. Four years later they adopted their son, David and two years after, adopted their daughter Jill. By 1987 Colonel Westerberg was the squadron commander of the 119th Tactical Fighter Wing (NJANG) and the chief pilot at Falcon Jet Corp. He left Falcon Jet Corp. in 1989 to become the Chief Pilot for SONY, still flying the FalconJets.
His relationship with the NJANG continued and in 1991 he became the DCO, until his retirement in 1992. Sadly, health issues forced Fred to quit flying in 2004.
Units Assigned
1963 CCTS, Luke AFB, AZ, F-100 C/D
1964 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead AFB, FL, F-100D
1965 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat AB, Thailand
1966 4511th CCTS, Luke AFB, AZ, F-100F
1967 119th Tactical Fighter Squadron, NJANG, Atlantic City, NJ, F-100C
Hired by PanAM, JFK Airport, Boeing 707
1968 Recalled to active duty during Pueblo Crisis, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, F-100 IP
1969 Deactivated, back to NJANG and PanAm
1970 Furloughed by PanAm, hired as temporary technician NJANG, CCTS, McConnell AFB, F-105
1971 PanAm Business Jet Division, Demo Pilot in FalconJets
1973 Tour of Duty, CCTS, Tyndall AFB, FL, F-106
1987 Squadron Commander, 119th Tactical Fighter Squadron
1991 DCO, NJANG, NJ
1992 Retired
Civilian
1980 Falcon Jet Corporation
1987 Chief Pilot at Falcon Jet Corp.
1989 Chief Pilot, SONY Corp., flying Falcon Jets
2004 Retired from flying
Flight Info
F-100 C/D/F
F-105
F-106
Civilian
Boeing 707
FalconJets
Awards
Military Education
Civilian Education
Alfred “Fred” Westerberg, Jr. (Colonel, Ret.) Headed West on November 18, 2017.
Colonel Westerberg started his Air Force career at Luke, AFB in Arizona in 1963. In 1967 Fred joined the New Jersey Air National Guard (NJANG), a relationship that would last until 26 years. His flying career was not limited to the ANG, he was hired by PanAmerican Airlines in 1967, now with Boeing 707’s out of JFK airport.
In January of 1968, the “Pueblo Crisis” (which began with the seizure of the American ship USS Pueblo by North Korean forces) saw Fred Westerberg, Jr. recalled to active duty with the 119th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in SC. When the crisis abated, Fred headed back to NJ to resume his work at the NJANG and PanAM.
After being furloughed from PanAm in 1970, Fred was hired by the NJANG as a temporary technician. Shortly thereafter he was hired by PanAm’s business jet division as a demo pilot, flying their FalconJets.
By 1987 Colonel Westerberg was the squadron commander of the 119th Tactical Fighter Wing (NJANG) and the chief pilot at Falcon Jet Corp. He left Falcon Jet Corp. in 1989 to become the Chief Pilot for SONY.
His relationship with the NJANG continued and in 1991 he became DCO until his retirement in 1992. Sadly, health issues forced Fred to quit flying in 2004.
He is survived by his wife Susan, son, David, a freshman at Qunnipiac University in CT, and daughter Jill, a staff attorney at ACQC in Queens, NY.
- Biography
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Biography
Alfred “Fred” Westerberg, Jr. started his Air Force career at Luke, AFB in Arizona in 1963 flying the F-100 “C” and “D” models. He was then assigned to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, at Homestead AFB in Florida. The Vietnam War had Fred Stationed at Korat Air Base in Thailand, after which he headed back to Luke to fly the F-100F.
IN 1967 Fred joined the New Jersey Air National Guard (NJANG), a relationship that would last until 26 years. His flying career was not limited to the ANG, he was hired by PanAmerican Airlines in 1967, now with Boeing 707’s out of JFK airport.
In January of 1968, the “Pueblo Crisis” (which began with the seizure of the American ship USS Pueblo by North Korean forces) saw Fred Westerberg, Jr. recalled to active duty with the 119th Tactical Fighter Wing out of New Jersey. In May 1968, the 177th Tactical Fighter Group/119th Tactical Fighter Squadron was assigned to the 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina. The 177th TFG/119th TFS returned to New Jersey, in June 1969, and transitioned into the F-105 ‘Thunderchief” in 1970.
After being furloughed from PanAm in 1970, Fred was hired by the NJANG as a temporary technician working with the Thunderchief (F-105). Shortly thereafter he was hired by PanAm’s business jet division as a demo pilot, flying their FalconJets.
In 1982 Alfred married Susan and they bought a home in Cranbury, NJ. Four years later they adopted their son, David and two years after, adopted their daughter Jill. By 1987 Colonel Westerberg was the squadron commander of the 119th Tactical Fighter Wing (NJANG) and the chief pilot at Falcon Jet Corp. He left Falcon Jet Corp. in 1989 to become the Chief Pilot for SONY, still flying the FalconJets.
His relationship with the NJANG continued and in 1991 he became the DCO, until his retirement in 1992. Sadly, health issues forced Fred to quit flying in 2004. - Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info
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Units Assigned
1963 CCTS, Luke AFB, AZ, F-100 C/D
1964 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead AFB, FL, F-100D
1965 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat AB, Thailand
1966 4511th CCTS, Luke AFB, AZ, F-100F
1967 119th Tactical Fighter Squadron, NJANG, Atlantic City, NJ, F-100C
Hired by PanAM, JFK Airport, Boeing 707
1968 Recalled to active duty during Pueblo Crisis, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC, F-100 IP
1969 Deactivated, back to NJANG and PanAm
1970 Furloughed by PanAm, hired as temporary technician NJANG, CCTS, McConnell AFB, F-105
1971 PanAm Business Jet Division, Demo Pilot in FalconJets
1973 Tour of Duty, CCTS, Tyndall AFB, FL, F-106
1987 Squadron Commander, 119th Tactical Fighter Squadron
1991 DCO, NJANG, NJ
1992 Retired
Civilian
1980 Falcon Jet Corporation
1987 Chief Pilot at Falcon Jet Corp.
1989 Chief Pilot, SONY Corp., flying Falcon Jets
2004 Retired from flyingFlight Info
F-100 C/D/F
F-105
F-106
Civilian
Boeing 707
FalconJetsAwards
Military Education
Civilian Education
- Images
-
- Headed West
-
Alfred “Fred” Westerberg, Jr. (Colonel, Ret.) Headed West on November 18, 2017.
Colonel Westerberg started his Air Force career at Luke, AFB in Arizona in 1963. In 1967 Fred joined the New Jersey Air National Guard (NJANG), a relationship that would last until 26 years. His flying career was not limited to the ANG, he was hired by PanAmerican Airlines in 1967, now with Boeing 707’s out of JFK airport.
In January of 1968, the “Pueblo Crisis” (which began with the seizure of the American ship USS Pueblo by North Korean forces) saw Fred Westerberg, Jr. recalled to active duty with the 119th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in SC. When the crisis abated, Fred headed back to NJ to resume his work at the NJANG and PanAM.
After being furloughed from PanAm in 1970, Fred was hired by the NJANG as a temporary technician. Shortly thereafter he was hired by PanAm’s business jet division as a demo pilot, flying their FalconJets.
By 1987 Colonel Westerberg was the squadron commander of the 119th Tactical Fighter Wing (NJANG) and the chief pilot at Falcon Jet Corp. He left Falcon Jet Corp. in 1989 to become the Chief Pilot for SONY.
His relationship with the NJANG continued and in 1991 he became DCO until his retirement in 1992. Sadly, health issues forced Fred to quit flying in 2004.
He is survived by his wife Susan, son, David, a freshman at Qunnipiac University in CT, and daughter Jill, a staff attorney at ACQC in Queens, NY.
