Thomas P. “Tuck” McAtee died peacefully on Friday, January 24th, 2025, with his family by his side. He was born on March 28, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri to Jack and Marjorie McAtee. He was the second of four brothers (Jack, Jim, and Stephen) whose boyhood tales of growing up in St. Louis are legendary.
While attending St. Louis University High School, he earned his private pilot’s license at age 17, and his passion for flying launched him into a lifetime career in aviation. He went on to receive a BS in Engineering Sciences from the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in 1962 in the class famously (and perhaps notoriously) known as The Red Tag Bastards. He later earned an MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona and graduated from the USAF Test Pilot School and Fighter Weapons School.
He served his country in Vietnam as a decorated combat fighter pilot, receiving two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 12 Air Medals during his 265 combat missions.
After returning from Vietnam, he continued his active duty career. As a test pilot, Tuck led the AGM-65 Maverick missile test program and was the first pilot to shoot the Maverick. He was also an initial test pilot for the YF-16 and led the F-16 tropical climate tests in Panama, where he set the world record for coast-to-coast flight across America in 1 minute, 40 seconds. He also led the F-16’s first trans-oceanic crossing and European test program, and established the F-16 school at MacDill AFB. Tuck transformed the USAF Weapon School (Air Force Top Gun) from a disparate group of individual schools into a unified curriculum with integrated training.
After retiring from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel, he went on to become Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Engineering Program Manager, leading a myriad of enhancements to the F-16, and pioneering the F-22’s vector thrust technology. He was singularly instrumental in providing F-16s to American allies including Israel, Singapore, South Korea, and The United Arab Emirates.
Tuck spent his retirement years flying in his SX300, a unique experimental airplane. He was a member of an exclusive SX pilots group, leading annual trips to Canada and Alaska well into his eighties. He could regularly be found at the Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport, working on his airplane and enjoying fellowship at Charley’s. His love for this airport and those who run it were a major source of joy for him.
His passion for aviation will span generations. In 2014 he founded the Williamsburg Aviation Scholarship Program (WASP) which provides high school students the opportunity to earn a private pilot’s license through a structured flight training program at no cost. With a graduation success rate that triples the national average and an ever-increasing class size, WASP will continue to expand America’s pilot force for years to come. His contributions to aviation were recognized in 2023 when he was inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.
However, if you were to ask Tuck what his most significant and enduring legacy is, he would say his family. Tuck is survived by his wife and best friend of 58 years, Ann, whom he met and fell in love with while stationed at Misawa Air Force Base in Japan. He is also survived by his children, Molly Zola (Matt), Patrick McAtee (Kelly), and Cathy Coco (Martin); along with his grandchildren, Collin, Lindsay, Reid, Jack, Charlie, Peter, Libby, Cy, Tucker, Lily, and Will; who will forever treasure their time spent with ‘Big T’, and his legendary bedtime stories known as ‘Tucker Tales’.
Another integral part of Tuck’s life was his dedicated faith in Christ which was rooted in the Catholic Church. He repeatedly told others of his close relationship and trust in God during all the times he should have been killed in Vietnam. He spoke often of his love for attending Mass and the peace that it gave him. In the final moments of his life, he spoke with excitement of his next adventure in heaven in the arms of the Lord. (He also hoped that there would be a good Irish Pub).
Tuck McAtee was a humble servant to all as evidenced by his service to his family, his country, his community and above all his faith. He will be dearly missed.
Funeral Mass was held at St. Bede Catholic Church (3686 Ironbound Road) on Friday, January 31st at 3:00 pm. Go to www.bedeva.org and select “Watch Livestream Mass”. A graveside ceremony was held at 12:30pm on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at The Air Force Academy, 3024 Parade Loop, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Williamsburg Aviation Scholarship Program, https://www.tmcfunding.com/funds/williamsburg-aviation-scholarship-program-wasp-/12369/