Table of Contents
Prologue (1966)
Flight Training
Pensacola
Meridian
Carrier Qual
Beeville
F-4 Tour
The RAG
VF-151/USS Midway
The Vietnam War
1st War Cruise
2nd - Major Combat
TOPGUN
R&D Test at NADC
F-14 Tour
The RAG
VF-1/USS Enterprise
Iran
Continental Airlines
S.D. Padres
Naval Reserve
VT-21
VF-1485
Pride Air
America West Airlines
Epilogue (2006-2010)
Links
U.S. Naval AviatorNaval Aviation Discussion
"The Calling"
Navy Recruiting
Fab Job
Real "Toko-Ri"
Naval Aviation Museum
Navy Slang
More Salty Slang
Naval History
Aviator Call Signs
Navy Traditions
"Where do we find such men?" *
(The following pages will tell where they found - in real life - at least one..."such man." )
[Note: If experiencing viewing problems with Internet Explorer 8, check here until I can fix the problems; or use a Firefox or a fast Chrome browser; or just consider getting a less problematic Mac.]
Welcome...to my personal story.
The many pages of this website will give a personal sketch of my unlikely four decades in aviation - first as a United States Navy Fighter Pilot, then later as a Commercial Airline Pilot.
Feel free to explore each stage of my long and rewarding flying career via the "Table of Contents" with its red ( "← you are here") indicators listed on the top left of this and all following pages, or by the navigational arrows (← Previous ♠ Next →) on the bottom of each page.
Or if like many visitors, your primary interest involves the Vietnam War and my F-4B flying experiences there, you may jump to my "relatively" mild, 1st combat cruise, or my decidedly much more difficult, 2nd combat cruise, including Operations Linebacker I and II in 1972 - '73.
Please Note: This website is a result of three things:
1. My genealogist sister's repeated and withering requests - for over more than a decade - for some written biographical account of my experiences, and;
2. My desire to learn HTML and CSS, and to build my first website from scratch, without any web authoring tools. Indeed this site was initially only for my immediate family and friends' information and their entertainment. But that has now obviously changed.
3. Having been unexpectedly diagnosed with a life threatening disease [that I fortunately, later overcame], I suddenly felt compelled to write down a few of my experiences, for my family (who never before knew most of this) and posterity, and for when I am no longer here to tell them.
WARNING - Only Real Fighter Pilots need click here.
Note: While I do not maintain a guest book, one of the best and most surprising things about this site are the almost daily emails I receive, from both old and new friends, worldwide. And I do try to personally answer everyone.
1. My genealogist sister's repeated and withering requests - for over more than a decade - for some written biographical account of my experiences, and;
2. My desire to learn HTML and CSS, and to build my first website from scratch, without any web authoring tools. Indeed this site was initially only for my immediate family and friends' information and their entertainment. But that has now obviously changed.
3. Having been unexpectedly diagnosed with a life threatening disease [that I fortunately, later overcame], I suddenly felt compelled to write down a few of my experiences, for my family (who never before knew most of this) and posterity, and for when I am no longer here to tell them.
WARNING - Only Real Fighter Pilots need click here.
Note: While I do not maintain a guest book, one of the best and most surprising things about this site are the almost daily emails I receive, from both old and new friends, worldwide. And I do try to personally answer everyone.
Before continuing, please read the Disclaimer and Author's Comments, including comments about the many unsung heroes who worked so diligently to put us into the air.
* This was actor Fredrick March's famous line in the classic movie adaptation of James Michener's Korean War era drama, The Bridges at Toko-Ri upon learning one of the fighter pilots (played by William Holden) under his command had been shot down and then ...
