MMIILLEE HHIIGGHH FFLLIIGGHHTT 1188 OOO rrrdddeeerrr ooofff DDDaaaeeedddaaallliiiaaannnsss OOO rrrdddeeerrr ooofff DDDaaaeeedddaaallliiiaaannnsss New sletter 2015 Flight 18 Est 4 July, 1965 Newsletter Feb Stalwart pilot Jack Wilhite’s Final Flight (Left) Oct 2004 - Aug 18, 1928 – Jan 26, 2015 Bea Wilhite pre- sents Jack’s Colo It’s hard to believe Jack is gone. Even at 86, he was like an Aviation Hall of iron man whose plate was always full of things he was either Fame medallion. already involved with or wanted to do. His passion for flying (Far left) Mar and baseball is reflected in the fact that he was a member of 2013 - Jack at his induction into the both the Colorado Historical Society Aviation Hall of Fame Over 60 Baseball and the Over 60 Baseball Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame. His final day was a microcosm of his incredibly full life. (Below) Jack’s That Monday morning, Jack and his cousin Ross got in Mig 17 at Jeffco. two hours of baseball one-on-one batting practice in antici- pation of their 2015 60+ season with the Denver Rockies. After hitting some shots, Jack drove to the Rocky Moun- tain Metro Airport, broke out his Steen Skybolt and went flying – one last 16-minute venture into the Wild Blue Yon- der. He took off at 1405, departed the pattern to the south- west and returned to make his final landing at 1421. He must have really enjoyed that flight, because he called 2015 Flight Sked Bea at about 5:30 to tell her about it and to say he was going Flight 18 normally meets on the third Friday of each to work out at the Point Athletic Club. They agreed he’d tell month. Exceptions are announced in the newsletter and her about his flight when he got home, which, sadly, he nev- through the caller phone tree. Your caller should contact you er did. He was found, deceased, in the club’s hot tub. via phone/e-mail 10 days prior to each meeting. If not, please To say that Jack sported a unique resume would be an un- advise Flight Adjutant Walt Wise, [email protected] . derstatement of gigantic proportions: an Army Air Force Date Location Activity/Speaker antiaircraft artilleryman; FBI agent; professional baseball player in the Yankees organization until Korea came along; 16 Jan Aurora Hills* Roy Poole -“Old 666” schooling in criminology and law; Air Force fighter jet 20 Feb Aurora Hills* The Butch O’Hare story combat pilot; a stint with the RAF; career with the Air Na- 20 Mar Aurora Hills* Ger Spaulding-Toss Up tional Guard (270 F-100 combat missions in Vietnam); ca- 17 Apr Aurora Hills* Open reer with United Air Lines; career as a reserve deputy with 15 May Aurora Hills* Andy Parks-PV Update the JeffCo Sheriff’s Department; air show performer in his 28-31 May San Antonio National Convention MIG-17 and Steen Skybolt; President of the Colorado Avia- 19 Jun Aurora Hills* Aviation Humor tion Hall of Fame; ball player and pilot to the end. 17 Jul Buckley AFB Lunch and tour Find Jack’s complete biography by the Centennial Jour- 21 Aug Wings Over Rox TBA nal’s Di Freeze on the Flight 18 web site at this link: 18 Sep Aurora Hills* TBA http://www.ghspaulding.com/JACK%20WILHITE%20BIO%20.PDF 16 Oct Aurora Hills* TBA Jack Wilhite was the personification of those well known 20 Nov Aurora Hills* Bus. Mtg/Elections words about Life’s Journey being one hell of a ride. (See the ?? Dec TBA Christmas Party actual quote on page 7 of this newsletter.) * Aurora Hills Golf Course Tin Cup Bar & Grill What a ride, Jack, what a ride! Blue skies and tailwinds. MMIILLEE HHIIGGHH FFLLIIGGHHTT 1188 NNeewwsslleetttteerr Page 2 the first aerial combat, to the chal- lenges of worldwide terrorism. Yes, Welcome Aboard Memo from 100 years ago, in 1915, the first Jeffrey A. Roy the Flight aerial combat took place in the COL, USA (Ret) Captain skies over Europe. The best "sales pitch" for joining Jeff’s thumbnail bio the Order of Daedalians is not some DOB : 16 Apr 1946, Fellow Daedalians, brochure or video … it's you and Lawrence, MA it's me. When we begin to share our Education : Undergrad NH College; The other day, I was going own careers and lives with potential MPA U of OK; MAS (Aero Science), through my wallet (not much mon- members, we easily let them know Embry-Riddle; PHD Public Policy & ey in there…) so that I could refill how belonging to such a long tradi- Mgmt, Univ of MO, Kansas City. the business cards I use. tion is something we will cherish Wings : 1966, Warrant Off Rotary One of those cards, I give away forever. Wing Course, Ft. Rucker, AL to friends who need a way to con- Commissioned 2nd Lt : Dec 1967 Finally, if you'd like to influence tact me. Underneath a jet I used to Assignments : Platoon Ldr, Assault future military aviators, you have a fly in days long passed are the Helos RVN; Svc Pltn Ldr, Air Cav, great chance to do so at the Red words, "The older I get, the better a Germany; Fixed wing maint,+ Plans Rock Community College (13300 pilot I used to be." &Training Off, Bat Hq, RVN; Rotary 6th Ave. in Lakewood) Celebration That started me thinking about wing flight instructor, Ft Rucker; of the 70th Anniversary of the end several Reserve transportation/ military flying and youth. Which led of WWII. logistics assignments, including me to think about our Order of Retired Major Stuart Lawrence commander of an Army Transport Daedalians. If Mile High Flight 18 told us about the event at our Janu- Terminal Unit & Dep/Cdr (IMA) is any indication, we must have ary meeting. He's promised a table Corpus Christi Army Depot, TX. been the bestest pilots ever! We to sit at, where you can talk with Aircraft flown :UH-1A/B/C/D,H; UH aren't exactly spring falcons. interested young people about your 23D; OH-13E/G/H/T; OH-6A; OH- Which is fine, as long as we re- personal experiences and your fly- 58A; O-1A; U-6A; T-41B; T-42A; U- member that the young pilots of ing careers. 3A/B; U-8F; C-12. today who serve throughout the Drop by on April 9th, any time Retired: 1994 at Kansas City, MO. military, will one day be ones who between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm to Civilian employment : Retired from tell other Daedalians of skills of FAA in 2002 after 22 years. enjoy military displays from both courage, innovation, and steadiness. Flight time : 8,600 hrs mil; 6,500 hrs Pacific and European theaters; Thanks to the commitment of our civ; 15,100 hours total catch a USO show; and watch the current pilots out at Buckley AFB, Highest pilot rating : Master Aviator military fly-by while standing beside we have the pleasure of meeting Spouse : Angelique 1940's cars. It's free, and mostly Offspring : Two sons, one daughter many of those young pilots - at the indoors. Residence : Longmont, CO airfield - in July. We've been too- Sunny skies, and "cleared direct." Sponsor : Walt Wise long away from the Buckley air- ________________________________________ field, and there is a lot to learn Volabamus Volamus Go to page 3. Welcome Aboard about how their pilots are fulfilling Meanwhile, we look forward to the mission through airpower. Roy A. Poole, LtCol, USAF (Ret) welcoming prospective members Make sure to mark your calendar Flight Captain Vance Adler and Robert Schmidt. for July and the Flight 18 meeting. ________________________________________ After meeting the military pilots A thought about Leadership : of 2015, I'm sure - like me - you'll "No man is a leader until his want them to become members in appointment is ratified in the the Order of Daedalians. The Or- minds and hearts of his men" der sustains a continuing, 100-year, -- Anonymous, The Infantry Journal tradition of military aviation from MMIILLEE HHIIGGHH FFLLIIGGHHTT 1188 NNeewwsslleetttteerr Page 3 Welcome Aboard from page 2 Chris’s thumbnail bio DOB : 24 Oct, 1948 San Francisco, CA Darrel J. Ankeny Education : BS CSU; MS, MBA Embry-Riddle CAPT, USAF (Sep) Wings : 1977 Williams AFB, AZ Assignments : C-130 navigator at Pope AFB, NC; Pilot Darrel’s thumbnail bio Training, Williams AFB, AZ; 8th MAS McChord AFB, WA; Airlift Control Center, RAF Mildenhall, UK; Headquar- DOB : 7 Sep 1941, Rolla, ND ters, Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, IL;7th MAS Education : BA, Business – U of WA Travis AFB, CA. Wings : 1965 Vance AFB, OK Military Aircraft flown : C-141. Assignments : Pilot training Vance AFB, OK; Advanced Retired: 1991 Travis AFB, CA Survival Trng; F-4C pilot trng Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ; Civilian employment : United Air Lines 22 years: B-727, Tactical Sea Survival course, Langley, AFB, VA; OPACAF th 737, 757, 767, 777. Jungle Survival School; 4 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Flight time : 18,000 hours total Eglin AFB, FL; 435 th TFS, Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thai- st (5,000 hrs mil; 13,000 hrs civ) land; 831 Combat Support Group, George AFB, CA. Spouse : Lynn Mil Aircraft flown : T-37, T-38, F-4C/D; C-47; C-54; U6A. Offspring : Two daughters. Separated from Mil Svc: 1969 at George AFB, CA. Residence : Denver, CO Civilian employment : United Air Lines: B-727, 737, 747, Sponsor : N/A - Daedalian Life Member 757, 767 and DC-10. Flight time : 15,200 hours total (1,200 hrs mil; 14,000 hrs civ) Flight 18 Life Membership Dues Spouse : Patricia Effective Jan 2012 Offspring : Two daughters Residence : Highlands Ranch, CO Age Group Sponsor : Jim Adair 30/under….$385 61 – 65….$205 _______________________________________________________________ 31 – 35…….$370 66 – 70.…$170 Chris Bruce 36 – 40…….$350 71 – 75….$140 LT COL, USAF (Ret) 41 – 45…....$325 76 – 80….$115 46 – 50…….$295 81 – 85…....$95 Continued column 3 51 – 55…….$265 86/0ver…...$75 56 – 60…….$235 2015 FLIGHT DUES - $15 (Due 1 Jan, as are National dues paid to HQ in San Antonio) Please mail this coupon along with a check for your 2015 plus any delinquent Flight dues you owe.