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King High Remembers Project. Col. John D. McSpadden Air Force Vietnam and Cold War Alexandra Mardirosian Brandon Harris Per. 6 Mrs. Barnard. Early Life. Born in Memphis Tennessee on August 16, 1935 Moved to Battle Creek Michigan a year later in 1935
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King High Remembers Project Col. John D. McSpadden Air Force Vietnam and Cold War Alexandra Mardirosian Brandon Harris Per. 6 Mrs. Barnard
Early Life • Born in Memphis Tennessee on August 16, 1935 • Moved to Battle Creek Michigan a year later in 1935 • After living in Michigan for two years he moved to Cleveland Ohio in 1937 • He then moved to Geneva Ohio in 1941 after living in Cleveland, Ohio for four years
Education • Geneva Grade School • Geneva High School • Miami University of Ohio on a JROTC scholarship from Sep. 1952 to May 1953 • Received an appointment to West Point in 1953 while at Miami University • Attended the United States Military Academy at West Point from July 5, 1953 till graduation on June 4, 1957
Training • Sent to Graham Air Force Base, Fl for primary pilot training in July 1957 • Graduated in March of 1958 • Went to Webb Air Force Base, Texas in May 1958 for Basic Fighter Pilot Training • He then washed out in August 1958 because of a reduction in the number of fighter aircraft at the time • Attended Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas in September 1958 for primary navigation training • Graduated first in the class in May 1959 • Sent to advanced bombardment training at Mather Air Force Base in May • Graduated in December of 1959 • Was sent to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arizona in January 1960 for B-47 combat crew training and completed his training in June 1960
First Mission • First operational assignment was in Chennault Air Force Base, Louisiana as a navigator in July 1960
Service • In April of 1966 Larson AFB closed causing him to relocate to March Air Force Base • Flew B-52’s out of March AFB for the next for years • Was sent on temporary duty to Anderson AFB, Guam and U-Tapao Royal AFB, Thailand five times to fly air raids over Vietnam • Flew over 150 missions during this period • December 1972, 100 stage 11 bomb raids in Haiphong to free POW’s
Service • Upon return from Thailand in April of 1973 he was made Chief of Operations for the 17th Bomb Wing • In 1975 the 17th Bomb Wing was closed down • Sent to Carswell AFB, Texas • There he was made Chief of Moral and Welfare
Retirement From the Air Force • In September 1977 he retired from the Air Force after being a Colonel for 20 years
Work After Retirement • Him and his family moved back to Riverside in 1977 • Worked as a flight operations analyst for the Flying Tigers Airline • In 1989 Fedex bought out Flying Tigers and he worked for Fedex for a few months • After that he worked at EDS and made flight plans for many airlines • After EDS was bought out by Systems One he held the same job
Retirement • In September 1994 he was forced to retire when he discovered he had a back problem and had a major operation that would restrict him to drive to Los Angles five times a week
He now resides with his wife Karen in Canyon Lake, California and stays active is West Point clubs and Veteran societies.