USAFA Class Heritage Class of 1963

Retired Lt Col Air Force 91: CP (Command Pilot): 

D: 2 Jul 2016;

76: Dentist John E. Elfers, DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), . Inc Reedsburg WI;

70-75: MarquetteUmv;

69: FltEngr TWA LosAngelesCA;

68-69: lnstrP/tAT-33/AOpnsO GeorgeAFB;

66-67: Pit (Pilot) 389TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron) PhangRangSVN; 6>66: Pit (Pilot) 16TFSVQ EglinAFB;

64: PurdueUnlv/PltTng (Pilot Training); 

1DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross)-12AM (Air Medal)-1AFCM (Air Force Commendation Medal)

35th Reunion (1998): 1959-My first clue about the spit-shined shoe. 1963-Still not quite ready for the real Air Force, I went to Purdue for nine months. 1964-Now I’m ready. Started UPT in 65F at Willie. Loved the T-38. Glad I did not fly the T-33. 1965-Became the Phantom back-seater along with the rest of my class. Got to move to Florida before I got my gray hair. Eglin was great. 1966-Back to school again in the last class at Stead AFB, NV survival school. Joined some of my classmates in the 389th TFS at Phan Rang. It was a great assignment. Only had a slight problem with the weeds growing up between the cracks of the plywood floors of our hootch. A sad note was the loss of our classmate, Gene Knudson. ‘66-’67-Our unit moved to Danang. Missions became more challenging with the liberal addition of flights over North Vietnam. ‘67-’69-Moved to George AFB, CA. Always wanted to live in California. Did not think I would, but loved flying the T-33 for the next 1,000 hours. This was the attack version, hence AT-33. It was complete with two 50 cal. machine guns, practice bombs and rockets. What a Bird? Our unit was the fearsome Teenie Tigers, and our mission was lead in training for multi-engine pilots going into the F-4. Met my wife-to-be, Dottie, at a wedding in Denver. 1969-Wanted to make lots of money. Was hired by TWA. 1970-Laid off by TWA. ‘71-’75-Became a poor dental student at Marquette. ‘75-76-Part-time dentist and part-time Dental school clinical professor. *76-’80-Called back to TWA. Changed domiciles from LAX to ORD. 1980-Laid off by TWA. This is getting to be a bad habit. 1981-Bought a dental practice in Reedsburg, WI. Little did I think I would ever be working in the town where I went to high school. “82-°91-Flew C-130As and H-2s in the 440TAW at Milwaukee. Great group of guys. Lots of good low-level flying terrorizing the cows on our way to the drop zone in Central Wisconsin. Also great flying to Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America. 1990-Married my Honey, Dottie. That’s right, she was the one I met in 1967. 1991-Bought a farm. So now we are in the horse and sheep business. We are about six miles from the office, so I can always ride a horse to work if I have to. My 1963 Vette from Daniels in Colorado Springs is getting a little old and is not as dependable as it used to be.