USAFA Class Heritage Class of 1963

Retired Lt Col Air Force 19: CP (Command Pilot): 

86-08: StaffEngr/ProjMgr AirUnePltsAssoc HemdonVA; 

82-86: C FltSafety HqAFSC (Headquarters Air Force Systems Command) AndrewsAFB; 

79-82: PII/COpns&TngDiv 81TFWg (Tactical Fighter Wing) BentwatersRAFStnUK;

74-79: PgmEngr 3246TestWg/CenFlyingSafetyO/ CFIISafety ADTC (Armament Development and Test) EglinAFB;

72-74: Stu (Student) GAlnstTech;

71-72: Pit (Pilot) 17WildWeaselSq KoratABTH;

69-70: Pit (Pilot) 563TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron)/562TFSq (Tactical Fighter Squadron) McConnellAFB; 

63-69: PIITng/lnstrPII 3575PIITngSq VanceAFB; 

1DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross)-2MSM12AM (Air Medal)-1AFCM (Air Force Commendation Medal); 

615 W Brookside SI Colorado Springs CO  80905-2010: Shirley

35th Reunion (1998): Let me start out by saying that I have been very fortunate to have married my Academy “sweetheart” Shirley Mae McClain. Our marriage survived the rigors of an Air Force career, and the stresses of modern life. Hopefully we will have another 35 years together. The most joyous day of my life was the birth of my daughter, Mary Melyssa Hall. I wanted a daughter and always tell everyone that I struck it rich the first time and quit while I was ahead. Missy is now an actress in New York City. How can I leave this section of my Bio without mentioning another joy of my life, I still have my “cadet car”—a red 1962 Austin Healey 3000 Mark II. In fact, Iam having more fun driving it today than when it was new. My first assignment after UPT was as a T-38 IP at Vance AFB, OK. I loved flying the “white rocket.” I had a real feeling of accomplishment teaching students to fly and helping them earn their wings. My next assignment was the Republic F-105, “Thud.” What a great machine—a real ego trip. I flew F-105 “Wild Weasel” combat missions out of Korat, Thailand. I was very fortunate to survive 118 missions over North Vietnam without getting hit. After returning to Colorado Springs where Shirley and Missy spent a year waiting for me, and spending a wonderful month at home, we traveled to Georgia where I got my master’s degree via AFIT in Aerodynamic Engineering graduating from Georgia Tech in 1974. Although getting my master’s was not as dangerous as flying combat, it was definitely a challenge! For my directed duty assignment following graduate school, I lucked out again and spent the next five years at Eglin AFB, FL. I got to fly the T-38 as a flight test safety chase pilot flying formation on almost every aircraft type the Air Force had. I even flew formation on bombs after the test fighter would release them—another exciting mission. It was a real thrill to fly formation on a Glide Bomb Unit (GBU) while the photographer in my back seat took high speed movies. It was areal trick to capture the GBU ground impact on film without flying into the ground myself. Next I was stationed in England where I had another Republic (Fairchild) airplane, the A-10. I found it ironic that the F-105 could hardly go slow enough to refuel off the KC-135 when the tanker was pushing it while the A-10 almost couldn’t go fast enough to keep up with the tanker going as slow as it could. Anyway, flying the A- 10 was areal blast. Those fighter pilots who were only flying supersonic aircraft missed out on a super airplane. I refer to my assignment as “three years of legalized buzzing.” My last AF tour was the Chief of Flying Safety for Air Force Systems Command at Andrews. Although this was a desk job, I did get to fly in the back seat of aircraft such as the F-4, F-15, and F-16 during staff assistance visits (what an excuse). As you can see, I never settled down to establish myself in one command having been in ATC, TAC, PACAF, AU, AFSC and USAFE. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my Air Force career and felt like I had served my country well, it was time to move on. My daughter was settled in Virginia in High School, wanted to go to the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, and so we decided to put down roots in Virginia. Northern Virginia was also a good location with a strong civilian job market. My Master’s Degree and my safety experience naturally led to a great second career. I bailed out of the Air Force in 1986 and went to work for the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) in the Engineering and Air Safety Department. I lucked out again. It’s a great place to work—good people, great benefits, a challenging job without too much stress, and I still feel I am contributing to society. I work on issues that protect the safety of pilots and, I like to think, the safety of the traveling public as well. The most fun I had was as the staff engineer supporting the ALPA New Aircraft Evaluation Committee. We traveled to most of the commercial aircraft manufacturing plants in the US and Europe. I got to shoot a “touch and go” on the Airbus 320 and the McDonnell Douglas 90. A feat not even duplicated by many airline pilots who don’t get to train in real airplanes anymore. I have been working for ALPA over 11 years already and plan to stay until I retire for good. As I think back over (1) the eternity we spent at the Academy training to enter the “Real AF,” (2) the seemingly short period of time we spent actually serving in the Air Force, and (3) the even faster passing of eleven years since retirement, I would like to leave you with one thought provoking question: Did we spend four years at the Academy 35 years ago, OR did we spend 35 years there 4 years ago? CHEERS—Bob Hall