Page 111 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2024 - Online Magazine

ceLeBratinG 10 YearS VeteranS
2023

eDition air Force
korean war era
tHUnDerBirDS
VietnaM

to idle; moving the aileron with the spin, full back as our retirement home, and I retired as a Colonel
stick; and opposite rudder—but unfortunately, the with 26 years of service.
aircraft continued to spin. The rudder is critical to a
spin recovery, so the aircraft would not stabilize. John “When we retired, Jo accepted a teaching position at
bailed out, but his chute did not open properly, and Lubbock Christian School, and I worked at Lubbock
he was killed upon impact. For the next five months, I Christian College/University. After 19 years, we both
filled in in the slot position until we could train a new retired. Jolene and I had been married 62 years when
pilot. she was diagnosed with Severe Dementia. She died
April 8, 2020. We now have 18 around our table when
Thunderbird pilots are acquainted with danger, we all gather for a meal at Warren and Denise’s home.
but the worst tragedy in their history occurred in a Jo was one of the best Christians you could ever find.
different aircraft. “On 9 October 1958, a C-123 support We are all looking forward to being with her when it
cargo aircraft from Pope AFB, North Carolina crashed is our time to leave this world.”
near Payette, Idaho. Nineteen of the 21 persons on
board were killed. Fourteen were members of the 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the USAF
Thunderbird advance crew heading to McChord AFB, Thunderbirds. Since their inception in 1953, they
WA, where the team was scheduled for an air show have performed for over 300,000,000 people. It is an
on 11 October. Most of the crew chiefs were on board, honor that one of their elite pilots chose Lubbock for
along with Floyd Pulley, the Maintenance Officer. The retirement.
Thunderbird pilots heard about the crash from their
headquarters. Upon their arrival at McChord AFB,
they found many base personnel ready to help them
get ready for the show which was flown in special
memory for all those who were lost.
“After a little over 1 1/2 years with the Thunderbirds,
I was assigned to McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA, HoMer wHitLow
as a test pilot in the Fighter Aircraft Flight Test passed away April 17, 2024
Maintenance program. Not long after I arrived, I at the age of 92.
began having severe headaches. The flight surgeon
thought I might have a tumor and sent me to a
hospital for evaluation. After several x-rays and other
tests, a tumor was ruled out, but I was classified as
DNIF (Duty Not Including Flying). I went to the
base personnel office where the Chief asked me
if I wanted to be assigned duty in the Personnel
Office. I agreed, so Jo and I went to Randolph
AFB, San Antonio to attend Personnel Officer
School where I began my duty in Personnel
Management.

“I served in several personnel assignments,
including a tour in Vietnam. My last assignment
was at Headquarters Strategic Air Command as
the Director of Personnel Systems. During our
service time, our two sweet daughters, Denise
Ann and Elise Linn, were born. We chose Lubbock

Lubbock Senior Link 111