Chuck Townsend (deceased)
*Signature Value : £40
| Chuck Townsend was born on July 10, 1942 in San Diego, California. Chuck's Dad was a naval officer, and he got to see the likes of Ft Collins, Colorado, Lincoln, Nebraska, before graduating from High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chuck attended Colorado State University and participated in the Air Force ROTC program. In 1962 Chuck earned a private pilot's license, and following graduation he attended Air Force Flight School at Williams AFB. He earned his wings at Williams (Class 6613) and was sent to MacDill AF13 for advanced fighter training school. As an F-4 Phantom II pilot Chuck spent 8 months in Vietnam - flying a total of 135 combat missions. He served with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing under the command of Robin Olds, and was based in Ubon, Thailand. Chuck was awarded 13 Air Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses while in Vietnam. In late 1967 he returned to the States where he learned to fly the F-106. He was assigned to the Air Defense Command, and was stationed at Selfridge Field, Michigan as part of the 94th Squadron, which traces its roots back to Eddie Rickenbacker. Following the Pueblo incident, Chuck's unit was moved to Korea for six months. Later he would return to Michigan at Wordsmith AFB. Tiring of the harsh winters in northern Michigan, Chuck moved south to Tyndall AFB where he became an instructor in the F-106 for a period of three years. From 1973-1988 he served with the Air National Guard at Otis AFB, Massachusetts. As a Flight Commander, Chuck was involved in scheduling, training, instructing, and pilot evaluation. Known as Mr. 106, Chuck flew the F-106 for twenty years, accumulating the amazing total of 4410.6 hours in the aircraft. After retiring from the Air Force he joined Midway Airlines, and later United. At the latter airline Chuck has commanded 727s, 737-300s, and currently 767s and 757s. Chuck resides on Cape Cod with his wife of 18 years, the former Kathleen Falk. Chuck has two children from a prior marriage. We have learned that Chuck Townsend died in 2020. |
John Kane
*Signature Value : £30
| John Kane graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in June of 1976. He completed his basic pilot training at Williams AFB. Following completion of his basic flight training Kane was assigned to the 95th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron at Tynadall AFB. Here John flew the T-33 and served as an Instructor Pilot, Mission Flight Leader, and Functional Test Pilot. In 1980 he was reassigned to the 49t11 Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Griffiss AF13 flying the F-106. During his four years at Griffiss flying the F106, Kane actually flew the aircraft (067) depicted in Stan Stokes painting when it was on loan from Castle AFB. Kane did not get to do many interceptions while at Griffiss as they were out of the way. He did scramble several times to intercept Soviet recon aircl aft deploying from Dolon Airbase to Cuba. John also ejected from an F-106 (071) in June of 1981. Later in his career Kane would transition to the F-16 which he flew with the 363rd TFW out of Shaw AFB. From 1987-1997, John was stationed at Otis AF13 in Massachusetts with the 102nd Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. At Otis John would also fly the F-15. Most of John's Cold War scrambles were in the F-16 and F-15 flying out of Norway on deployment with the 363rd TFW or out of Iceland during deployments with the Air National Guard. John now flys 737-200s out of Chicago for United Airlines. The Kanes reside in Nottingham, New Hampshire. |
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