How many generations of flying in your family?

[brickhistory]

On the current "I only want to be a pilot" thread, there are a couple of dudes with four generations of military flying.

One of the things that adds to the growing divide between the military and the general civilian population is a lack of familiarity with the military. Related to that is the anecdotal evidence of sons/daughters of military dudes following in those footsteps.

So my question (I'd post a poll if I could figure it out) is how many generations of military flying do you have?

If you are the first, what fired you up to pursue your vocation (Doesn't have to be the guy/gal driving, anybody who straps in would be welcome). If a succeeding generation, why did you follow those steps?

For me, my dad was enlisted in the USAAF, then USAF, then went aviation cadets in 1952, flew various SAC tankers including the -135A when it was new (something significant that we still the -135 albeit in the -R model guise).

Uncle was a USAAF GCI operator in the Pacific in WWII - invasions of Bougainville and the Philippines. I posted part of his story in the History Friday thread about GCI in the Southwest Pacific story.

My oldest brother started out as an Army medic, got commissioned, retired LTC MI type.

I didn't have the eyes (as well as, probably, the eye-hand skills to make it in the time allotted), so wound up as a weapons controller (ABM now) on E-3s and E-8s. Retired now.

Anyone else?

Anyone?

Bueller?

[bfargin]

I'm the 2nd generation AF flyer in my family. My dad was a C-119 loadmaster during Korea and then a KC-97 flight engineer. He didn't talk a whole lot about it until I got older (12 to 13) and started asking questions about the AF and military flying. He then told me lots of stories about flying around the world and his time in Japan and Alaska. His service didn't make me want to fly, but it helped keep me motivated as I worked my way through college.

Edited November 18, 2008 by bfargin

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Great Grandfather was Army Infantry in WWI.

Great Uncle Red was a Radio Operator on B-17s in WWII.

Great Uncle Delbert flew C-47s in WWII, B-29s and C-9s afterwards (retired O-6).

Great Uncle Schwartz was a Nose gunner on B-24s in WWII.

Dad flew Tweets in the 70s (washed out) then on to missiles (retired after 22 years).

Now me, a Radar Nav on the BUFF and start UPT this January.

[Guest IncompletePete]

Nice idea for a thread, Brick!

So far as I'm aware, at least the last three generations of my family have served their country. My great grandfathers fought most notably in the Somme during WW1. One of my grandfather served the British Army in Burma whilst the other was a Captain in the Merchant Navy, ferrying supplies across the Atlantic. However, whilst not military flyers, on my US side of family anyway, both my Grandmother and Grandfather had PPLs and flew for pleasure regularly.

My Dad started out as enlisted guy straight out of High School in the USAF working as a nuke specialist. He then headed to San Francisco State University to get his degree where he joined ROTC. Upon commissioning he went to Nav school where he then progressed on to F-111s and his posting to RAF Lakenheath. Whilst there he flew in Karma-52 during Operation El Dorado Canyon, a mission he tragically never returned from.

Me? I'm certainly motivated by this precedent and am now anxiously waiting for the Big Blue to decide whether or not to accept my OTS and UPT application.

Edited November 18, 2008 by IncompletePete

[Guest]

Grandfather: Retired E-9, Surgical Services

Grandfather: Retired E-9, ATC

Father: Prior E, Retired O-4, Comm

Sister: Separated O-3, Nurse

<--1st in the flying world, hardly first in the AF family

[Scooter14]

Grandfather - Army, Stationed in Persia (now Iran) in WWII

Great Uncle - B-17 Navigator

Father - Retired Army Reserve First Sergeant

Father-in-law - Artillery Officer and Forward Observer, 2 tours Vietnam

Brother - Coastie, patrol boat XO then OCS instructor

[dontshavemyhead]

My Dad started out as enlisted guy straight out of High School in the USAF working as a nuke specialist. He then headed to San Francisco State University to get his degree where he joined ROTC. Upon commissioning he went to Nav school where he then progressed on to F-111s and his posting to RAF Lakenheath. Whilst there he flew in Karma-52 during Operation El Dorado Canyon, a mission he tragically never returned from.

Me? I'm certainly motivated by this precedent and am now anxiously waiting for the Big Blue to decide whether or not to accept my OTS and UPT application.

Sorry for your loss, Mr. Lorence.

[Guest colorado]

x3 great grandfather:civil war (union), fought in Arkansas and Missouri in a cavalry regiment

great grandfather: world war 1, US 30th division, fought as part of US II Corps under operational control of the British Army, which broke the Hindenburg line in Sep-Oct 1918

father: Army National Guard, Engineering Company

me: USAF pilot

no military flying until me, but my great grandfather (not the one in WW1) tried to join the USAAF in 1942, but was not allowed to because he was a sole operator of a farm and was not allowed to enlist. He got his PPL in the late 1970's (he was over 60 by then!) and flew for 15-20 years. I went flying with him by the time I was 3 or 4 years old, I still remember it vividly 20 years later. He passed away a month after I graduated UPT, and I always be glad I was able visit him before with my wings in hand and talk about how cool it was to be a pilot with the person who helped me fall in love with airplanes

Edited November 18, 2008 by colorado

[TacAirCoug]

-Grandfather: Army during WWII (Europe), stationed at Beale for a while (which was my first duty station) when it was still an Army post.

-Grandfather: Army during WWII (Pacific), also worked for Lockheed making tools that built the C-130 (which I now fly) and the U-2 (when it was still secret), among many others.

-Uncle: Worked in the Skunk Works on the F-117 when it was still secret.

While I'm the first flier in the family, there was a lot of interest/influence pushing me that way.

[Guest 60DriverPete]

I agree, great topic.

Grandpa- Bushmaster WWII

Uncle-SF Vietnam

Uncle-Frogman Vietnam

Father-National Guard Infantry

Brother- Army Ranger

Me-Former AF E-6 now Army W-2 in Hawks

I to am glad my dad got to see me get my wings before he passed, I am the first flyer in my family and he knew its what I wanted. Again great to hear this stuff. Heres to those who came before us

[Stitch]

Uncle (gradfather's brother-in-law): Army WWI and WWII started out as an E, retired as an O-6

Another Uncle (gradfather's brother): Again, started out as an Army E in WWI, retired as an O-6 after WWII.

Cousin: Thud driver (F-105), Fighter Weapons School instructor, one of the original Wild Weasels

Me: Retired E-7 (24 years), bomb loader. Didn't fly jets, but did wrench them, but I somehow fell under a luckly star and was blessed with three (3) incentive rides, 2x F-15, 1x F-16. (Even stationed at Nellis in the AMU that supported the F-15C division of the FWS. So I shared some of the same ramp with a family member. Granted, it was some 25 years difference, but the same ramp anyway) Working on PPL, initial solo complete, planning on becoming a CFI.

My Kid: Entering junior year at one of the lesser known federal service academies, wants to go active or ANG, put in for UPT and fly anything they'll let em.

Brother: Coastie, 4-years.

[StoleIt]

Grandfather: Army Infantry, Pacific, WWII

Uncle: Army Corps, Europe, B-17 Navigator, WWII

Father: Started working on civilian PPL but never made it to the check ride due to health reasons.

[Butters]

Uncle: Sailor USS Yorktown, Korea

Multiple Uncles Drafted, Vietnam Infantry

Cousin: Retired AF, E-8 MX

Not a lot of military in my family, I am the first Officer and Flyer.

I grew up towards the end of the Cold War. After reading lots of Tom Clancy books, I decided to apply to the Naval Academy, wanted to drive submarines. Seemed like a good idea to me at the time, they were doing some interesting things during the cold war. Well, bla, bla, bla, didn't not get accepted to the Naval Academy, had an AFROTC scholarship to FSU. Started to reapply to the USNA, but decided that FSU was a much better idea. I was planning on being a Nav until the vision requirement was relaxed. Now, after 3 flying assignments, I am sitting at a desk, posting on Baseops.net all day long!

[mhc257]

My Grandfather was a B-17/24 nav in WWII. On his second tour he was in the lead of a diversionary formation that took heavy fire. His plane went down over Belgium on August 7, 1944. He parachuted safely, but never heard from other members of his crew. He was housed in the Belgian underground until General Patton came to town and he was liberated. He continued to serve until the end of the war. He's the reason I want to serve.

My Father is a commercial pilot with American Airlines (23 years). He's developed and honed my aviation bug.

[RASH]

No military in my immediate family until me. I grew up on a cattle ranch about 10 miles north of the AF Academy. With all of the flybys (along with the Colo ANG out of Buckley flying A-7s and the Pete Field Reserve flying Herks) over our place all the time, it was easy to dream about flying while I was cleaning stalls or bucking hay bales.

[Guest falcondawg05]

Dad was Navy then USMC fighter jockey - A4's when AD, then F14 when he was a contractor/test pilot.

Mom was a Navy nurse (fighter jock and nurse? go figure).

I'm prior enlisted, F16 crew chief. Went to USC, got my degree in aerospace engineering, and have been working for Lockheed Martin and Boeing on and off, as well as contracting and flying as civilian test pilot.

These days, I am debating on whether to do the FedEx or UPS thing. The wife likes the idea, and the pay (from what I hear) is not too shabby.

[Guest AceTomatoCompany]

4th Generation military pilot out of a family of 12 pilots.

[Guest Monte]

0.

Had grandfathers who served in WWII.

For me, just the desire to serve. The desire to fly came after being in ROTC.

[H2Nav]

My dad: USAF Navigator KB-29 and then the rest of his SAC career in 135's

Me: B-52's and Herks, started in SAC then ACC then AMC, now AFRC.

[Guest JL]

As said above; nice idea for a thread.

Great grandpa and his brother - founded three aircraft companies... third one was Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company which the spelling was later changed to Lockheed Aircraft Company because people kept pronouncing it Log-Head .

Grandpa - worked for Lockheed as an engineer and later management until her retired.

Other grandpa - did some sort of maintenance in WWII on B17s (never really got to talk to him about it).

Dad - CFI/MEI

Me - grew up flying, prior enlisted, currently flying UAVs in the civi-world, and awaiting OTS.

Edited November 19, 2008 by JL

[Guest fourtenwedge]

Father was a boom operator

Uncle was a boom operator

Aunt flew tankers

Me, I ended up an flying nerd (linguist) so I consider myself 2nd generation flyer. I had many great uncles that enlisted in WWII but both of my grandfathers were kids during that time so I'd say 2nd generation military.

[BQZip01]

Third generation military flier

Grandfather on Mom's side: unable to pass the physical to be a pilot due to his eyesight, so was given a slot as an aerial photographer...go figure: :rainbow:ness back then too I suppose.

Grandfather on my Dad's side: PBY pilot in WWII

Father: UPT washout (60%+ attrition then though); later an EWO on the BUFFs, worked FB-111, Cobra Ball, U-2 program, and other MWSs too

My brother: unfortunately lost a pilot slot and any chance of flying spot due to migraines

Me: Pre-Nav Training at ENJJPT then to Nav school and EWO. Now training on the BUFF

AlphaMikeFoxtrot, I'm here and in EWO training. Good luck in UPT!

Edited November 19, 2008 by BQZip01

[slacker]

I have a long family history of military service and aviation in my family.

I've heard stories all my life, but I can't recall them all. Thanks for my new research project.

The ones I can remember-

My Grandfather's Grandfather- Confederate soldier who died in a Union POW camp.

My Grandfather is one of 13- part of the "greatest generation." He served in the Navy in the Pacific, his brothers were all over. One of his brothers retired as the adujant general of Alabama.

My other Grandfather was involved in aviation from the begining. My dad says his pilot's license had a Wright Brother's signature on it. He built a surplus Thomas Morse S-4 Scout in his barn. When he cranked it for the first time, he emptied the barn of its hay. He flew all his life and I believe was a crewchief on p-47 and p-51s. When he died, my Dad cleaned out the barn and found unopened, covered in waxpaper and twine, shop manuals for P-51s. Sadly, he threw them away. I imagine they'd be worth a bunch.

One Uncle was a helo pilot in Korea (2 tours) and Vietnam (maybe 2 tours). When he died, he had close to 15,000 hours in helos and I don't think he kept a logbook for a while.

One Uncle was a tail gunner in B-17s.

My aunt had her PPL in the 1950s, pretty rare for a girl at the time.

My Dad- Army Helo/fixed wing pilot in Vietnam- he flew Hueys, Cobras, Loches, Birddogs etc. Retired from the Army Guard and still flies for fun.

When I was a kid, my Dad took me to the Ft. Rucker Museum. Between My Dad, Uncle and Grandfather, there was only about 2 or 3 tails that they didn't fly or work on between them. It was pretty cool to hear the stories of the actual tail numbers sitting in the museum.

Me- C-130 pilot

I hope to take the family into 100 years of military aviation.

Good topic.

[MD]

Dad- WSO with the Imperial Iranian Air Force during the Shah days and prior to emigrating to the USA. IIAF time paid for med school in Tehran, the career he picked up upon arriving in the US.

Me- CBP pilot/agent, awaiting RWQC at Rucker (Reserve/traditional) for HH-60, current (soon to be former) MQ-1 (ANG), F-117, A-10, enlisted Firefighter.

What an absolute pain it was getting the TS/SCI with that background.

[Buddy Spike]

First generation pilot here. My grandfather was Army in the Battle of the Bulge. My dad was Army National Guard. No one in my family flies. I'm not sure how I picked it up other than my interest being sparked on an airline flight as a kid, but my family has supported me the entire way. I now fly F-16s.