January - March 2022
As Compiled by JT Smith
Fred C. Morton, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Eddie's death in Viet Nam, wrote both a tribute to Eddie and a memorial biography of his brother's life. The tribute now serves as Eddie's obituary in the Roster section (read it HERE or click the "Obituary" link on Eddie's Roster Panel)And, in a profoundly generous act, he has granted us his permission to add his book From Memphis to DaNang to our website (in .pdf form) so that it may be included in the history of the Class (read it HERE or click the "Memorial" link on Eddie's Roster Panel).
For those who would like a copy in Kindle format, click HERE
Fred, we thank you.
" The Association of Graduates has recently learned of the death of Col (Ret) Peter W. Bent, former ATO. Colonel Bent passed away on 15 Oct 2021 in Salisbury, NC.
"No picture is available.
"Funeral services were held at the time of his passing in North Carolina.
"His obituary can be found, and condolences left online at Acres Funeral and Cremation Services."
Sad news from the AOG:"The Association of Graduates has recently learned of the death of Lt Col (Ret) Colven E. “Earl” Caudell, Jr., former ATO.
"Colonel Caudell passed away on 27 Feb 2022 in Boca Raton, FL.
"Services will be private for the family and burial will be at the USAFA Cemetery on a date still to be determined.
"No obituary is available.
"Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his son, “Trey”: Mr. Colven E. Caudell, III, 1651 Estrella Cir, Boca Raton, FL 33433."
"Classmates are still popping up in the news many years after their involvement in important activities. A recent aviation website recalled the competition between the F-16 and the YF-17. In it was our own Michael J. Clarke, the principle Air Force Test Pilot for the YF-17."
"Good Morning Les,
"Good Eyes there my friend--that be me, third in from right. I was the co-Deputy Director of the Light Weight Fighter Joint Test Force (LWFJTF), Project Manager and principle Air Force Test Pilot for the YF-17.
"To my left is Bob Ettinger who held the same positions for the YF-16. On his left is Dean Stickle, his assigned TAC 'shadow' evaluator.
"My TAC 'shadow', Joe-Bill Dryden, is on the far left in the photo.
"Next to him is Jim Rider, the Test Force Director, and standing next to him is Duke Johnston, his TAC 'shadow'.
"The two guys in the middle are Northrop Test Pilots - Hank Chouteau, Chief Test Pilot, and the guy in blue and white is Joe Jordan - my Northrop counterpart.
"We initiated a concept wherein the Contractor, AFSC, and TAC were jointly involved in the concurrent testing and evaluation of the two prototypes. We Air Force guys were the principle testers/evaluators, supplemented by the Contractor Test Pilots. The TAC evaluation pilots did limited Tactical evaluations as we opened the Flight Envelope within which they could safely perform their evaluations.
"The reason the two YF-16 pilots are in the photo is we did cross-over testing/evaluations to help minimize bias in our reporting. Bob and I each flew six flights in each other's prototypes, and the TAC guys about three each.
"We also did something different in testing. Traditional experimental flight test involves opening the Flight Envelope point-by-point-by-point, etc.. With concurrence from AFSC, when we were confident in our Flight Test results, we used that data to further open the envelopes by analysis, thereby allowing us to eliminate (push past) a significant number of traditional test points, greatly speeding-up our program. We were able to do in one year what it took the F-15 flight test program essentially four years to do.
"We finished all our work in February 1975, with the Air Force choosing the YF-16, and the Navy the YF-17/18 (because SECDEF MacNamara) told them they had to take the one the AF didn't choose). I had the ignominious honor of checking out the Navy pukes (uh, pilots). However, each service got the fighters that suited their mentalities for the intended missions; Air Force single-seat single-engine external-fuel capable, Navy two-seat two-engines all internal-fuel capable; when one mulls this over, made sense.
"What's fantastic is that 47 years later these two aircraft are still front line fighters. [The Northrup YF-17 eventually morphed into the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet for the Navy]
"Question, where did you get the photo. I have a 2x3 foot version hanging above my hobby-room table.
A link to the Air Force Historical Society has been added to the "Related Links" Menu option. There you may subscribe to their "On This Day in Air Force History" email service and read issues of their quarterly publication Air Power History.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
"2021 has proven to be much more of a challenge than anticipated or desired. We lost way too many comrades and other family members and continue to struggle with the new Omicron threat and restrictions. Despite all that, the two class get-togethers for Andi’s interment and our 60-Year Reunion made the year exceptionally memorable. Thanks to all of you who were able to attend. Many of you were impacted by your own or a family member’s inability to travel. We sincerely hope those problems will soon be corrected and you can join the next get together, which we are tentatively planning for the summer of 2023.
"In the meantime, we wish you all a healthy, prosperous and positively memorable 2022. Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us for any reason. We always love to hear from you.
"Your Class Officers (and indispensable helpers): Jim Glaza, Duck Waddle, Ken Alnwick, Jock Schwank, Dick Sexton, Pete Roe, Wayne Kendall, Dick Schehr, J.T. Smith, and Les Querry"