Fred Perra

Fred Perra (AKA Fearless Fred)

Pre Columbus AFB

Born and raised in what used to be the Panama Canal Zone until Jimmy Carter gave it away, but that’s another story. After graduating from high school I left the Zone to attend the University of South Florida. I Graduated 5-1/2 years later with a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. At this point in my life I had a choice to make: Be drafted or pick my service. Not a difficult decision, I chose the Air Force. Next up was OTS at Lackland AFB followed by a trip to Columbus Mississippi. You all know the rest of the story.

Post Columbus AFB

My assignment after UPT graduation was KC-135’s flying out of Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. After KC-135 School in California and survival school in Spokane, WA, I arrived at Charleston AFB per my orders to hop a flight to Ramey. Checking in for the flight I was informed that all orders to Ramey were cancelled as they were closing the base. I was told to expect new orders shortly and in the meantime, to take leave. So I caught a flight back to the Canal Zone for a long visit with my parents. After about a month I finally got my new orders which put a big smile on my face: EC-135’s flying out of RAF Mildenhall with the 10th ACCS under the command of USAFE. No SAC for me. What a great assignment. I fell in Love with London during that time and visit there often since retirement.

Roger Hartman

I flew 3 tours in SEA — first in the EC-47 and two in the B-52D. Flew the G afterward from Fairchild, then to AFIT for a grad degree in aeronautical engineering followed by a tour teaching aero at the AF Academy. I got to fly the Aero Commander then the Twin Otter there supporting the cadet parachuting program. From there I went back to flying in the EC-135 at Ellsworth in what turned out to be my last flying assignment. In 1983 I was assigned to the AF Operational Test and Evaluation Center and finished my AF career as the program manager for the Relay Mirror Experiment at the AF Weapons Lab. I retired in 1990 and have been at Sandia National Laboratories since then. I currently manage the department that executes the Aging Aircraft Program for the FAA. I’ll retire fully in December.

I’ve been married for coming on 35 years to the love of my life, Barbara. We met while I was teaching at the AF Academy. We have 4 children between the two of us. In November, we’ll travel to PA where I’ll officiate at Rob’s retirement from the Army. Rob was born at Columbus and I enlisted him into the Navy while I was still on active duty. YIKES! You know you’re getting older when your kids retire. We have grandchildren in Charlotte NC and Loveland CO.

Marty Page

Our first assignment was to “No Hope Pope” AFB, NC, flying the Four Fans of Freedom. Back then the saying was, “The only thing good about being based at Pope is that you never have to go there TDY!” Actually, we rented a house on a lake and thoroughly enjoyed living in North Carolina and traveling the world. The next assignment, in 1976, was to Westport, Connecticut in the Education With Industry Program. My follow-on job was at Eglin AFB as a Research and Development Contract Negotiator. R and D was very interesting but my friends in Texas convinced me to apply at their start up airline. So, in 1979, I resigned and began work with Southwest Airlines in Dallas. We lived there until 2001, when we moved to the new crew base in Orlando, FL.

I was “retired” by the FAA at age 60 in 2007. But not to worry, in 2003, Southwest agreed to let me work part time at the Orlando Magic, flying their 42-seat Boeing 737. I was set for at least five more years. Not so fast! The best job in corporate aviation disappeared in 2008, when the plane was sold. At least Gayla was able to accompany me to Basel, Switzerland to turn the plane over to the new owner. She said that she could get used to traveling that way. I told her to run for political office.

We are now back on a lake in Orlando with the requisite water craft and within six minutes of Disney, Universal and Sea World. I call it Grand-kid bait! Speaking of which, we have two beautiful daughters.
Amber, her husband and daughter live in Colorado Springs. Paisley, her husband, daughter and two sons live in Charlotte. Gayla works Very part time and tutors math at a children’s ranch. I wake up each morning terrified by the decision of which vessel to take out………..first! What a country!

Bill Grubbs

After flight school graduation and a survival school or two, I went TDY to Little Rock, AR for transition to the C-130E. Following that, I went to my only other PCS Station, Dyess AFB, and Abilene, TX. I was assigned to the 773rd TAS which was part of the 463rd Tactical Airlift Wing (Tactical Air Command). From there, except for training, we flew mostly outside the US primarily with multiple 60 day rotations to Wiesbaden, DE and Mildenhall, UK and then from there flying in Europe and the Middle East. I was offered a regular commission and after declining, my flying hours were reduced and I was assigned as a Field Maintenance Squadron Administration Officer. I separated in June 1974.

While at Abilene I married my wife of 39 years, Kay Capps Grubbs, whom I had met and dated at MSCW (now MUW) in Columbus. We together returned to my hometown which was my plan all along since my family was here. I took a job near my home with Champion International which was a Pulp and Paper Manufacturer and would later be bought by International Paper. I was hired by the Mill Manager to some extent because of my military service. I moved thru several jobs at the Courtland Mill in Alabama and while resisting being transferred managed to stay here. I retired after 26 years as a production and converting manager. During that time, Kay and I had two daughters and one son who also live in the general North Alabama area. We have one grandson. While I was working at International, I received my masters in administration.

Raymond White

This August, Olivia and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. We have three children, Krista, Jeremy and Joshua. Krista is a free lance writer and missionary, Jeremy is Program Manager Architectural Access and Compliance, for the University of California at Berkeley and Joshua is a senior network technician at T- Mobile USA. Jeremy is married to Angela Brandt and they care for our two grandsons Henry and Roan.

After graduating from pilot training, I was assigned to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota flying KC-135s.

December 1970 to Feburary 1975, 28th Bomb Wing, 28th Air refueling Squadron. Capt, KC-135 Copilot, Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot and Evaluator Pilot. (After many TDYs and alert tours, I escaped SAC)

February 1975 to August 1979, Williams Air Force Base, Chandler AZ, 82d Flying Training Wing, 96th Flying Training Squadron. T-37 instructor pilot, 82d Flying Training Wing, Functional Check Flight T-37 and T-38 Instructor Pilot and Evaluator Pilot.

Jim Orgeron

James (Jim) Orgeron retired from the Air Force after 20 years in 1989 in the rank of Lt. Col. He flew KC-135’s at Blytheville AFB and for a short period, RC-135’s at Offutt AFB. He received a graduate degree from AFIT which got him assignments at SAC Hq. and PACAF Hq. After retirement from the Air Force he taught in public schools for a short time then decided to change second careers and worked for the La. Dept. of Environmental Quality. He retired from the state in 2009.

Jim has been married to his wife, Lois, for 38 years. They have 3 children, (two are married) and 4 grandchildren.

Dave Hartmann

Greetings Classmates of Class 71-01

Biographies come in all sizes, shapes, and numbers; measured by factors as diverse as we want. Here are a few ways to introduce “Dave” after 42 years:

• 1 = One lovely wife, Carol, of 43 years marriage — one grandson — one granddaughter
• 2 = Number of…, daughters and grandchildren — addresses of Oklahoma domiciles over the years
• 3 = Number of…, professional careers: USAF; commercial manufacturing; university professor — number of engines left operating on a KC-135 from which I was refueling in an operational mission over Saudi Arabia in 1980 [NO! didn’t contact the tanker]
• 4 = Number of…, earned academic degrees: Ph.D., MS, MBA, BS — my birthdate in June — date in June of graduation from USAFA — date in June of commissioning in USAF — pet dogs in family over the years — European/Middle Eastern countries into which I flew the E-3A/B

Art Urschel

Family: I am still married to Barb, who has persevered with me and my flying these past 42+years. We are living in Merrimack, NH, and have two grown children:
– Our daughter, Stephanie, is living on Cape Cod, married to Mike Hall, an ER doctor, with our grandchildren Ryan (11), Abby (7), and Sara (4).
– Our son, Ben, is married to a Stephanie as well, living in Nashua, NH, and is a software engineer.

Barb worked as a teaching assistant while the kids were in school, and later, started a consulting business, managing the completions of corporate aircraft.

Blane Totty

Married Janie Kimble in Starkville while she was working on her PhD at MSU during pilot training then took a C-141 assignment to Charleston AFB. Earned MBA while there in early 70’s. Transferred to C-5’s at Charleston but the 76th MAS moved to Dover AFB where I was squadron training officer. Most missions served Europe and Middle East with quite a few trips into Viet Nam also. Eventually accumulated 1000 hours in the Galaxy.

Skip Johnson

Wow, how does one write about 42 years of experiences and keep it short and sweet?
I married Ellen Montgomery the day after we graduated. We have 2 children from our time together; a daughter named Amanda and a son named Brad. Both of them are healthy and doing well. I’m now a widower for 5 years (more on that later). I have one granddaughter named Skyla (she’s 5).

I was assigned to the 904th Air Refueling Squadron flying KC-135’s at Mather AFB in Sacramento, CA. When I arrived for duty, I wasn’t scheduled to go to KC-135 training immediatel y and I was assigned as the Admin Officer for the Squadron. Luckily, there was a Chief Master Sergeant (Boom Operator) there that showed me the ropes and taught me that, just like on MASH, enlisted folks actually ran everything. I had a good career in 135’s. After completing training, I was assigned to a crew. We went to U-Tapao in mid-72 for one of SAC’s 90 day TDY assignments. Had a great A/C that taught me a bunch about leading a crew and thinking fast in dangerous situations. I built hours and was assigned as a Stan/Eval co-pilot. I was a KC-135 simulator check pilot as one of the duties. We flew in the 1972 SAC Bombing and Navigation Competition. We ended up not doing well; lost our Doppler on climb-out and had to dead reckon everything that was being measured in hundreds of feet.