Charlie Bathman

USAF Helicopter Pilot

May 13,1955 - enlisted in the USAF at Newark, NJ.

August 1955 - at Sampson AB, NY. Entered Basic Training.

January 1956 - at Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX. Assigned Photographer.

June 1956 - took AFOQT test for first class (1960) in Air Force Academy.

July 1956 -passed AFOQT but opted for Aviation Cadets instead (Dumb).

September 1956 - at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. for Aviation Cadet Training (Preflight).

January 1957 - at Malden AG, Malden, MO. for Primary Flight School.

July 1957 - at Reese AFB, Lubbock, TX. for Basic Flight Training.

July 1958 -gGraduated as 2nd Lt. with Wings - Chose Helicopter training over SAC B-47s.

August 1958 - at Randolph AFB, San Antonio, TX. to Attend USAF Basic Helicopter School. Did not attend Advanced training as it was being moved to Stead AFB and no

helicopters at Stead yet.

December 1959 - at Truax Field, Madison, WI. Assigned to Base Flight flying H-5’s and H-13’s. Also flew H-19A’s and H-19B”s - Promoted to 1st Lt. - Were supposed to transfer to MATS flying H-43’s but new assignment intervened.

April 1961 - at Naha AB, Okinawa Assigned Base Flight flying H-19B.

August 1961 - TDY with UN Peacekeeping Team to Biak, Dutch West New Guinea flying H-19B’s.

October 1961 - back to Okinawa for 3.5 years, earned 3 Sikorsky Winged S for various

fighter pilot bailouts from Thuds and one Air Medal for airlift of a sick seaman from a destroyer 50 miles at sea, during Typhoon Condition 4. Also survived loss of one main rotor blade from H-19, while flying at 700 feet AGL over water. 

January 1965 - at Sheppard AFB, TX. Assigned to the new USAF Helicopter school.

April 1970 - at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam Assigned Military Advisory Group.

May 1971 - at Hill AFB, Ogden, UT. Assigned to the new USAF Helicopter School.

May 30, 1975 - retired after 20 year USAF Career.

September 1975 - returned to Wichita Falls, TX and opened construction business.

Earned 2 degrees.

January 1981 - employed by Flight Safety International at Bell Helicopter Plant in Hurst, TX. Developed training programs for Bell 412, 212, and 430. Jobs ranged from Instructor, Director of Training, Director of Standards, Program Manager.

January 15, 2009 retired.

March 15, 2009 - rehired part time to develop training program for EC 135 - Still working.

"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE"

~SOMEONE PAYS FOR YOU AND ME~

"HELICOPTERS" - THE ONLY WAY TO FLY

~NEVER FORGOTTEN~