John Holt

1954 - 1956 Radar Observer on F-89C's with the 57th FIS at Keflavik Airport, Iceland (Only Fighter Squadron in MATS), 437th FIS at Otis AFB, ME. on F-89's (Commander Major Chappie James - later 4 star), 30th ATS, McGuire AFB, NJ. C-118, Armament Electronics Office at Albany, GA, B-52's.

1963 - 1966 Missile Support U-6A Wichita, Kansas.

1965 - 1967 First Fixed Wing Pilot Conversion Class at Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX., H-19, HH-43, then to F.E. Warren AFB, WY. on UF-1F's.

1968 CH-3 training at Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX.

August 1968 - August 1969 with the 21st SOS NKP, Thailand. (shot down near DMZ January 1969. Last sensor mission flown in SEA by a helicopter) Rescued by CH-3 from 21st SOS. Shot down by probable ZPU. Controlled crash on top of  a hill. Bad guys kept off our backs by 2 A-1E "Hobo's" the flight leader being our Wing Commander and a Nail FAC. My aircraft was later destroyed to keep it out of bad guys hands (bombed). Lead "Hobo" received a Silver Star.

August 1968 - December 1971 at McConnell AFB, Wichita, KS. UH-1F's for Missile Support (attended and graduated from University of Nebraska at Omaha under Bootstrap) 1971.  

December 1972 - December 1973 Air Rescue Detachment Commander with HH-43's at Korat RTAFB and Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. While at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand two Firefighters were killed in an explosion when rushing to an aircraft that had crashed on landing and on fire.  As they went into aircraft it exploded. Both killed. Pilot had got out on opposite side of aircraft. Both of these guys were HH-43 firefighters in our unit. Opened up Takli RTAFB, Thailand unit. Also Commander of HC-130 King Squadron and HH-43 unit at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. Probably only helicopter pilot to command both Helicopters and HC-130 in SEA.  

December 1972 - April 1973 at McConnell AFB, Wichita, KS. with UH-1F's for Missile Support mission.

Retired April 30, 1973 from Wichita. 7000+ hours.

Been first on scene of many crashes, some survived, most did not.  Flying a HH-43 that caught on fire in flight but landed and no big deal. Had an engine blow up at about 300' in an H-43 on takeoff at McConnell AFB, KS. Auto-rotated onto taxi way. No big deal

"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE"

~SOMEONE PAYS FOR YOU AND ME~

"HELICOPTERS" - THE ONLY WAY TO FLY

~NEVER FORGOTTEN~