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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. James D. Bast

Born 1922 in Gary, Minnesota. Grew up in Twin Valley, Minnesota. Raised in poverty. Mother deceased in early childhood. Father was blind and raised five children in the Depression. Wanted to fly more than anything else from early childhood.
In 1940, was accepted into the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPT) for primary training at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Continued his secondary CPT training at State Teachers College in Conway, Arkansas.
In 1941, joined the United States Army Air Corp. Sent to Nashville for classification. Qualified for fighter pilot training. Served in World War II in the Pacific Theater as a fighter pilot and trainer. Aircraft flown included: P 40; P 39; P 63; P 38; P 47; P 51. Discharged in 1946 as 1st Lieutenant.
Ran a flying service in Wichita, Kansas while applying for a pilot job in commercial aviation. Met and married Mary Elizabeth Stephenson in 1947.
In 1947, hired as a pilot at Trans Continental and Western Airlines, which became Trans World Airlines. Aircraft flown for TCWA and TWA included: DC 3; DC 4; Martin 202; Martin 404; Lockheed Constellation; Convair 880; Boeing 707; Boeing 727; Lockheed 1011. Retired in 1984.
Allan and Mary raised five children in Kansas City, Missouri while working for TWA. None of the children became pilots, although two of them went to work in the airline industry. Allan taught Mary to fly when they were dating, but she never got her pilot's license. As of this date they remain happily married and reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.