Andrew R. Bergelin started flying when he was 14 years old, in his home town of Big Rapids, Michigan. At the beginning of World War II, Andy, at eighteen, was one of the youngest primary flight instructors at Greenville Aviation Cadet School in Okala, Florida. Later, Lt. Bergelin entered the Air Force Ferry Command. After World War II, he became private pilot for Bill Lear, of Lear Jets, Inc. In 1983, Capt. Bergelin, a 747 pilot for United Airlines, retired. He died of a heart attack in 1997. He lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and his wife Millie survives.