To Captain Charles Wilson Pyeatt, my father in loving memory:
Whose service to his country has inspired me, and show devotion to his family has shaped me. In an age that has produced so few truly admirable men, I am proud to have one as my father.
Charles Wilson Pyeatt was born on May 27, 1928 in Osceola, Missouri. As a young boy his eyes were always turned towards the sky and aviation. He built and flew his own radio controlled airplanes and flew them throughout his boyhood and into his adult life. In 1949 he joined the Air Force as a pilot and for the rest of his life; he pursued his dream of flight. Throughout his Air Force career he held many important positions serving at Bolling Field in the 1111th Special Air Mission Squadron, flying 50 combat missions in Korea with the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and earning an Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross, flew Convairs with the 3535 Aircraft Observer Training Wing at Mather Field, was a Professor of Air Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy New York, was a Million Miler Pilot in MATS at Dover Delaware in the 20th Air Transport Squadron and the Chief of Maintenance at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He was awarded numerous medals in his Air Force Career including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Air Force Longevity Service Award.
In 1963 my father joined United Airlines as a Flight Instructor in Denver, Colorado and then went to “fly the line”. In his career at United he flew the DC6-7, B-727, 747 and DC-10. He retired in 1988 as a Captain.
While not flying at work, my father was constantly restoring vintage aircraft and owned a Culver V, Fairchild 24, Aeronca Sedan, a Tailwind that he built from scratch in Troy, New York, a Luscomb Phantom, J-3 Cub, V35A Bonanza, Waco UPF-7, Cessna 140A, Culver Cadet, Travelair 2000 (4000) and a Beech Baron. He was awarded the Golden Hammer Award from mechanics Illustrated for his building of the Tailwind. He also crafted the most beautiful radio controlled airplanes for his grandson and love of his life, Douglas. They spent happy hours flying and being together.
The most important thing however to my father was his family. He adored his wife of 51 years, Jean Powers Pyeatt, his children Rebecca Pyeatt and her husband Jeff, and this son David Pyeatt and loved his grandchildren Douglas, Sarah, Katherine and James with all his heart. My father passed away in November 2001 and up to the last minutes of his life, he was flying airplanes in his hospital bed.
There is a famous quote from Leonardo da Vinci that reads:
When once you have tasted flight you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward; for there you have been and there you will always be.
On a beautiful, clear, good flying day, I look skyward and know that my father is in a better place, flying through the clouds, in his airplanes and glorying the magic of flight. Fly well and rest, beloved father, your good, decent life on earth earned you that heaven.