Capt. Earl D. Payne USAF graduated from the USMA @ West Point in 1954. He was in the top 10 percent of his graduating class. He went to serve the United States Air Force and successfully completed the basic air officer school and next flight school.

He flew many types of aircraft in his career but his favorite was the F - 86 Delta Sabre jet where he logged over 575 hrs. flight time in this all weather jet fighter. He also piloted several hours in the F - 102 Delta Dart.
He was stationed at this time outside of Madison Wisconsin 1955 - 1958. He met his future wife , Sylvia Sachtjen while stationed in Wisconsin.

Earl was selected to go to the Air Force Institute of Technology , AFIT @ Wright - Patterson AFB in 1958 He completed this technical school in 1960 with a M.S. in Nuclear Engineering.

He worked as a project engineer on nuclear ramjet engines and air to surface missiles. to 1975.

Earl is happily married to Sylvia Sachtjen. They have two dau. s , Betsy Hohman and Robin Hangartner and three grandchildren, Jane Hohman , Eric & Ally Hangartner.

The above is provided by his brother , Robert B. Payne , also on the Air & Space Wall of Honor in Chantilly VA. The Best , Bob Payne