Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 4 Line: 81

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Nancy E. Jones

Born June 6, 1912, in Portland Oregon. Attended Oregon State University and Stanford University before graduating from the Boeing School of Aeronautics in 1933. While at the Boeing School, he flew the open cockpit Boeing 203, Stearman and Great Lakes airplanes. Closed cockpit flying was in Hamilton’s and Stinsons. He received his instrument rating in a B-40-B-4.
Upon graduation, Capt. Jones had to decide whether
to fly domestically with United; Air Lines or if he
would join the Flying Tigers in the Orient. He decided on United and began his distinguished career in 1934. His first trip was as a United Air Lines Co-pilot was on June 3, 1934, flying between Oakland and Seattle in a 247-B. Seattle-based between 1934 and 1937, he flew routes between Seattle-Oakland, Seattle-Vancouver, Portland-Pendleton-Spokane, and Portland-Salt Lake-Denver. Chicago-based between 1937 and 1940, he flew east-west routes in DC-3's and was promoted to Reserve Captain.
Between 1940 and 1949, Capt. Jones flew DC-4's. Between 1949 and 1953, he flew transcontinental routes in DC-6's, initially as Captain and between 1953 and 1958 as Flight Manager. Between 1959 and 1972, Capt. Jones flew DC-7's and DC-8's. At the time of his retirement in 1972, he was flying DC-8-62's.
Special assignments during his flying career with United included:
WWII - served in the Air Transport Command, flying to Alaska, supplying our secret bases in the outermost Aleutian Islands.
1958 - As UAL Captain with Japan Air Lines, he flew Seattle-Tokyo with JAL crews while they qualified for commercial airline command.
1965 - As UAL Captain with Air New Zealand for three months and based in Auckland, he flew to Christ Church, Fiji, Sydney and Brisbane, Australia.
Vietnam War - served with the Military Air Transport Command, flying to Korea, Okinawa, the Philippine Islands, Guam, Wake Island, Hong Kong, Bangkok and five Vietnam airports: Danang and Phu Cat in the north and Saigon, Bien Hoa and Cam Rhan Bay in the south.
Prior to his departure on his last flight before retirement, Capt. Jones received the following message from Flight Operations Chief Treece:
"Saturday, May 27, 1972, you will be in command of your last flight for UAL. It will also make the completion of a piloting career of over 38 years with UAL. During this time you have accumulated a record of which any pilot who aspires to be a true professional airline captain can well be proud. Members of the flight operations staff, as well as myself, offer our sincere congratulations for this achievement..."
Capt. Jones was married to Margaret for 53 years and was the father of three daughters. In addition to being a respected pilot and captain, he was a champion amateur golfer and an avid skier. Capt. Jones died on December 22, 1995 at the age of 83.