Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 3 Line: 26

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Ms. June C. Strong

1935 Upon his graduation from Villanova University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1935, John worked for the Westinghouse Experimental Division in Lester, Pa. for about a year.
1936 He became a Cadet in the U.S. Naval Aviation program in order to pursue his primary interest, which was flying. He remained with the NAS program for four years. He was assigned to the USS Mississippi battleship when his class was at sea..
1940 Hired as a pilot with United Airlines in August, 1940.

1941- On military leave from United from July, 1941 to November, 1945 1945 during World War II.

From July 1,1941 until March 5,1942 he instructed dive bombing and gunning at Pensacola, Florida.
In April, 1942 he became part of the original group forming VR-1 Naval Air Transport Service in Norfolk, VA. He was transferred to Miami, Florida on Sept. 10,1942 when VR-1 detachment was formed there, and which subsequently became VR-7.

His duties placed him in command of Service Detachments at Natal and Santa Cruz, Brazil, and later as Operations Officer of VR-7 in Miami, Florida.

He was commissioned a Commander in USNR, Retired.

His last Navy flight was to bring a German submarine crew back to the States from Buenos Aires on August 5-8,1945. He flew R4Ds
during that period.

1945 - He returned to United after the war and flew as Captain until his
1973 retirement from Boeing 747s in October, 1973.

After his retirement John continued his interest in aviation and the flying friends he had worked with for so many years through active participation in the Retired United Pilots' Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors for a number of years, and served as President in 1980 and 1981.