Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 3 Line: 78

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Joe Udovch was born in San Francisco, of Slovene-American immigrant parentage, and was raised and schooled in the San Francisco Bay Area. After earning an Engineering degree from the University of California at Berkeley, he joined the U.S. Navy immediately upon graduation, and was sent to flight training in Pensacola, Florida, where his aviation education began. Eight years of active service and a total of twenty-five years in the Naval Reserve ensued.
While on active duty, Joe flew various single-engine jet aircraft, among them, the FJ-3 Fury, F4D Skyray, F9F-8T Cougar, and various models of the A4 Skyhawk (A, B, C, F). After leaving active duty and joining United Airlines as a second officer, he remained with the Naval Reserve, to preserve and maintain his flying skills, while awaiting promotion to a flying seat with the airline. In order to better prepare himself for his airline future, he eventually moved away from the smaller single-engine jet aircraft, and into the multi-engine transport category, flying the CI 18 (DC-6B civilian equivalent). He continued Weekend Warrior service with the Naval Reserve, and retired as a Commander.
With United, he began his career as a second officer/flight engineer on the DC-6, proceeding through the DC-8, B-727, and DC-10, and moving up to first officer/co-pilot status on the latter two. As the years went by, advancement to captain came on the B-727, B-737, B-757 and B-767 aircraft. While with the airline, Joe amassed many flight hours in flying domestically, but was able to include much international time, visiting Europe, the Far East, and Latin America. He retired from United Airlines in 1998 after completing 31 years of service.