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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Kent C. Wilhelmi

Received flight training by enlisting in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1949. After completing Pre-flight he started flight training in February 1950, flying the Navy AD-1 Skyraider. He completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned an Ensign in June of 1951. He was assigned to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron Eight Thirty-One (VS831) until 1954. Duty at the Naval Air Reserve Training Unit Norfolk as the VS Anti-Submarine Training officer followed. During this period he flew the TBM, AF-2S, SNB, S2-F-1, P2V and R5D.
In 1958 he was transferred to the Pacific Fleet and Air Anti-Submarine Squadron Twenty One (VS21) and later to VS-29 flying the S2F Tracker. In 1960 then Lt. Wilhelmi was assigned to Fleet Air Wing Six in Iwakuni, Japan as Anti-Submarine Training Officer. While in Japan, he flew with the Patrol Squadron, flying the P5M and the P2V. In addition he also flew the Navy version of the SA-16 the UF.
In 1963 LCDR Wilhelmi was assigned to the Naval Aviation Safety Center as an Aircraft Accident Investigator and in 1965 he reported to the USS Intrepid as Aircraft Handling Officer and was deployed to Viet Nam. In 1967 Commander Wilhelmi reported to Air Anti-Submarine Thirty-Four (VS-34) as the Executive Officer and in 1969 he took Command of Air Anti-Submarine Squadron Twenty-Eight (VS-28) flying the S2E.
From 1972 to 1976, Captain Wilhelmi was assigned as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations - Task Force 67 in Naples, Italy and as Chief of Staff for Commander Maritime Air Force, Mediterranean.
Captain Wilhelmi flew over 4000 hours and made 500 carrier landings including 100 at night while on active duty. Some of the carriers from which he operated were USS Block Island, USS Kula Gulf, USS Monterey, USS Wright, USS Keresarge, USS Essex, and USS Intrepid. He retired in June of 1981 after 32 years of active duty. In 2000 Captain Wilhelmi took light plane refresher training in Farmville, VA. That same year h purchased a 1959 Piper PA24-250 Comanche in Anchorage, Alaska and flew it back to Virginia. He currently belongs to the Farmville chapter of the EAA and is a sponsor for the Young Eagles program.