Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 3 Line: 17

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Capt. Aldridge, the son of Wall Honoree Herbert Frederick Aldridge, was born in 1937. He joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1955. He was commissioned in 1960, received his wings in 1962. As a part of VMO-6 he served aboard the USS Iwo Jima during the Cuban Missile Crises. He was detached from VMO-2 to fly Birddogs in support of HMM 361 out of Da Nang, RVN the winter of 1963 to 1964. Missions included low level reconnaissance and strike support. Capt Aldridge joined United Air Lines in 1966. Over the next 31 years he flew the Caravelle, 737, DC-8s, 727, 737-400, 757, 767 and 777 on domestic, South American and European routes amassing over 20,000 accident free flight hours prior to his retirement in 1997. “It was a wonderful ride.”