Foil: 44 Panel: 2 Column: 1 Line: 10

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Benefactor

Honored by:
Judy Laakso

Edward Laakso, Jr. is part of an aviation family. Immediately upon graduation from the University of Arizona in 1965, Ed entered the Naval Flight program in Pensacola, Florida. After earning his wings and completing his flight training, Lieutenant Laakso joined his squadron based at Barbers Point, Hawaii. His squadron?€™s mission involved flying the Lockheed P-3, Orion aircraft equipped for antisubmarine missions. His tour with the squadron included deployments to Adak, Alaska and Naha, Okinawa. During his Okinawa deployment, he flew combat missions in and out of Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. After his military tour ended in September 1969, Ed joined Trans World Airlines and began six months of flight training in Kansas City, Missouri. Upon completion of training, Ed was initially domiciled in Los Angeles flying the Boeing 707. During his career of 31 years with TWA, Ed also qualified on the Boeing 727, the McDonald Douglas DC-9 and the MD-80 aircraft. Ed upgraded to captain on the MD-80 and continued to fly TWA domestic routes until his retirement in August, 2001.

Ed's father, Commander Edward O. Laakso, Sr. started his flying career with TWA. When WWII broke out, he joined the Navy to become a naval aviator. He flew as a Consolidated PBY Catalina pilot and for a time, commanded a flight crew assigned to fly combat missions throughout the South Pacific. After the war he rejoined Trans World Airlines and qualified throughout his career on numerous TWA aircraft, including the Lockheed Constellation and the Convair 880. For many years before his retirement, he flew the Boeing 747 as an international captain on routes extending around the world

Ed's younger brother Tom, earned his Navy wings after college and served a tour of duty in Vietnam, which included missions piloting the LTV A-7B Corsair. He flew combat flights into the war zone while stationed on the USS Ranger and USS Midway. Tom continued his involvement with aviation in the Naval Reserves flying the Lockheed P-3 Orion.

During retirement, in keeping with his life's passion, Ed continues his great enthusiasm for all aspects of aviation.