Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 4 Line: 66

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Vera Jean Kalde

John H. Kalde was born December 29, 1918 in Los Angeles, CA. At age 17, he had his first airplane ride in a Stinson Reliant at Grand Central Air Terminal in Glendal, CA. His first flying lesson was at age 19 at Mines Field (LAX), Los Angeles, in a Fairchild 22. His first aviation job was with Lockheed Aircraft in 1940 working on the P38 and Hudson Bomber final assembly lines. At the start of WWII, he was hired by 58th Sub Depot Repair Station at Long Beach Airport as an aircraft mechanic on P38, Ryan P22, Douglas A20 and North American B25. While at Long Beach, he signed a contract with Douglas to go to Eritrea, North Africa as mechanic on military aircraft. Due to the progress of the war, the contract was cancelled. In June of 1943, John was sent to Northern Ireland to Langford Lodge Project Magnet by Lockheed. There, he was a mechanic for the services, repair, and modification of all types of aircraft used in the European Theater. When the contract ended, he returned to San Francisco Treasure Island as a mechanic for Pan-American working on the Consolidated PP2Y3 Flying Boat. In April 1945, United Air Lines hired John as a mechanics helper. After earning his mechanics licenses in 1946, he transferred to LAX as Senior Mechanic on DC3, DC4, and DC6. In April 1950, he received his flight engineer license being based first in LaGuardia, NY, the Chicago Midway, IL, and then back to Los Angeles. LAX was his domicile from 1951 until his retirement in 1984 at the age of 65. His flying as Second Officer Flight Engineer included the DC6, DC7, B377, Stratocruiser, DC8, and B747. Having earned a lifetime teaching credential in Aeronautics from California Community Colleges, he taught Flight Engineer Ground School at Mt. San Antonio College.