This communication is honoring a man with a love, a real love for aviation and its influence on and in the science of intelligence. Yes, aviation, photographs from 85,000 feet, capturing information as small as your license plate, and intelligence production were significant contributions John (Jack) McIntyre made in his service for his country. This man loved his family, his Air Force, his Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and his activity/function as a docent at NASM. The following autobiographical information came from his daughter, Teresa. It is Jack’s life and thank goodness for Teresa, on behalf of all her siblings and mother, as she made sure all of us knew some great things about her dad’s career in the Air Force and how much he loved the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.
“I graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1956. Because the Air Force had not yet produced a graduating class, the Air Force took 25% of the graduates from both the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy and I considered myself lucky to have been in that quota. I earned my Navigator/Observer wings graduating from Ellington AFB, Texas and was assigned to Dover AFB in Delaware as a line navigator flying in the C-124 Globemaster, more affectionately known as ‘Old Shaky’. On average we would fly two trips to Europe and one to the Arctic each month with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS). Because of the limits on crew duty time, MATS would stage crews. We would fly to one base en route and then enter crew rest. Another crew would take the airplane on to its destination. We would then be rested to take the next airplane as it came through. That way the airplanes would keep moving the cargo at the fastest rate.
While at Dover we participated in many special missions, including the logistics support for the Marines who landed and occupied the Beirut Airport in 1958. In 1960–61, we airlifted United Nations troops in response to the Congo crisis, carrying troops from such diverse places as Ireland and India into the heart of the Congo. We operated out of airports in Libya, Nigeria, Egypt, the Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Senegal, Ghana and Morocco. It was truly a geography lesson. While at Dover I amassed almost 5,000 hours flying time. I tell people now that we would come home, get our laundry done, and be off again. In 1962 I was assigned to AFROTC duty at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
In 1966 I was accepted into Intelligence school in Denver, CO. That move directed the rest of my Air Force career. My initial intelligence assignment was to Beale Air Force Base, CA, the home of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing and its newly assigned SR71 Blackbirds. At Beale we were making preparations for the operational deployment of the SR71 system. My specialization was in the exploitation of the imagery collected by the SR-71's onboard cameras. While at Beale I was sent for six months to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam, where we produced intelligence derived from U-2 and drone photography. I returned to Beale and continued in my previous work until I was sent back to Vietnam in the summer of 1971. That time I was assigned to Headquarters, MACV, the top US command, and spent the next year working in the Intelligence Directorate. I had the great privilege of briefing General Creighton Abrams on intelligence collection projects. Returning from Vietnam I reported to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in the summer of 1972, and for the next three years was a member of a team designing a new National Military Intelligence Center in the Pentagon.
I left that assignment in 1975 to return to Beale as the Commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, the unit of my previous assignment. I served as commander for two years before being sent to Schierstein, Germany, as the Director of Operations for the 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group, the primary Air Force intelligence production unit in Europe. One year later I was promoted and transferred to Ramstein Air Base as Director of Operational Intelligence for Headquarters, US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), providing intelligence support for the HQ and its tactical units. In 1980 I was appointed Commander, 548th Reconnaissance Technical Group, at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The 548th was the top intelligence production unit in the Pacific theater, supporting U.S. units in the Philippines, Korea, Japan, and Pacific islands.
I returned to the mainland in 1983 for my final Air Force assignment. Once again I was in DIA as the Deputy Director of a unit producing intelligence at the highest national level. I retired from the Air Force on 30 June 1986. Upon retirement I worked for GE Aerospace, which was later sold to Martin Marietta and then merged with Lockheed. After 10 years I retired again, this time from Lockheed-Martin. Honors and medals: Defense Superior Service Medal. Legion of Merit. Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, AF Outstanding Unit Award (4OLC), National Defense Service Medal (1star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3stars). Vietnam Service Medal (4stars)”.
John R. “Jack” McIntyre, you will be missed but never forgotten. Your stories pertaining to intelligence and aviation, especially those surrounding the SR-71, were inspiring. The visitors to the Smithsonian Air & Space will always have examples of your passion for aviation gathered intelligence, because many docents will use part of your enthusiasm and approach to educating the visitors. The docents and your family salute you Jack…may you continue to inspire.
The beginning portion was written by the docents on behalf of John (Jack) McIntyre. The regular type is Jack remembering his career in the Air Force.
The docents at Udvar-Hazy Center, NASM have placed Jack on the Wall of honor –January 2020.