Keith W. Balcom

Biography of Capt. Keith Balcom

Born: Seattle, WA
Dec. 9, 1939

Family: Son of Ralph W. Balcom & Evelyn F. Balcom (nee Killen)
Younger brother of Bruce N. Balcom &
Col. Ralph C. Balcom (MIA NVN/Laos, F-105, two DFC's)
Wife Judith O. Evans
Daughters Betsie & Darian

Education: Roosevelt H.S., Seattle, WA graduated 1958
University of Washington, Seattle, WA graduated 1962;
B.S., Aeronautical Engineering

Military: USAF ROTC, commissioned 2nd Lt., 1962
1963-1964, USAF pilot training, Webb AFB, Big Spring, TX (T-37 & T-38)
1964 F-100 training, Luke AFB, AZ
1964-1967 F-100 operational assignment, RAF Lakenheath, England.
494th Tactical Fighter squadron.
Sat nuclear alert at various bases in Europe; practiced gunnery, mostly out of Wheelus Air Base, Libya. Won 48th Tactical Fighter Wing nuclear and overall Top Gun awards for Jul-Dec, 1966,
while still a 1st Lt.
1968 F-100 operational assignment, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC. 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Had 3 mos.
temporary duty at Phu Cat Air Base, SVN, flying 52 combat missions in S. Vietnam (won 2 Air Medals).

Discharged after 6 years of service at rank of Captain.

Civilian: 1968-1970 - Flight engineer (Boeing 707 &727), Trans World Airlines,
New York, NY
1970-1973-"Sky Marshal", U.S. Treasury Dept., New York, NY.
International flights.
1973-1974- Flight engineer (Boeing 727) Trans World Airlines, New York, NY
1974-1976- Project engineer & flight test operations engineer, Boeing Co., Seattle, WA
1976-1981- Flight engineer (Boeing 727) Trans World Airlines, New York, NY
1981-1983- Air Safety engineer, Air Line Pilots Assoc., Washington, D.C.
1983-1999- Flight engineer (Boeing 727), First Officer & Captain (Boeing 737), Piedmont/US Airways, Norfolk, VA & Baltimore, MD

Retired from US Airways Nov. 1, 1999. Have lived in Louisville, KY since November 1998

Member of Super Sabre Society & Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association.
Attend reunions & "Tactics Conferences"