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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

History of the flying experiences and associated activities of LCDR John A. (Jack) Sullivan, USN/Retired

This history consists of military and civilian activities.

1943- Naval Aviation Cadet. Soloed, July, Piper Cub, 7 hours experience.

1944- Naval Aviation Cadet Program (flying part only) Basic at Glenview Naval Air Station, N2S. Corpus Christi, flew SNV and SNJ aircraft. Designated a naval aviator on 25 October, 1944. Operational training at Melbourne, FL. F-6-F (Hellcat) carrier qualified.

1945- Flew in fighter squadrons VF-98 and VF 18, both were in F-6-Fs. Then in squadron VBF-4 F4U Corsairs. Carrier qualified. The war was over before I had any combat.

1946-1950- Attended university

1949 and 1950- Weekend warrior as NAS Niagara Falls. Squadrons VF 56B and VF 852. Flew F-4-U Corsairs.

1951- Re-entered the US Navy, Pensacola, FL. Pilot instructor for beginning students.

1952- IBTU staff instructor of qualified pilots who were to be future flight instructors.

1954 and1955- Norfolk, VA attached to Ferry Squadron, VR-31. Qualified in several single and multiengine prop and jet aircraft and delivered these to numerous places within the USA.

1956- Qualified as a helicopter pilot at Ellison Field, Pensacola.

1957 and 1958- Attached to Ferry Squadron VR 32. Qualified in many additional type aircraft. Flew my fastest airplane, an F-8 Crusader. Radar clocked at 1,262 MPH and qualified as a captain in the R4D-8 (Super DC-3).

1959-1962- Attached to VR-21 at Barbers Point, Hawaii. Qualified as captain in the C118 (DC6B). Flew many flights throughout the Pacific Ocean including Japan, Okinawa, Guam, the Philippines, Korea, Alaska, and Vietnam.

1962-1968- Attached to VR-1 at NAS Patuxent River, MD. Was command pilot for 4 star admirals who were the C-in-C of the Atlantic fleet and the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, Atlantic. Also flew US senators and congressmen on flights to South America, Europe, and Asia. Several of these were "around the world flights." I retired from the navy in June, 1968.

Civilian Flying Experiences

1968 and 1969- Pilot/Instructor for "Flight Safety, Inc." I was an instructor in both airplanes and simulators in the following aircraft: Convair 240, 3450, and 440, plus the Falcon-10 Fan Jet.

1970- Flew twin beech aircraft on tourist flights throughout the islands.

1971-1981- Pilot for Royal Hawaii Air Service. Cessna 402. My "most remembered flights" was when I transported Charles Lindbergh (Lucky Lindy) to and from Honolulu to his home on the island of Maui. He always says in the co-pilot seat and was a joy to talk with.

March 21, 1981- My day to remember. I flew my last flight! (failed the medical EKG, heart problems)

1982-1986- I was the airport manager at the Kaanapali Airport on Maui. The airport closed in January, so I retired.

Summary and Related Information

Years from solo to end of aviation career, 1943-1986: 43 years

Number of airplanes, helicopters and sea planes flown: 51

Countries and large islands flown to as pilot: 62

Naval Aviator number: C-22837

FAA Pilot number: 174193

Civilian pilot rating held. Private/commercial/instrument/air transport rating in the DC6B, Convair 240/34/440, and Fan Jet Falcon 10.

Total flying hours: 23,680. A great career-I enjoyed it all.