Foil: 8 Panel: F86 Sabre Pilots Association Column: 3 Line: 64

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Leslie J. Prichard was born on October 2, 1935 in Fayson Lakes, New Jersey.
Upon graduation from West Point in 1957 went through pilot training at Bartow Air Base and Laredo AB, and then flew F-86s, F-89s and F-102s. The latter with the 525th FIS at Bitburg where Les made the first USAF approach end barrier engagement in 1963. He flew F-4s with the 431st TFS at George Air Force Base and Ubon (69 “Rolling Thunder” missions over North Vietnam) before attending Fighter Weapons School at Nellis, Air Force Base.
Les attended the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards AFB in 1967 and served as a test pilot at Kirtland AFB. During this period Les ejected from an F-104, married Barbara Robertson and returned to Ubon to fly 200 plus missions with the 433rd TFS (flew “champagne” combat flight on 1st wedding anniversary July 4, 1970). He flew F-4s with the 78th TFS at RAF Woodbridge and as the DO at Aviano AB, Italy.
In 1975, Les and Barbara left Europe with Keith (born in Soest, Holland while on leave) plus Kevin and Craig (twins born in Vicenza) and attended Air War College. He then flew F-4s as DOW of the 49th TFW at Holloman AFB and served as the Tactical Air Command Liaison at Kirtland AFB before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1980.
Les built a ski cabin at Taos Ski Valley and spends his time skiing, golfing, and crawling around various pubs in Albuquerque.