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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Jennifer A. Bither

Bernard Ernest Knorra was born on September 25, 1954, in Fairfield, Connecticut to Concetta and Ernest Knorra. His father was passionate about airplanes and flying which made a lasting impression on young Bernie. Achieving what few people do in their lifetime, especially at such a young age, Bernie earned his private pilot's license at the age of 16 years. He continued flying whenever he could and enrolled at the University of Connecticut where he joined the ROTC.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance, Bernie enlisted in the United States Air Force where he attended the USAF Squadron Officers School. Initially based at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas from 1978 to 1979, he earned his Airplane Multi-Engine Land, Single-Engine and Multi-Engine Instrument Ratings, and Single-Engine and Multi-Engine Commercial Ratings in the T-37 and T-38 aircraft. For three months in 1979, Bernie completed C-141 training and earned his C-141 rating. Bernie became active in the Air Force in 1979 and was based in New Jersey at McGuire Air Force Base with the 30th Military Airlift Squadron. He also earned his Airline Transport Rating, Flight Engineer Rating for Turbojet Powered Aircraft, USAF Instructor Pilot Rating, and FAA Dispatcher Certificate with the Air Force. In 1984, Bernie joined the United States Air Force Reserves in which he was based at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.
By 1984, Bernie accrued over 2500 hours of heavy jet time as a C-141 pilot flying global routes. He served on dynamic operations that were conducted under varying environmental conditions, such as weather, crew workloads, airport facilities, humanitarian/social considerations, political implications and national security. Among several of his assignments were Beirut and Granada, as well as involvement in the operation to free the hostages in Iran in 1981.
He became a First Officer for Eastern Airlines from 1985 to 1986. In 1986, he accepted a position with Presidential Airlines, which hired him as a Captain. With Presidential Airlines he earned his 737 type rating.
In 1990, Bernie's squadron was the first reserve unit to be called up during the Persian Gulf War. While piloting the C-141 on two occasions, missiles were directed and locked on his aircraft during the war. Fortunately, the ground crews recognized Bernie's aircraft as friendly and redirected the missiles. Bernie was awarded three medals serving in the Persian Gulf War. For flying 28 missions in Desert Storm he was awarded the Air Medal. He was also awarded the Military Merit Medal. The Kingdom of Kuwait awarded Bernie a medal for the Liberation of Kuwait.
After the Gulf War, Bernie was based in St. Louis for the USAF Reserves at the Tanker Air Control and Command. There he was responsible for dispatching a fleet of aircraft and scheduling the fleet's pilots. On May 14, 1992, Southwest Airlines hired Bernie. He retired from the United States Air Force Reserves in 2000 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Bernie has flown over 20,000 hours in airplanes. He is now a Phoenix-based Captain with Southwest Airlines who enjoys his family, golf and a lot of great flying.