John was born, 21 April 1936, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Donald R. and Ruth Carpenter. He earned his commission to 2nd Lt USAF Reserve in 1960 through AF-ROTC at Oklahoma State University. After flight training at Bartow, Reese and Perrin AFBs and appointment to the Regular AF, John had assignments flying the F-102, F-101 and F-106 in ADC squadrons at Seymour Johnson, AFB, NC, Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland and Hamilton, AFB, CA. In 1968, his malfunctioning F-101 crashed into the Ocean off the coast of CA. Based on his assessment of the problem, the fleet of F-101s was refitted with solid state electronics to prevent inadvertent pitch-up.
Following Combat Training at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ, in 1969, John went to Udorn RTAB where he flew 70 combat missions over Laos and North Vietnam before going to 7th AF Headquarters, Saigon. Returning home, he was the Chief Quality Control Officer test flying the 95th FIS's F-106s at Dover AFB to determine operational readiness.
From 1973-1977, at IPIS, Randolph AFB, TX, John held four positions including: Chief of R&D Division where he analyzed and tested pilot factors concerning cockpit instrumentation. He advised Rockwell International on placement of analog cockpit flight instruments in the space shuttle and, later, worked on the arrangement of symbology graphics and placement of cockpit instruments in the developing digital CRT technology. The research findings were used in the F-15, F-16 and in later space shuttles.
John did the initial operational testing of GPS including where and how to display GPS in the cockpit. He flew GPS instrument approaches to determine feasibility of approach technology. He also tested the concept of the single helicopter pilot in instrument conditions. In 1976, the FAA asked the Joint Chiefs for an OK to shorten runway approach lights. The Joint Chiefs denied the request after John's Division test-flew the proposal; and discovered that shortened approach lights presented hazards to fight safety.
After a tour at ADC Headquarters, Ent AFB, CO, John returned to Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland as the Commander of the 57th FIS. The mission was the Air Defense of Iceland and to intercept Russian bombers in the GIUK Gap. As the AD/TAC Vice-Commander of Air Forces Iceland and Director of Operations, John had operational control of the F-4E Squadron, two Radar Squadrons and the E-3A Airborne Warning and Control Squadron. During 1980/81, over 120 Russian bombers were intercepted.
At AD/TAC Headquarters, Langley AFB, VA, John helped develop the ASAT Missile, an anti-satellite weapon mounted on F-15s.
On June 30, 1988, John retired after 28 years of active duty service. He is a Command Pilot with 4,000+ hours of flying time. Among the numerous medals awarded to him were the Meritorious Service Medal w/2 bronze oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal w/4 bronze oak leaf clusters. John lives near Boerne, TX with his wife, Carol. His sons, Callan and Scott Carpenter, and their families live near-by in Austin and San Antonio, TX, respectively.