Richard O. Ransbottom

Col. Richard Ransbottom, my husband, has flown a variety of reciprocating engine aircraft and also a variety of jet planes including all models of the F-86. His checkout in the F-86 A was on his way to Korea with the 336th Fighter Squadron on Nov.11, 1950, under the command of Lt. Col. Bruce Hinton. Dick had also flown with Major Hinton in the 24th Fighter Squadron stationed in Panama in 1945.

Dick returned from Panama, and was assigned to the 49th Fighter Squadron in Bangor, Maine, where he flew P-47's. and F-84's after Jet transition at William's AFB in Arizona. In November 1950, he was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group and a few days later they were on their way to Korea.

After returning from Korea, Dick was assigned as Ops Officer of the 97th Fighter Squadron at Wright- Patterson AFB in Ohio. While there, he ferried F-86E's to the West Coast to replace the A's in Korea. The 97th transitioned into F-86D's. Dick transferred into Fighter Test at Wright Patterson AFB and later completed Experimental Test Pilot School at Edward's AFB in California. After graduation in 1954, he was assigned back to Wright-Patterson, Fighter Test Division.

In 1961, Dick was assigned as Ops Officer and later Commander of the 22nd Fighter Squadron of 36th Fighter Wing at Bitburgh, Germany, where he flew F-105's. The children and I were able to accompany him to Germany. When we returned to the states in 1964, Dick attended the Air War College in Montgomery, Ala.
After graduation, he was off to Vietnam where he was Commander of the 21st TASS. When he returned to the states, he was once again assigned to Wright- Patterson where he became Director of Flight Test which included fighter, bomber and cargo aircraft.

In 1972, Dick was transferred to Air Force System Command at Andrews AFB in Maryland where he retired in 1974. Rick, our son, after graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1971, was assigned to Wright Patterson AFB and our daughter, Debbie, was at the University of Maryland. After 31 years of active duty, Dick and I retired to Florida. In 2005, we moved to Tucson, AZ., to be near our children.