Rocky learned to fly off-base in 1945, in a J-3 Cub, while in the Army Air Corps. He later re-joined the Air Force, trained in the T-6 Texan, T-28 Trojan, T-33, F-80, and was an active fighter/bomber pilot flying the F-84G Thunderjet. He flew 30 missions in the Korean War, and was a Captain in the Air Force Reserves.
His love of flying and all thing aviation were evident to all that knew him. After the Korean War, he took up flying again in about 1970. He owned and flew a 1941 Piper J-3 Cub, a 1947 Luscombe 8A Silvaire, a 1947 Stinson 108-2 Station Wagon, and a 1971 Cessna 150 (with taildragger conversion).
He was a longtime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), in Chapter 2 of the Antique and Classic Division, of Houston, Texas. Rocky loved to attend airshows including the big EAA one at Oshkosh. He loved small airshows too, and always volunteered if he could help, whether directing airplanes for parking, registering, giving tours, or just cleaning up.
In 1975, he donated his Piper J-3 Cub airplane to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Rocky Howard, born on October 11, 1925, passed away on April 12, 2003. A week prior to his death, he saw photographs of his donated Cub as it was the first airplane being installed into the new Museum at Dulles Airport. He was married to Joan Lander Howard for 51 years, and they have three sons, two which followed their father by learning how to fly.