Newspapers / Goldsboro News-Argus (Goldsboro, N.C.) / April 26, 1957, edition 1 / Page 3
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I OAPT. McIXTOSH Spare pilot CAPT, JOHNSON Solo pilot Thunderbirds, Aerobatic Team, Have Good Combat Records, Too i MAJOR J. A. ROBINSON Leader Leader and Commanding Offi cer 'Of the THUNDERBIRDS is Major J. A. “Robby” Robinson of Indianapolis, Ind. He is the con- troling factor as the team per forms its intricate maneuvers and is immediately responsible for the , complete support and administra tion of the organization. Born February 10, 1922, in In dianapolis, Major Robinson gradu ated from Shortridge High School there in 1939, and attended Morn- ingside College, Sioux City, Iowa, for one year. In 1943, Major Robinson entered • the Aviation Cadet Program, graduating as a bombardier at Big Springs, Texas^ iri March, 1945. He then attended radar school at Boca Raton, Fla., returning to civilian live at the end of World War 11. He was accepted in the Regular Air,Force 18'months later, return- ing'as a radar - bombardier in the Strategic Air Command. He im mediately applied for pilot train ing, and way- graduated from the jet fighter school at Williams AFB, Arizona, in 1949. With the 4th Fighter Group from Langley AFB, Virginia, he took the first F-86 Sabre Jets into combat in Korea, where he flew 74 mis sions. Credited with downing one MIG-15 and damaging two' others, he was awarded the Distinguish ed Flying Cross and the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He has served with the 48th Fighter Group in France and the 36th Fighter Group in Germany. In Sept., 1955, he returned to Nel lis AFB, where he was a squadron commander when chosen to lead the THUNDERBIRDS in March 1957. Major and Mrs. Robinson, the former Thelma White of Indian apolis, live in Las Vegas, Nevada, with their three daughters, Linda, Pamela, and Krysti. CAPTAIN J. M. BARTLEY Left Wing . Flying Left Wing with the THUNDERBIRDS is Capt. J. M. “Bart” Bartley of Apple Valley, California. He was bom in Corapolls, Pa.,- on August 7, 1924, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. M. Bartley, and was graduated from West High School, Cleveland, in 1943. Shorley after graduaticm, Capt. Bartley'enlisted in the U. S. Ma rine corps, seeing combat with the 4th Marine Division on Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Receiving an honorable discharge from the Ma rines in October. 1945, Capt. Bart ley attended the University of Den ver prior to his appointment as an Aviation Cadet. He received his commission and pilot’s wings in May, 1950, at Williams AFB. Ariz. Capt, Bartley flew a combat tour in Korea with the 51st Fighter In terceptor Group, flying the North American F-86 Sabre Jet. He is credited with four MIG-15’s dam aged, and was awarded the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Citation and the Asiatic-Pa cific Medal with three battle'stars. Upon returning to the United States, he was assigned to the USAF Fighter Weapons school at Nellis AFB, Nev., where he in structed gunnery and combat fight er tactics for three years. He then flew special missions with the Re search and Development Section until June. 1956, when he was se lected to fly solo'with the THUN DERBIRDS. moving to left wing in March. 1957. Capt. Bartley resides In Las Vegas with his wife, the former Patty Snyder of Apple Valley, and their three daughters, Linda Ma rie, Rochelle and Bonnie T.,ynn. FIRST LIEUTENANT W. R. POGUE Lieuteant Pogue was graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. Immediately after completing col lege he enlisted in the USAF and entered pilot training in October, 1951. Following Primary 'I’raining at Bartow, Florida, and Basic Training at Bryan AFB, Texas, Lt. Pogue received his commis sion and pilot’s wings with Class 52-G in October, 1952. Lt. Pogue flew a combat 'tour in Korea and has been awarded the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Clus ter. He instructed in gunnery and combat fighter tactics at Luke AFB, Arizona, until selected to fly solo position with the THUNDER BIRDS in November, 1955. He moved up into the slot posi tion September 8, 1956 and flew his first show in the diamond on Sep tember 16, before 150,000 specta tors at the Oakland Air Fair in California. He has flown more shows than any other member of the current team. ^ Lieutenant Rogue is marAli and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife, the former Nita Dittmar^ of Oklahoma City, and fheir two children, Billy and Layna Sue. CAPTAIN DOUGLAS BRENNER Right Wing Flying the Right Wing of the in ternationally famous USAF Pre cision Demonstration Team, the THUNDERBIIRDS, is Capt. D. D.. “Doug” Brenner. Capt. Brenner was bom in Falls City, Nebraska, .July 1, 1930, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Brenner. He nvas graduated fnom Falls City High school in 1948 and at tended Midland College at Fre mont, Nebraska in 1948 and Peru State Teachers College at Peru, Nebraska in 1950. Entering Aviation Cadet Training in the US Air Force in May of 1951, he graduated, as a jet fighter pilot from Big Spring, Texas in June 1952. After completing gunnel^ train ing in F-86 Sabres at Nellis AFB, Captain Brenner joined the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing in Korea and completed 89 combat missions in the North American F-86 Sabre Jet against the Communist MIG ( V As a'result ol his achievements in combat action Captain Brenner was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with on^ Oak Leaf Cluster and the Ko- Slot Man Expertly filling the “slot” or i. number four position on the THUN- ^ DERBIRDS, the ijnited States Air t Force Demonstration Team, is 1st ; Lt. W. R. “Bill” Pogue of Sand , Springs, Oklahoma. » Lieutenant Pogue was bom in J Okemah, Oklahoma, January 23, ^ 1930, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. * W. Pogue. lie was giradnated \ from Sand Sorings, Oklahoma High ' School in 1947. In January 1931, THUNDERBIRDS is Captain Sam uel R. “Sam” Johnson of Dallas Texas. He was bom in San An tonio, Texas, in October, 1039?^ •- the.son of Mr. and Mrs. Sani R. Johnson, who currently reside in Tampa, Florida, and was gradu ated from Woodrow WilSon High School. Dallas. After graduating from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, he applied for pilot training in the USAF, He was graduated from tho jet fighter school at Bryan A^, Texas, and received his combat crew training at Nellis AFB, Ne vada, In December, 1952, Capt. John son went to Korea, where he flew 62 missions with the 51st Fighter Group, Capt. Johnson shot down one MIG-15 and was credited with one probable and one damaged. While in Korea he was accepted as a regular officer in the USAF. Capt. Johnson holds -the Disting uished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Korean Campaign Ribbon with two battle stars In December, 1953, he returned to Nellis AFB as an instructor in the Combat Crew Training Pro gram. He was selected to fly with the THUNDERBIRDS in February, 1957. As Solo Pilot he pgfforms lo\v level precision manj^^'s w’hiol- are Inte^'oersed w5|]U||y|^^ m ,of“thG four'^a'ne dTah-.Bhd.’. Capt. Johnson and his wife, the former Shirley Melton of Dallas, reside In Las Vegas, Nevada; with (See TEAM on page 11) WELCOME AIR FORCE Congratulations to the Air Force Personnel and their family Let us Launder, Dry Clean your clothes for you SEND YOUR CLOTHES TO A PROFESSIONAL LAUNDRY. & DRY CLEANERS “YOUR CLEANER IS YOUR CLOTHES BEST FRIEND” GOLDSBORO LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANERS Corner Ash and John Streets Phona 1010 One of three dormitories under construction Officer quarters under construction Here’s more Kuildings “going up” to Help Keep our Air Force “going up” for our Nations preparedness. If is our privilege to He a part of your Re-Dedication tHrougH tHe construction of many of tHe buildings now underway. GREETINGS TO SEYMOUR JOHNSON ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR RE - DEDICATION. CECIL’S, INC. General Contractors Spartanburg, S. C.
Goldsboro News-Argus (Goldsboro, N.C.)
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April 26, 1957, edition 1
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