My Father was Commander of the 76th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Flying Tigers" at England AFB, Louisiana for three years in the mid-70's. His nickname was "Rocket Man," and the sign in front of the Squadron included it under the "official" sign that said "Col. Arthur L. Chase-Commander."
283 air combat missions (422.1 combat hours) in Vietnam while stationed at Phan Rang AFB, Republic of South Vietnam, August 1967-August 1968. Awarded multiple medals and ribbons.
Some of the Units my Father was Associated With During his Air Force Career
My Dad was awarded several medals while he served our country.
A plaque of "High Flight" was on the wall in every home we lived in.
My Dad requested that it be read at his funeral, and it was.
High Flight
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer John G. Magee, Jr.
High Flight was composed by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., an American
serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was born in Shanghai, China in 1922,
the son of missionary parents, Reverend and Mrs. John Gillespie Magee; his father was
an American and his mother was originally a British citizen.
He came to the U.S. in 1939 and earned a scholarship to Yale, but in September 1940 he
enlisted in the RCAF and was graduated as a pilot. He was sent to England for combat
duty in July 1941.
In August or September 1941, Pilot Officer Magee composed High Flight and sent a
copy to his parents. Several months later, on December 11, 1941 his Spitfire collided
with another plane over England and Magee, only 19 years of age, crashed to his death.
His remains are buried in the churchyard cemetery at Scopwick, Lincolnshire.
Famous Quotes from my Dad (not all approved by Mom ...)
General Advice when you were going somewhere or about to do something
Don't bust your ass.
On Fatherhood
I should have drowned you all when you were puppies.
Advice to Glenn upon leaving for college
Don't knock anybody up.
General compliment (sarcastic)
You're all heart, baby. (Often followed with) Unzip your flying suit and your heart would fall right out on the floor.
General sarcastic remark on current situation
My shattered ass.
On Marriage
People who get married on purpose deserve what they get.
On Marriage
Son, when you want to get married, I want you to come to me first. Then I'm going to grab the nearest blunt object and hit you right between the eyes with it.
Remarking on a female with long, attractive legs
She's got struts all the way up to her fuselage.
When your appearance was suboptimal (ie, baseball uniform not worn right)
You look like Bobby Grunt from Dime Box, Texas.
General sarcastic remark on current situation
Buy you books and send you to school and all you do is chew the covers off.
General sarcastic remark on current situation
That's my boy - raised him on Milk of Magnesia.
On Sports
I root for two teams - Texas Tech and the team that plays Notre Dame.
Dad's Nickname for the "Fighting Irish"
Goddamn Catholic All-Stars.
On a tall foul ball
Would've been a home run in an elevator shaft.
On a very fast baseball pitcher
He's throwing aspirin tablets.
When the team at bat is getting a lot of hits
Time to open up a new can of pitchers.
There are a number of resources on the internet that have helped me
learn more about my Father's career as a USAF Fighter Pilot.
I've detailed some of them on this Helpful Links Page in case you'd like to learn more.
If you knew my Dad or have any pictures of him I would really like to hear from you.
Please send me an email at spanky@mac.com. Thanks!
In Memory of my Father, Col. Arthur L. Chase, Fighter Pilot, USAF
