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Sgt Hans Rohm
to remember
Higuera, John, CMSgt USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Hanford
Last Address 3148 Fountain Plaza Dr Hanford, Ca 93230
Date of Passing Mar 28, 2015
Location of Interment Hanford Cemetery - Hanford, California
John Richard "Buddy'" Higuera, 74, of Hanford, CA, died on Saturday, March 28, 2015. John was born in Yuma, AZ on December 7, 1940, son of the late Ignacio and Mary Higuera.
John grew up in Yuma, Arizona and shortly after graduating from Yuma High School, he enlisted in the US Air Force in February of 1960. He served honorably for 30 years and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired from the Air Force in February of 1990 after achieving the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and logged over 8,400 hours of aircrew time which included over 700 combat hours in Vietnam. Always seeking adventure, John was able to travel the world and especially enjoyed his overseas assignments to the Philippines and Germany. After his retirement from the Air Force, John worked as a Real Estate agent in Sacramento, California and Hanford, California.
John married his wife, Fely Higuera, in 1969 at Clark AFB in the Philippines. They were happily married for 46 years. Together they enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. John also managed to always find the time for a cold beer and a BBQ.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Eloise Wise of Yuma, Arizona and Margaret McNamara, of San Diego, California. He is survived by his spouse, Fely, of Hanford, California, his son Tim of Sacramento, California, his son Stephen of San Diego, California, his daughter Sonia Cervantes of Sacramento, California, his daughter Angie Higuera, of Las Vegas, Nevada, his sisters Maryann Heald, of Turlock, California, Ida Valdez of Mesa, Arizona, and Pauline Murphy of Mesa, Arizona, and his brothers, Hank Higuera of San Diego, California, Paul Higuera, of Yuma, Arizona, and Pat Higuera, of Mesa, Arizona. He is also survived by his 14 grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at People's Funeral Chapel 501 N Douty St. Hanford, CA from 4-7pm. A memorial service will be held at People's Funeral Chapel 501 N Douty St. Hanford, CA at 9am. Burial will follow at Hanford Cemetery 10500 S 10th Ave Hanford, Ca 93230.
1964-1966, C-131 Samaritan
From Year 1964
To Year 1966
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
C-131 Samaritan Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
The CV-240/340/440 series was used by the United States Air Force for medical evacuation and VIP transport and was designated as C-131 Samaritan. The first model Samaritan, the C-131A, was derived from the 240 model, and was delivered to the USAF in 1954. A trainer model, designated the T-29, was also based on the Convair 240 to instruct navigators and radio operators. The T-29 was eventually replaced by the T-43. A planned bomber training version of the T-29 (designated T-32) was never built. The 340 model was used for most C-131Ds.
The U.S. Navy used the Samaritan as the R4Y. Nearly all of the C-131s left the active inventory in the late 1970s, but Air National Guard units operated a few into the mid-1980s. The C-131 was eventually replaced by the C-9 Nightingale.
A Samaritan was the first aircraft used as a flying gunship testbed in mid-1963, in a program known as Project Tailchaser. A C-131B (#53-7820) was given a gunsight for the side window, but instead of guns it had cameras in the cargo area. Eventually the C-131 was ferried to Eglin AFB in Florida and a General Electric SUU-11A/A 7.62 mm Gatling-style Minigun was installed. Live ammunition was used and both over-water and over-land tests were successful.
