Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Last Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
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Last Primary AFSC/MOS
1115K-Pilot - Fighter Instructor Pilot
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Last AFSC Group
Aircrew
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Primary Unit
1976-1978, 49th Fighter Wing
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Service Years
1956 - 1978
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Home State
Kentucky | |
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Year of Birth 1936 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SgtMaj Joe Donald Armstrong (Grasshopper28)
to remember
Armstrong, Henry Warwick (Hank/Red/Wick), Lt Col.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Contact Info
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Home Town Mount Sterling |
Date of Passing Jan 01, 2001 |
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Last Known Activity:
Co owner in the two Dairy Queen's in Alamogordo NM.
Eventually sold both of them about 1997 and became the gentleman pecan rancher
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Other Comments:
Got his records from NARA - took about 60 days. So his profile is complete up to his last tour - nothing in his records about 49th Fighter Wing.
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1958-1961, 1125D, 95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
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1961-1965, 1125D, 525th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - Bulldogs
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1965-1965, 1121F, 4756th Combat Crew Training Squadron (Cadre)
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1965-1968, 1121F, 11th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
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1968-1970, 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
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1969-1969, 1115B, 4511th Combat Crew Training Squadron (Cadre)
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1969-1969, 1115B, 426th Tactical Fighter Squadron
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1970-1970, 1115B, 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron
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1970-1971, 1115B, 352nd Tactical Fighter Squadron
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1971-1972, 1125F, 95th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
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1972-1974, 1125F, 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
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1974-1974, 1125F, 84th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
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1974-1975, Aerospace Defense Command
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1976-1978, 49th Fighter Wing
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Reflections on Lt Col Armstrong's
US Air Force Service
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TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE?
During high school, Wick had applied for an appointment to the newly established Air Force Academy. He received an "appointment" to take the entrance exam, passed but didn't score high enough to get a class seat. After attending San Mateo Junior College for a couple years, he applied for "???" program and was accepted in 1956, I think. He was in that program for two years, I don't think it was the AF Academy, and was assigned in Colorado Springs. After his two years, he received his wings and commission. I think it was 1958 because I used to give him hell for being boot to me and I went into the USMC in July 57. [1]
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ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
Because my brother and I were on active duty at the same time, we never had a lot of time in the same geographic area of the world. After we both retired, I do remember one tale he told me over a beer-b-q at his place. Back when he was with 95th FIS at Andrews AFB, seems he was returning from a training flight and for one reason or another had no brakes upon landing. He didn't relish the idea of ejecting, was going too fast to stop and not fast enough to get airborne again. Next thing he knew he had crossed the end of the runway, gone over the anchor chain, through the chain link fence on the edge of base and into a cherry orchard. When the crash crew showed up, there he was sitting on the wing having a smoke and eating a hand full of ripe cherries. He was more worried how he was going to explain this to his wife and what she was going to do him, than having to go before an air mishap review board and any action the Air Force may take. [1]
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IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
After his Air Force retirement at Holloman AFB, Wick went to work for Raytheon located at HAFB. While there, he was involved as a pilot and unit "commander" for the Test and Development element flying F-4's both as chase aircraft and as remote drones for the White Sands Missile Range. Alamogordo is a rather small town, but large enough that we had two Dairy Queen's. One on the main through fare in town and the other in our only Mall across from the theater. Wick and a long time Air Force buddy of his went into a joint venture and bought both of them. They had them for about 6 or 7 years, I assume successfully, before letting them go. Wick had a house on about 5 acres just outside of the city limits and had planted a small grove of pecan trees. Not expecting too much from them, but was hopeful of some income and something to keep him busy when he finally did hang up the work gloves. I remember he used to complain all the time that the damn things kept gumming up the old cloths dryer he used to use to hull the pecans after harvest. [1]
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1 These reflections were completed with the assistance of Profile Not Found
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