Getting to Know You

Jerry Tonini

I have the privilege of editing the manuscript Jerry Tonini wrote called TRASH HAULERS. “The term is at times used vindictively, but more often affectionately when precious and/or life-saving cargo is being carried.” Jerry’s story takes place during the year he was stationed in Vietnam from 1967-1968 as an Operations Officer in Cam Ranh Bay AB, managing 24-48 C-130A and C-130E aircraft.

Besides writing TRASH HAULERS, Jerry has written several stories of his adventures: How I Became a Pilot; B-47E Crash on Landing at Zaragosa AB, Spain; Flight Test Modifications (Are Two Better Than One?); C-8A Buffalo Crash at Moffett Field, California. In Jerry’s own words, “I amassed 10,000+ flight hours in 68 different types of aircraft and 83 different models of those aircraft. It’s been a lot of fun!”

Jerry and his wife, Susan, recently moved from Sequim to 32338 109th Pl SE #106, Auburn, WA 98092. Their phone number is 253-876-6436. They welcome visits from their EAA 430 friends of many years.

For those of you who didn’t meet Jerry, and for those who have been his friends for years, the following is an account of his aviation career.

Two hometown boys in Butler, Pennsylvania, buzzed the town in P-38’s and Jerry decided “right then” he wanted to be a pilot. His father paid for his first ride in an airplane, a Piper Cub, which lasted “15 whole minutes.” While a high school junior, he went to see an Air Force recruiter about becoming a pilot. He was told he needed two years of college and his dad “almost fell over” when he said he wanted to go to college, replying “Jerry, your grades have always made me C-sick.”

Jerry went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh from 1952-1956, graduating with honors as a Mechanical/Aero Engineer, the first in his extended family to receive a college degree. After joining ROTC, he got his 2nd Lieutenant bars. He then worked for McDonnell Aircraft in Saint Louis as an Aeronautical Engineer on the Mach-2 Navy F-4H Fighter and on aircraft “inlet” designs for the F-4H Fighter.

He was called for active duty in the USAF in 1956 as a 2nd Lieutenant and passed the required physical exam to attend the Officer Training course and later Pilot Training. He flew a T-34 and a T-28 at Stallings AB, NC. A visiting Edwards AFB speaker turned him on to be a test pilot, since it combined engineering with flying. His first solo flight was at Stallings Airfield, South Carolina, in a Beach T-34 Mentor, and he later soloed in a North American T-28 Trojan. He transferred to Webb AFB, Texas, flew a Lockheed T-33 and received his USAF Pilot Wings. He attended Fighter Gunnery Training in F-86F Sabre Jets at Williams AB, Arizona. His first supersonic flight (M1.0+) was in a vertical dive in the F-86F. He was scheduled to go to F-100 training at Nellis AFB; however, he was diverted to SAC and flew B-47E’s. The following year he attended SAC B-47E Stratojet ground and flight training at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas, and then transferred to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, to fly as a B-47E copilot. (continued on following page)

He flew the B-47E Stratojet Bomber from 1959 to 1963 at Shilling AFB in Salina, Kansas, and world-wide missions for the Strategic Air Command (SAC), initially as a copilot, then later as a B-47E Aircraft Commander, in England, Spain, Morocco, North Africa, Alaska and Guam. During the Cuban Crisis, he led six B-47E bombers from Shilling AFB to the Detroit Wayne International Airport, carrying nuclear bombs. The people living in Detroit had no idea what the pilots in flight suits were doing there.

He applied for and was selected to attend USAF Aerospace Research Pilots School (ARPS … formerly USAF Test Pilot School) under the auspices of Colonel Chuck Yeager. He attended ARPS for a one-year training course, which included the following aircraft: T-33, T-38, F-101, F-106, B-26 and B-17. Jerry was also selected for the Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL) program. Unfortunately, during his astronaut physical at Brooks AFB, Texas, doctors found his eyes did not pass the necessary requirement for the program, which eliminated him from the program. The MOL program was subsequently cancelled and many of the selectees were transferred to NASA as potential astronaut candidates. Two of his classmates became astronauts: Fred Haise, Jr of Apollo 13 fame, and Richard H. Truly of Space Shuttle fame.

After his tour of duty in Vietnam (1967-1968), he returned to Edwards AFB in California and resumed his duties as a test pilot, flying over 1000 hours in the C-5A test program alone. He was the primary test pilot for the HC130H Hercules, C-130A and C-130E as test support. He also flew the T-37, B-57, B-47, B-52, C-141, KC-971, C-5A and others.

From 1971 to 1973, he attended graduate school at California State University in San Diego, obtaining his Master’s Degree in Business Administration. After graduation he assumed duties as System Manager for the A-10A “Warthog,” a Close Air Support Fighter Program,” at Sacramento SMALC. He also flew the C-118 reciprocating engine aircraft at that time. He subsequently assumed duties as the Director of Logistics for the A-10A Warthog fighter program at Wright Patterson AFB.

Retiring from the Air Force in 1979, he worked for the Boeing Company in Seattle. He obtained a CFI rating under the GI Bill and flew the C-150, C-172, C-172RG and Citabria aircraft at the Boeing Aero Club. He bought an Aero-Club Cessna 150 which he used to commute from his home to Boeing.

In 1982 he was a Sr Field Service Engineer on the B-737-200 Adv at Mather AFB in Sacto, CA, where he became a base manager. He also taught a Masters Level Aero Course for Embry Riddle while at Mather AFB. In 1988 he was promoted to Boeing’s E-4B (747’s) National Emergency Airborne Command Post as Manager at Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska, where he managed 115 people.

He returned to Boeing in Seattle in 1990, working on the PHM Hydrofoil Program, F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter, F-22 Raptor APS IPT, B-747-400 Supplemental Cargo Aircraft and the B-767 Tanker Program.

He retired from Boeing in 1995, moved to Sequim, and went to work for Rite Brothers in Port Angeles as a CFI instructor. He also flew for 3-1/2 years under Part 135 Charters. He worked at Coldwell Bankers Uptown Realty as a bookkeeper and advisor. He flew and instructed at the Peninsula Flying Club.

He is a member of the following organizations: SETP (Exp Test Pilots), QB’s, EAA, AOPA, Sigma Tau (honorary), Beta Gamma Sigma (honorary), Phi Kappa Phi (honorary), Sigma Iota Epsilon (honorary) and Sons of Italy in America (OSIA).