Getting to Know Dave Boerigter

During my first year in college in 1955/56, I became interested in the Air Forces Aviation Cadet Program. I took the entrance exam in the summer of 56 and passed, although my eyes tested at 20-25, so I could not apply for pilot training. I opted for navigator training which I started in October of 56. I graduated in December of 57 and was assigned to the 68th Air Refueling Squadron in SAC, what was then known as Bunker Hill AFB. I joined the Aero Club and make my first solo in a J3 Piper Cub in 1958. I was then transferred to Harmon AFB in Newfoundland where I was assigned to a C 54 squadron doing Arctic resupply. I did not fly as a pilot again until I was attending the Air Command And Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Alabama, where I joined the Aero Club and got my private license in 1966.

I later used the GI Bill to obtain my Commercial, Instrument, and Multi-engine ratings in 1973/74.

I belonged to Chapter 430 early on, then switched to Chapter 1026 in Port Townsend until they disbanded, and rejoined 430. I’m a UFO and a QB and have been an EAA and AOPA member for over 30 years.

I have been to numerous NW Fly-ins at Arlington and have been to Oshkosh four times, participating in the Mooney Caravan to OSH.

I grew up in Holland, Michigan. With the Air Force and later the US Department of State, where I was a Foreign Service Officer (FSOs hold Presidential Commissions, the same as regular military officers), I have lived all over the world, as well as in several different states. My wife, Barbara, (who flew as a flight attendant for American Airlines back in the early 60s) and I moved to Sequim in 1994.

My flying experience includes having flown in Canada, Trinidad, Australia (a lot) and even Morocco. My only other claim to fame was carrying out a successful forced landing after suffering a catastrophic engine failure while in training for my commercial license.

My 1967 Mooney M20C N9668M

The fun thing most people don’t know about Barb and me is that we met on a beach in Bermuda in 1963, went our separate ways, and when we got to see each other in person again in March of 1965, I proposed to her in the parking lot of O’Hare in Chicago. Barb didn’t say yes in that parking lot, but then she didn’t say no either. She got on the plane and flew to Seattle where she enrolled at the UW. She was living with her grandmother in Everett. I talked my pilot into a mission to Paine (we were flying RB 57s with the Michigan Air National Guard which had a two man crew, a pilot and a navigator/camera/photo operator) in April, when she said yes. We got married in Everett in June and have been married 56 years. Barb is the founding and only original member remaining of the Blue Whole Cooperative Art Gallery in Sequim. She has a degree in Fine Art from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Although she started out as sculptor she now does what is called found object art.

We have two kids, Dean and Honor. Barb and I love to travel.