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USAF Pilot Training Class 52-G

Lester E. "Les" Eklund
Malden Vance

Military Service Career Officer (28 years) After graduation from Cadets, assigned to the 75th Troop Carrier Squadron at Sewart AFB Tenn.  Flew the C-119. Assigned to Neubiberg AB , Germany in September 1953.  Assigned to the 41st TCSq flying the C-119 Served as Instructor and Standardization/check pilot. Reassigned to the Rome Air Development Center (RADC), Directorate of Flight Test, Griffiss AFB, NY in November 1956. Aircraft flown while assigned to Flight Test:  Aircraft Commander and IP in C-131, T-29, Aircraft Commander in B-47.  Co-Pilot duties in KC-135, YC-97, C-54, B-45, C-47, and C45.  The testing missions included tests of developmental ground radar systems and airborne electronics. Assigned to Oklahoma State University under a special Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) program.  Transferred to OSU in July 1960 and completed Engineering Degree in June 1962.  Flew C-47 with the Base Flight at Tinker AFB. Assigned to Malmstrom AFB, Montana in 1962 to the first Minuteman Missile Wing.  Performed Missile Combat Crew duties for SAC, and  attended the “Minuteman Education Program” run by a the AFIT resident school. Received Aerospace Engineering Masters Degree. Performed additional duty as Instructor Pilot in the C-47.  Great sport checking out B-52 and KC-135 pilots who had never flown an airplane with a propeller or a tail wheel. Transferred to Offutt AFB, Nebraska in 1966.  Assigned to a classified space and missile program.  Served as Engineering Branch Chief and later as Director of Operations.  Flew T-39’s for the Offutt Base Flight. Assigned to Osan, AB, Korea, in 1971 and served as Exercise and Evaluation  Branch Chief for the 314th Air Division.  Coordinated military exercises with US and Korean Army and Air Force units.  Flew the C-47 with The Base Flight. Transferred to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota in 1972.  Served as an Operations Squadron Commander, Missile Maintenance Squadron Commander and Wing Deputy Commander for Maintenance (DCM). Transferred to Dyess, AFB, Texas in 1974 and assumed duties as Wing DCM of the 96th Bomb Wing.  My task was to ready the Wing to resume their nuclear role after the conventional bombing role in SEA. Reassigned in 1975 to the Space and Missile Organization (SAMSO) as Deputy Program Manager for Logistics.  Worked for SAMSO and the Logistics commamd on the Minuteman and MX programs. Retired in 1979 as a Colonel.  Civilian Career Employed by the Aerojet Propulsion Company.  Worked as Integrated Logistic Support Manager on the MX/Peacekeeper missile program.  Promoted to Systems Engineering Manager for all Aerojet missile programs.  Retired in December 1990.  Personal Born and raised in North Dakota Married Elinor in 1952 in North Dakota Have 2 sons and 2 daughters all married – Five grandchildrem. Like to play golf in spare time

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