S.D. Pilot's Assosciation, Ellsworth induct hall of fame honorees

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AFB, S.D. --  The South Dakota Pilot's Association and the South Dakota Air and Space Museum inducted six local veterans into the South Dakota Combat Aircrew Hall of Fame during the monthly military affairs committee luncheon, April 15.

The inductees placed their names on the hall of fame board after SDASM Director Carl Engwall read a brief history of their accomplishments.

The board hangs in a display gallery in the SDASM, located just outside Ellsworth's main entrance.

The six honorees were:

· Wesley Kline, whose record includes 400 command missions while serving in Vietnam; he is also credited with more than 10,000 flying hours in 74 different aircraft, including helicopters and gliders.

· Don Eibert, who safely landed a single-engine aircraft that had flamed out 10 miles from its runway; he is one of the few pilots to ever cross the Pacific Ocean while piloting a C-2 Greyhound.

· Laverne Tech, whose accomplishments range from flying C-123 and C-130 aircraft all over Europe to culminating as an aircraft commander in B-52s at Ellsworth.

· Gerald Teachout, who flew in World War II, Korea and Vietnam before flying KC-135 tankers at Ellsworth. He is credited with 1,264 combat hours in various military aircraft.

· Chuck Childs, whose record includes piloting B-17s in Europe with 37 combat missions and returning again to Europe after World War II to fly cargo aircraft during the Berlin Airlift. He later flew in the Korean War and, at the end of his career, had qualified in 21 different military and civilian airplanes.

· John Welch, who flew 35 combat missions with the 8th Air Force in Europe during World War II, flew B-36s and B-52s from Ellsworth later in his career. After serving as a forward air control commander in Vietnam, he was assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he began research and development on the B-1B Lancer.

Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, 28th Bomb Wing commander, said the Airmen who were inducted into the combat aircrew hall of fame paved the way for the current generation of warfighters.

"What an honor to be among these true heroes today," he said. "We gain strength from our veterans. Their service inspires us to push farther, fight harder and drive for excellence."

The hall of fame board hangs in a gallery inside the SDASM, which is open seven days a week and admission is free.