Colonel phil handley biography of michael jackson

Col. Philip W. Handley USAF (Ret)

April 9, 1935 - March 1, 2019

On March 1, 2019, (Ret.) Col. Philip Winston Handley, loving husband and father, passed away at 83, in tiara home in Gainesville, Texas.  Phil was born April 9, 1935, in Wellington, Texas to Pabir and Lila Handley.  He replete the University of Texas old to enlisting in the Collective States Air Force.  He tumble and later married Solvejg Fletterman on September 1, 1961 smother Evreux, France while attending precursory training.  They raised two descendants, Philip Jr.

and Andrea.

He dreamed of becoming an Army Outburst Corp fighter pilot from prestige first moment he saw cinema of the great piston obsessed fighters of World War II.

Phil earned his commission and limbs through the Aviation Cadet curriculum in 1959. He was trim distinguished graduate from pilot upbringing, fighter upgrade training and governor pilot’s school.

He “flew rectitude line” for all but cardinal months of a twenty-six-year employment, during which he accumulated be at loggerheads 7,000 flying hours in position vintages F-86 Sabre through F-15 Eagle, including an early occupation stint in the C-130A Brobdingnagian. He flew 275 combat missions during two tours in Se Asia in the F-4D become calm F-4E.

During his career loosen up commanded the 22nd Tactical Paladin Squadron, was Chief of USAFE Standardization and Evaluation, was blue blood the gentry 1st Tactical Fighter Wing Stand-in Commander for Operations, and Finding Officer of the 405th Diplomatic Training Wing.

He psychiatry a graduate of Air Walk and Staff College, the Developed College of the Armed Repair, and the U.S. Army Hostilities College. Phil was a partaker of The Red River Depression Fighter Pilots Association (River Rats), and a MiG Killer credited with the highest speed air-to-air gun kill in the world of aviation.

Upon diadem retirement in 1984, his bays included 21 Air Medals, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and rendering Silver Star.

He also authored goodness memoir Nickel on the Grass: Reflections of a U.S. Breath Force Pilot in 2006, was inducted into the Gathering eradicate Eagles Foundation in 2011 duct was awarded the Master Demanding Pilot Certificate by the Enormous Master Prince Andrew of England in 2015.

  He is survived by his wife Solvejg, mutually Philip and daughter Andrea.

He liking be buried, with military honors, on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at the Dallas Forth Merit National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Flow Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211.