Jimmy W. Kilbourne Sr., LTC USAF (RET), Sandy Pilot in VN

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This man was the Dad of one of my best friends and I wanted to pay tribute to him here, thanks for reading.

 

I first met Jimmy (Jr.) and his family in 1977 when they moved back to the USA from living in Stuttgart Germany (Patch AFB) for the last 7 years or so. Jimmy was no longer an 'Air Force Brat' and they settled in my town. We became fast and best friends and naturally I got to know his Dad along with the rest of his family.

 

LTC Kilbourne first tried the military by Joining the USMC during the Korean War, but was sent home after being outed by his Mother for being too young (!)......so when he became of age he enlisted in the USAF, came up through the ranks and entered OTS and learned how to fly. In the early 60s he was stationed at Eglin AFB as part of the 1st Air Commando Sqn......During Vietnam he was part of the 602nd Special Ops Sqn, and was in Search and Rescue for downed pilots (known in these circles as a 'SANDY'). His own Douglas A1-E Skyraider was named 'Jubulation T' and had the tail number TT 214. (Air Force 139-214).

 

He earned a Silver Star for his actions as a combat pilot in Thailand and Laos. He also wrote a book about some of the accounts of downed pilots called "Escape and Evasion".

 

In the early-mid 70s he flew USAF T-39 Saberliners for NATO and one of his frequent passengers was GEN Alexander Haig, Supreme Commander of NATO at the time.

 

After his career in the USAF wrapped up in the late 70s, he was a speech writer for GEN Alton D. Slay, head of Air Force Systems Command at the time and located at Andrews AFB. He was also quite active in the local wing of the CAP and was a private pilot instructor.

 

Sadly on 24 March 2018 his life was taken from him while riding as a passenger along with his son-in-law by a head-on collision with another vehicle. Currently charges are pending against the other driver, which according to preliminary findings, was intoxicated.

 

LTC (RET) Kilbourne was 84 years old. His son and I are still best buddies today.

 

 

 

[decwriter]

Sandy pilots were awesome close support personnel for combat search and rescues performed during those years! I'd bet his Silver Star citation is a good one.

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Sandy pilots were awesome close support personnel for combat search and rescues performed during those years! I'd bet his Silver Star citation is a good one.

 

When time permits I'll see what I can do to find out more.

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I actually found a pic of him on the 'net...crouching, 1st row, all the way to the right....pretty cool.