North High School Wall of Honor
Lyndon Leroy Sheldon
Class of June, 1949
Lyndon Leroy Sheldon
Research done by Claradell Shedd, Class of 1953.
Lyndon graduated from North High in the June, 1949 class. At the time of his military entry, his next of kin was Mrs. Mollie (George Glenn) Sheldon, located at 3121 Columbia Street, Des Moines, IA. His serial number is 49630A.
Lyndon Leroy Sheldon
Year x Rank x Status
1946-1949 x Employed x Worked at (1) Oliphant Pharmacy, 844 Hull Avenue, Des Moines, IA. It was Carlson Drug, then Oliphant Pharmacy, then Johnson Pharmacy. (Fred L. Oliphant, Don Johnson)
June, 1949 x Graduated x Graduated from North High, Des Moines, IA
1949-1954 x Student x (2) Iowa State College, Ames, IA. (27 Aug 1954) Degree in math. In ROTC, upon graduation, commissioned in US Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Aug 27, 1954-
Feb 15, 1955
x Employed x (3) Texas Instruments, Houma, LA doing seismic shooting offshore examining for favorable areas for oil drilling. Group was called Geophysical Services, Inc.
February 15, 1955 x US Air Force
2nd Lt
x (4) Pre-flight at Air Education and Training Command, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
April, 1955 x Training x Navigation School (Air Training Command), Ellington AFB, Houston, TX for basic navigation training
Dec 26,1955 x Personal x Married Edith I. Gossner in Darlington, WI
May, 1956 x Training x (5) Connally AFB (Air Training Command), Waco, TX. for interceptor training
Sept, 1956-Dec. 1956 x Training x (6) Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA for combat crew training
Dec. 1956-
Aug 1959
x US Air Force/
1st Lt
x (7) Presque Isle AFB, Presque Isle, ME. Radar observer in F89 Interceptor aircraft. 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group. The F-89D had a two-man crew, the pilot and the RO. The armament consisted of 104 folding fin aerial rockets.
Aug 1959-
June, 1961
x US Air Force/ Capt/ Education x Graduate School of Engineering, (8) Ohio State University. Columbus, OH. Master's in geodetic science
June, 1961-
June, 1964
x US Air Force/
Capt
x (9) Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA for scientist, other work. Geodetic research officer. Working at Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory.
1965 x Personal x Began a concerted interest/effort in collecting Lindbergh memorabilia and books on Charles Lindbergh. Vantage; May/June, 2000 issue mentions this interest by Lyndon and Bob Arehart of Illinois. See replica of Charles A. Lindbergh clock below.
June, 1964-
June, 1967
x US Air Force/
Capt/Maj
x (10) Charleston AFB, Charleston, SC. Radar intercept officer in F101B aircraft. 444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Washington Air Defense Sector. Photo taken at Dispersal Operating Base in Wilmington, NC in 1966. The F-101B Voodoo Fighter Interceptor aircraft was a twin-engine, two-seat, supersonic product of McDonnell Aircraft.
April, 1967 x Training x Tyndall AFB, FL. One week of Jungle Training
Aug 1968 x Training x Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA. Survival Training.
June, 1967-
Sept 1969
x US Air Force/
Maj
x Mathematician at Computer Programming and Analysis Center, Headquarters, Air Defense Command, Colorado Springs, CO
Oct 1969-
Sept 1970
x US Air Force/
Maj
x (11) Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. Instructor/navigator in AC-119K Stinger Gunship. 18th Special Operations Squadron, 14 Special Ops Wing, 7th Air Force. 137 combat missions in South Vietnam and Laos. Flew some missions out of Phu Cat Air Base, Danang Air Base, Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam and Udorn, Thailand
Nov 1969 x US Air Force x (12) Winners of Great Transpacific Air Race with AC-119K aircraft
Sept 1970-
April, 1976
x US Air Force/ Maj/Lt.Col/Col
x Headquarters NORAD/Aerospace Defense Command, Colorado Springs, CO. as Division Chief in Missile and Space Defense Plans
April, 1976-
May, 1980
x US Air Force/
Col
x (13) Francis E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY as Commander, Geodetic Survey Squadron (GSS). Defense Mapping Agency.
May, 1980-
Oct, 1981
x US Air Force/
Col
x (14) Headquarters NORAD/Aerospace Defense Command, Colorado Springs
Octover 31, 1981
x US Air Force/
Col/Retirement
x Retired from Headquarters NORAD/Colorado Springs, CO. Awarded the Legion of Merit at retirement
Nov, 1981-
May, 1983
x Employment x (15) Computer Sciences Corp in Colorado Springs, CO
May, 1983-
June, 1996
x Employment x Colorado Springs, CO: Ford Aerospace (a division of Ford Motor Company) and two years later we are sold to Loral. Just before I retired, Lockheed Martin bought Loral. Same job, same phone number all three firms.
June, 1996-
2010
x Meals on Wheels x (16) Retirement: Volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Colorado Springs, CO
2010 x Retirement x Fully retired, but continuing profound interest as an expert in Charles A. Lindbergh facts and artifacts
Present-2013 x Civilian x Colorado Springs, CO

(5) Connally AFB, Waco, TX
The airport opened May 5, 1942 as Waco Army Air Field and was the headquarters Army Air Force Central Instructors' School during World War II. It was deactivated after the war in 1945 but was reactivated in 1948 as a pilot training base under the Air Training Command. It was named for Colonel James T. Connally who had been killed in Japan in 1945. The airport was initially called Connally Air Force Base but the name evolved to also include his first name.

In 1951, pilot training was discontinued and replaced with academic and flight training for navigators, radar operators, and bombardiers, with particular emphasis for those officers slated for eventual assignment to Strategic Air Command's B-36 Peacemaker and its ever-increasing fleet of B-47 Stratojets.

Pilot training returned in 1953 and a T-33 advanced flying school operated in addition to navigator training in B-25s.

(6) December, 1956 Graduation; F-89; Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA (click to navigate to larger image)
December, 1956: This is my graduation class from F-89 training. Included with graduating pilots and radar observers (RO's) are our instructor pilots and RO's.
Lyndon Sheldon is in the back row, sixth from the right.
Ford Ruthling is in the back row, fourth from the left
Pete Skinner is in the back row, first from the right
Bill Anders is in the front row, fourth from the right
Lyndon Leroy Sheldon
(7) 1957; Presque Isle; ME. Radar observer in F89 Interceptor aircraft
75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group
(click to navigate to larger image)
D Flight is in front of F-89D Fighter Interceptor aircraft (all 1st Lieutenants)
Lyndon Sheldon is in front row, second from the right
Ford Ruthling is in the back row, second from the left

75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) (1956-1959)
The Tiger Shark Emblem of the 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) was based at Presque Isle AFB, Maine. The emblem shows the shark firing rockets.
I was a Radar Observer (RO) in the 75th FIS from December, 1956 to May, 1959. We flew F-89 D's and H's for the Air Defense Command. The mission of the Air Defense Command, of which the 75th FIS was a part, was to protect our nation from air attacks by Soviet bombers. We kept two airplanes and crews on five-minute alert at all times. If the surveillance radars detected an unknown aircraft, an F-89 would be scrambled out of the Alert Hangar, to be airborne in five minutes or less. The Air Defense Command had about 100 Fighter Interceptor Squadrons based around the United States during the Cold War.
75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

Presque Isle, ME

Air Defense Command Use
The airfield was reactivated by the United States Air Force and redesignated Presque Isle Air Force Base on January 12, 1948 and assigned to the Air Defense Command (ADC) Eastern Air Defense Force For much of the 1950s, Presque Isle AFB housed ADC fighter-interceptors.
23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing
The 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing was assigned to Presque Isle on 10 November 1950. The wing flew North American F-86 Sabre, F-51 Mustang, and F-80 Shooting Stars from Presque Isle with the 74th and 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons assigned. Its mission was to provide air defense for the northeastern United States during the Korean War and conduct basic training for about 500 Air Force recruits. The 23 FIW was inactivated February 6, 1952.


On October 16, 1952 the 75th FIS was reassigned to Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, where the squadron remained until 1955 before returning to Presque Isle. The squadron continued operations out of Presque Isle until later moving to Dow Air Force Base, Maine on 25 June 1959.

In 1953, 57th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was activated flying Northrop F-89C Scorpions. In the fall of 1954, the squadron was reassigned to Keflavik AB, Iceland replacing the 82d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was, in turn, reassigned to Presque Isle. The 82d FIS operated only a short time from the base until it was inactivated in-place and its designation reassigned to Travis AFB, California on 18 August 1955.
Upon the inactivation of the 82d FIS, the 76th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was activated, assuming the equipment and personnel of the departed 82d. It remained at the base for just over two years, before also being reassigned to Pinecastle AFB, Florida on 8 November 1957.

The 74th FIS remained active at Presque Isle until being reassigned to Thule AB, Greenland in 1954. The 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron came back under ADC in August 1954 when it was moved from Thule AB, Greenland to Presque Isle AFB with F-89Ds. In August 1955 the squadron moved to McChord AFB, Washington.

The 23d Fighter Wing (Air Defense) was reactivated August 18, 1955, at Presque Isle with the 75th and 76th Fighter Squadrons assigned directly to wing. It flew Northrop F-89 Scorpions as part of the Air Defense Command until again inactivated July 1, 1959.


(9) Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory (1961-1964)
Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA for scientist, other work. Geodetic research officer. Working at Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is a scientific research organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable aerospace warfighting technologies; planning and executing the Air Force science and technology program; and provide warfighting capabilities to United States air, space, and cyberspace forces.[1] It controls the entire Air Force science and technology research budget which was $2.4 billion in 2006.
Air Cambridge Research Laboratory; Bedford, MA

(10) 1966: Photo below taken at New Hanover County Airport
Wilmington, NC; Dispersal Operating Base
detailed from Charleston AFB, Charleston, SC. Radar intercept officer in F101B aircraft.
444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Washington Air Defense Sector
(click to navigate to larger image)
New Hanover County Airport; Wilmington, North Carolina
left to right: Colonel Bill Myers, 444th Commander; Major Charlie Collins, Dispersal Operating Base Commander; Captain Jack Sikes; Captain Lyn Sheldon, Major Bob Goad
We had just flown two F-101B's into the New Hanover County Airport at Wilminton, NC. It was Opening Day for our new Dispersal Operating Base where we would have F-101B aircraft on one-hour alert in addition to having two 101's on five-minute alert at Charleston.

444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (1964-1967)
The 444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was based at Charleston AFB, South Carolina and was equipped with F-101B Fighter Interceptor Aircraft.

This was my most fun assignment. Most of the aviators were Southern boys, which made it a very friendly squadron. It seemed like almost everyone was a Captain in his early 30's. We had great base housing and lived two blocks from the Officers' swimming pool.
444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

(11) AC-119K Stinger Gunship
Personal comments by Lyndon Sheldon...
The AC-119K Stinger gunships were based at Phan Rang Air Base and Phu Cat Air Base, both in Vietnam. A third detachment was based at Udorn in Thailand. The mission of the Phan Rang gunships was close air support for U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, and Australian Army troops in South Vietnam. The other two detachments had the truck destruction mission in Laos. The truck destruction mission was much more dangerous due to the threat of anti-aircraft fire. In South Vietnam, the threat to close air support was only small arms fire, but the truck destruction job was easier -- if it moves, shoot it. The danger in supporting troops was shooting the wrong people. We always flew at night, adding another degree of difficulty. When the navigator radioed his contact on the ground, he always asked which positions could be marked. The ranges of situations were:
(1) Both good guys' and bad guys' positions can be marked.
(2) One of the positions can be marked, but not both.
(3)Neither position can be marked.
I was based at Phan Rang and was an Instructor Navigator. All of the instructional missions were also regular combat missions. The newly arrived crews had several combat missions while learning "in country" procedures.
18th Special Ops Squadron

In 1967, Air Force and ground commanders throughout Vietnam were clamoring for more gunships. The Air Force wanted more AC-130s for use against the supply routes, but the need for cargo-carrying C-130s took precedent over the gunships. Air Force did not want to go back to the AC-47, since that aircraft did not meet the new gunship requirements calling for more speed, greater payload capacity, and longer range. Another aircraft had to be found for the gunship program. Air Force also wanted to equip some of the new gunships for the truck-hunting role, which meant heavier weapons and advanced electronic warfare equipment. The answer lay with the venerable, old Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar.

The AC-119K had been in combat evaluation almost a month when it received a new call sign and thus a new nickname. The 18th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) reviewed a list of available calls including Gun Shy, Poor Boy, and Charlie Brown. The men of the squadron dejectedly picked Charlie Brown as the "least of these evils" but strongly asserted they deserved better. It turned out later the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang had an unusual tactical voice call sign-Stinger. The 18th SOS, backed by the 14th Special Operations Wing, put in a claim for it. The 18th saw Stinger as slightly off the gunship tradition but a satisfactory compromise, a sign around which unit pride could be built and a continuation of the "S" alliteration of gunship call signs. The Seventh Air Force approved the call-sign transfer and the AC-119K became Stinger on December 1, 1969. Stinger now joined Spectre in armed reconnaissance of enemy supply lines in Laos and Shadow in a variety of missions in South Vietnam. Spooky was still around, carrying the flag of allied nations.

All of the AC-119s were assigned to the 14th Special Operations Wing headquartered at Phan Rang. The G models were assigned to the 17th SOSq, while the K models went to the 18th. The 14th SOW thus became the most unique unit in Southeast Asia with its one of a kind squadrons. They had the only AC-47 units in the 3rd and 4th SOS; the only two psywar units in the 5th and 9th SOS; the 20th SOS was the only armed helicopter unit in the Air Force; plus the only two AC- 119 units. At one time in 1968, crews of the 14th SOW were flying eight different aircraft types from ten different bases throughout Vietnam. The 14th SOWq had been known as the 14th Air Commando Wing prior to August 1, 1968. The motto of the 14th was 'Day or night, Peace and War'. They flew an average of 175 missions per day, flying the 200,000th mission in March 1970.

As mentioned earlier, AC-119s had two completely different missions. The G models were strictly for TIC (Troops in Contact) support and airbase defense. The K models were used almost strictly in the truck-hunting role. A couple of books have mentioned that the twin 20mm guns could destroy most of the Soviet truck types, but were ineffective against even the lightest of tanks. Unknown to those authors was a mission this web site author flew on February 28, 1971, where a Stinger gunship was pitted against North Vietnamese tanks as the Stingers shouldered heavy support comitments growing out of the South Vietnamese offensive into Laos (Lam Son 719). The Stinger destroyed eight Russian PT-76 tanks on one mission. For more on the 8-tank mission visit the stories and sorties page. The AC-119Ks compiled their superb interdiction record despite bad weather early in the hunting season and diversions for emergency support of lima Sites and troops in contact with the enemy. Late in the war, some of the K models eliminated all the 7.62 armament in favor of increased ammo supply for the 20mm.


(12) Great Transpacific Air Race (November 1969)
Winners of the Great Transpacific Air Race w/AC-119K aircraft from Columbus, OH; McCord AFB, WA; Elmendorf AFB, AK; Adak, Midway Island, Wake Island, Guam, Clark AFB, Phan Rang Air Base. In photo: left to right: Major Lyn Sheldon, Captain Al Milacek, pilot; Captain Roger Clancy, nav; Captain Brent O'Brien, co-pilot.(Race took about 10 days)

(13) Geodetic Survey Squadron (GSS) (1976-1980)
First formed in 1959 at Orlando AFB, FL to provide for the Air Force's intercontinental ballistic missile force, GSS today (February, 1980) is located at Francis E. Warren AFB, WY. The squadron has permanent party detachments at Patrick AFB, FL, the White Sands Missile Range near Holloman AFB, NM, and Vandenberg AFB, CA.

Since 1972, the GSS has received orders from the Defense Mapping Agency in Washington, D.C. which also controls the Defense Mapping School at Fort Belvoir, VA where each military service sends its novices to study surveying, but geodetic surveyors do not make maps or help build anything. "There is a lot of mystery about what we do," admitted Colonel Lyndon L. Sheldon, the GSS Commander who holds a master's degree in geodetic science from Ohio State University. Less than one percent is for mapping. We primarily support weapon systems like intercontinental ballistic missiles because knowing their exact geodetic position is critical to their targeting. Basically, we provide geodetic positioning data worldwide to anyone in the Defense Department and to other agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."

(14) Headquarters, Air Defense Command (ADC) and
North American Aie Defense Command (NORAD)

(1967-1969; 1970-1976; and 1980-1981)
I had three assignments in Colorado Springs with Headquarters, Air Defense Command (ADC) and North American Air Defense Command (NORAD).

Over the years, Air Defense Command became Aerospace Defense Command, and North American Air Defense Command became North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The 1970-1976 period represents the best assignment in my 27-year career. I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel while in the same office. My work was concerned with Missile and Space Defense Plans.
NORAD; Aerospace Defense Command

(16) Meals on Wheels  
Meals on Wheels offers frozen home-delivered meals for older persons who are unable to leave their home to shop or prepare nutritious meals. The meals are prepared with the special dietary needs of seniors in mind and are adaptable to a variety of special diets. Complete nutritional information is available upon request.

Meals on Wheels is a national organization. In Seattle, The Mobile Market is a home-delivered grocery service for homebound elders. A number of staple items including canned fruits and vegetables, canned dinners, soups, rice, noodles, beans and fresh milk, cheese and bread items are available for eligible persons within the Seattle City limits who find it difficult to shop for groceries. Eligible persons who live outside Seattle City limits may order liquid supplements like Ensure.
Meals on Wheels
 
Clock, Lindbergh, King Collection
On May 20-21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh literally flew into history when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in his Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, thus becoming the first pilot to fly solo and nonstop from New York to Paris. This flight made Lindbergh a household name and catapulted him into fame and celebrity. The objects of popular culture in the National Collection display everything from ashtrays to wristwatches reflect the public adulation for Lindbergh and the powerful commercial response to his celebrity. More than 75 years after the Spirit's historic flight, Lindbergh's name still has the power help sell manufactured goods.
Gift of the Stanley King Family.
Manufacturer: Aero Light Nov. Co.
Dimensions:
3-D Test: 25.4 x 9.5 x 16.5cm, 1.6kg (10 x 3 3/4 x 6 1/2 in., 3 1/2lb.)

Materials:
Metal, glass and fabric, felt

Physical Description:
A clock in the center piece of the display is situated below an airplane that rests on top of a square that houses the clock. To the left of the clock face is a statuette of the Statue of Liberty, to the right is the Eiffel Tower. The back of the central clock housing has the various knobs used to wind and set the two hands of the clock. A piece of green felt is attached to the bottom of the clock.
Charles A. Lindbergh Clock from King Collection
Lyndon has a replica of this clock bearing the date of 12 June 1928. The original is presently on loan from the Smithsonian to the Boeing Aviation Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Oliphant Pharmacy; Snoosville, Des Moines, IA
Iowa State College Texas Instruments Ohio State University
(2) Iowa State College
at Ames
(1) Oliphant Pharmacy; (Snoosville) Des Moines, IA
(3) Texas Instruments (Geophysical Services, Inc.)
(8)
Ohio State University
(4) Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX;
(6) Moody AFB, GA; (10) Charleston AFB, SC;
Tyndall Field, FL; Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA; (13) Warren AFB, WY
Lakcland AFB, San Antonio, TX Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA Charleston AFB, SC
Tyndall Field, FL Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA Warren AFB, Cheyenne,WY
Below Center: 1965 Scramble at Charleston AFB with Lyn Sheldon and Bob Rigsby
Right: December, 1969: Recruiting Poster; Lyn Sheldon with Gene Miller
Left: 1976-1980: Colonel Lyn Sheldon, GSS Commander at Francis E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY
Geodetic Survey Squadron (GSS); Defense Mapping Agency
Colonel Sheldon at GSS Lyn Sheldon and Bob Rigsby December 1969 Recruitment Poster; Lyn Sheldon and Gene Miller pose for a recruiting poster. Gene was a fellow navigator and a good friend. I'm hanging onto one of the two 20mm cannons. Above the cannons are four GE miniguns. All of the guns were capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute.
Below: Southeast Asia; F89 Northrop Scorpion; F101B McDonnell Voodoo, AC-119K Stinger
Southeast Asia with Duty Stations F89 Northrop Scorpion Interceptor
F101B McDonnell Voodoo Interceptor
AC-119K Stinger Gunship
(12) Winners of Great Transpacific Air Race w/AC-119K (15) Computer Sciences Corp, Colorado Springs, CO
l-r:  Major Lyn Sheldon, Captain Al Milacek, Captain Roger Clancy; Captain Brent O'Brien Computer Sciences Corp.
above: Brick Memorial Wall;
Gold Star Museum, Johnston, IA
Lyndon Leroy Sheldon
Colonel
18th Special Ops Squadron; 14th Special Ops Wing
7th Air Force
United States Air Force
USAF logo
AETC; Air Education and Training Command
75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory; Bedford, MA
444th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
18thSpecial Ops Squadron
Master Navigator Wings


Lyndon Sheldon


Air Force Colonel
Air Transport Command, Presque Isle, ME

7th Air Force

NORAD/Aerospace Defense Command

Defense Mapping Agency; Geodetic Survey Squadron

Aerospace Defense Command
Lydon Sheldon Awards/Citations
References
The comprehensive list of names from North High's 1893-2018 graduation classes are from Claradell Shedd's North Des Moines High School website. The names of North High School graduates can be found online at: http://www. ndmhs.com/. Lyndon Leroy Sheldon's 1949 class page is:. http://www.ndmhs.com/pages/yearclass1949(2009.60).html
04/27/13; Living in Colorado Springs, CO.
Music: "Wind Beneath My Wings"
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Lyndon Leroy Sheldon Ford Ruthling Pete Skinner Bill Anders Lyndon Sheldon Ford Ruthling Colonel Bill Myers, 444th Commander Captain Charlie Collins, Dispersal Operating Base Commander Captain Jack Sikes Captain Lyn Sheldon Major Bob Goad Lyndon Sheldon Ford Ruthling Pete Skinner Bill Anders