Grissom pilot takes final flight for second time

Published April 29, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- When Lt. Col. Don Windt climbed out of a KC-135R Stratotanker after his final flight here March 18, he knew what was awaiting him.

Windt, 74th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, had been on the receiving end of water bottles and water hoses on the very same ramp nearly 19 years ago, so for him it was déjà vu.

Windt retired March 24 with approximately 36-and-one-half years of military service with a career that spanned duties both on the ground and in the air, and in both receiver and tanker aircraft.

Windt, whose call sign was Hammer, was one of four A-10 pilots in 1994 that participated in a ceremonial 'fini-flight' when the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron deactivated as part of base realignment and closure actions.

That day local media, throngs of base members and families were there to see off the A-10s.

While a little more subdued, his latest fini-flight was still cause for gathering among his family and friends he's made over the years.

Windt's first duty assignment was to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., as a supply officer in 1976.

"After Vietnam, there was a shortage of pilot slots, so I had to wait for my opportunity," the North Dakota native said.

That opportunity came in 1980 when he completed undergraduate pilot training and was assigned to the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft - or the Warthog.

Following tours at Royal Air Force Bentwaters, United Kingdom, and Davis-Monthan AFB, N.M., he left the regular Air Force and was hired in the Air Force Reserve's 45th TFS, where he 'troughed' for a year-and-a-half, pulling duty days whenever he could get them.

In 1987 he became an air reserve technician and began working full-time at Grissom.

He deployed to Aviano Air Base Italy for Operation Deny Flight, and when he returned, the A-10s were in the process of leaving Grissom.

"I didn't know what to do," Windt recalled. "I had kids in school and didn't want to move.

"Honestly I didn't' want to fly tankers, but they held a slot open for me until I decided," he added. "My wife was supportive of whatever I wanted to do, and one morning I just woke up and said 'ok, I'll take the job.'"

His decision turned out to be a good one.

"My reluctant transition turned out to be the best thing I have done for my family," explained Windt. "And, I get to work with a great group of people."

For Windt, some of the greatest memories are how the unit responded after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

"America had been hit, and we were taking the war to them," he recalled. "We deployed and were sleeping in sleeping bags on cots, flying ten-hour missions. We were flying in a real war, enduring miserable conditions but at the same time it felt fabulous.

"The missions we flew were the most meaningful of my life," he continued. "We took the war to them, and despite lousy conditions, lousy food, we built strong bonds. We as a group grew closer because of that experience. It was a 'Band of Brothers' type time."

Those bonds are still strong today.

"Hammer brought me from an airman basic to the lieutenant colonel you see today," said Lt. Col. Maureen McAllen, 434th Mission Support Group commander. "One of the first things they had me do was intel briefings. They told me to go talk to tactics; so as an airman basic, I went to him to look over my briefings and make sure I had the right stuff."

That initial interaction showcased what she said she saw throughout Windt's career - his patience and ability to lead.

"He had a very patient way on how he explained things, like this is what the pilots really want to see or we don't care about this," she recalled. "He gave me the down and dirty about how to communicate from a non-flyer to a flyer and how to tell them how to fly an airplane."

McAllen also credited Windt with success in her career.

"He was the shining example of a consummate professional who was a team player and truly believed that we all are in it together and that we all have a part to do," she explained. "A lot of it was just the example he set; when it was time to do business, we did business, but he knew how to have fun and didn't take himself too seriously.

"Because of how he was willing to help me and start off my career, it made such a difference," she added. "I owe it all to Donnie."

The people he flew with echoed McAllen's sentiments.

"Colonel Windt is a talented pilot with many hours in both the tanker and receiver cockpits," said Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Maier, 74th ARS chief boom operator. "He had outstanding situational awareness and a genuine respect for the enlisted force."

Now that he's no longer in the cockpit, Windt said he plans on taking advantage of space-available fights to 'travel all over the place.'

Although there will be no fire hoses waiting for him when he lands.

The 74th ARS is one of two KC-135 squadrons in the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen and aircraft routinely deploy from the 434th ARW in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.

News Search

Congrats Grandpa

Final flight 1

Final flight 2

Final Flight 1994

Grissom pilot takes final flight for second time

Public Affairs Staff