Buford Ness:  

I began my schooling at Mill Creek School in 1943 and graduated in 1955. My father was Ernie. He was a successful farmer and also drove a school bus. He died driving his school bus on March 30, 1953. I found him in his bus that afternoon. He was a great father and I was blessed to have a Christian Dad. My precious classmates from 1st grade to the 12th grade were a great strength to me when Dad died. They honored me by electing me their class president as a Sophomore, Junior and Senior. Some have already passed on to their reward. I am eternally thankful for their love for me. I have attempted to keep in touch with them all these years. After graduation I enrolled in college at Arizona State in Tempe, AZ. After 3 semesters I joined the Army Security Agency and spent 22 months in Asmara, Eritrea. On the airplane back to the states in December 1959, the pilots were only a few years older than me. I asked them how I could become a pilot. They advised me to go back to college and go through ROTC. I had no GI Bill so that was good advice. I re-enrolled at Arizona State, got a job with Western Airlines at Sky Harbor Airport and rode my bike back and forth to college. I got my private pilot license and then went into the Air Force as a 2nd Lt. in the first experimental all-jet pilot training class with 28 other men. I finished first in military bearing, 4th in flying skills, 12th in academics and received the Community Service Award. I graduated 6th overall in my class of 24. I chose the B-52 and then flew B-52's over Viet Nam from 1965 to 1967. I was a Generals Aide from 1967 to 1969 and then entered the AF Active Reserve Forces. Aircraft I flew in the AF were: T37, T33, T29, T39, U3A and...Expand for more