“Col. Beisner”
Col. Beisner assigned to Tac; ends tird tour with the 15th
T.F.W.
Langley’s gain is Macdills, thought the Air Force continues
to win.
Col. Gerald J. Beisner, 15th Tactical Fighter
wing director of operations, will depart Macdill next week for his new assignment
in the Tactical Air Command office office of Safety at Langley AFB Virginia.
In the two years that Col. Beisner has graced the Macdill
scene, the likable and affable man has earned the respect of all those he has
encountered.
Establishing a reputation of genuine concern and fairness
toward others, the veteran fighter pilot’s departure is welcomed by few, altho
accepted, in the light of the Nomadic tendencies of military life.
Keeping these tendencies in mind, it becomes a shock to no
one then, that when the Salina KS boy, Native reports to Langley in July, he
will have completed his third assignment with the 15th TFW.
His first association with the wing accord 24 yrs ago when
he flew two World War II mainstay aircraft, the durable P-47 Thunderbolt and
the sprightly and lethal P-51 mustang, while the wing was located at Wheeler
Field, Oahu, then the territory of Hawaii.
Col. Beisner, perhaps feeling a bit nostalgic, commented on
the lasting friendships and wonderful people who make up the 15th
now as in 1946.
He confided “Shoe color, people and aircraft have changed,
but the spirit which is at the heart of any topnotch organization has remained
unchanged.
It has been a rewarding pleasure to be a part of the 15th
history and accomplishments, and I wish continued success to great people of
the organization.”
The Col inlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 for the
purpose of entering pilot training as an aviation Cadet. He received his commission
through the aviation Cadet program in 1944.
Since that time, Col. Beisner has spent virtually his entire
career completing an impressive background in fighter operations. He has flown
over 4,900 hrs. Almost completely in fighter aircraft, including the P-40,
P-51, F-80, F-86, F-100, and finally the F-4-E at MacDill.
During the Korean conflict Col Beisner flew the F-51 mustang
on 107 combat missions with the 35th Fighter Bomber group. He was a
warded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while there.
Col. Beisner then alternated stateside and European
assignments for several years. He was stationed at Canon AFB, N.M twice and
spent 2 different tours at Hahn AB, Germany. Col. Beisner also served as
commander of the 355th Day fighter Sqdn at Myrtle Beach AFB, SC.
Subsequently to his second assignment in Germany, he
returned briefly to Canon AFB as director of Safety, 832nd Air
Division, TAC.
Col Beisner was then selected to become the chief of Safety
of the newly formed 836th A Div. at MacDill. Later Col Beisner was
checked out in the new Phantom II F-4-C and received command of the 558th
TFS of the 12th TFW from MacDill on a three-day flight to Cam Rank
Bay, Vietnam, thus becoming the second F-4 Squdn to be assigned to support the
Vietnam War.
While at Cam Rank Bay, Col Beisner flew 202 combat missions
in the Phantom II, of which 35 were over North Vietnam. For his dedication in
Combat, Col. Beisner has received the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak
Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with
thirteen Oak Leaf Clusters and the Bronze Star. He also hold the Combat
Readiness Medal, and other Service Awards.
Upon completion of his Vietnam tour, Col. Beisner was
assigned to Davis – Monthan AFB Ariz. In Jan 1967, where he assumed command of
the 4456th Combat Crew Training Squdn which trained replacements F-4
crews for south east Asia. He then served as assistant director of operations
at Davis-Monthan before his assignment as director of operations for the 15th
TFW in June 1968.
NOTE: This is believed to have been copied from a newspaper
article. This was handwritten by Mabel Matheson Wineland. Not sure why she
copied this – but she was from KS.
