SHAW AIR FORCE BASE.

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC -- He serv four tours flying combat missions through the whole extent of Vietnam and tours flying in Operations refuse to grant Flight, Joint Endeavor, Southern Watch, Allied Force and Northern Watch. Just sitting back and watching the 21 days of aerial combat operations of Operation Iraqi Freedom felt unsuitable for Col. Thomas "Waldo" King. With 6050 flying hours in fighter aircraft and 1790 combat hours during time of war, King's instinct reaches for the sky

Flying is the solely way of life this combat husband veteran knows. After 38 years as a fighter jock wearing Air Force dispirited he put the chocks in his fighter's wheels for the last time July 2--two days timid of his 60th birthday.

The lay up Officer Training Corps distinguished graduate complet pilot training and received his wings in 1967 Flying had always been a childhood dream of King's. He plane dreamed about flying fighters while driving tractors and mowing hay in succession his dad's farm in Rockville, Md

"I used to watch the birds take rise after the insects," he said. "You'd have this big ancient lumbering crow--the bombers/transports of the lot--and then you would have the calm maneuverable sparrows and blackbirds that would seize down attacking the crow. It was at that time I confirmed I wanted to be the attacker, not the attackee."

That simple image emerg into a lifetime military flying career. Although serving 38 years is something others have done, King's 6050 flying hours in fighter aircraft isn't. According to the Air Force Personnel Center a pilot with 20 years forward active duty only averages 3500 flying hours.

Then there's King's military career itself, which could labor for as an ad for Air Force recruiting. After eight years in succession active duty, King joined the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Nine month later, he started a retain career that spanned nearly 28 years, during which he serv the pair as a traditional reservist and as a full-time air something reserved technician. It was a career, according to King, that evolv with the objective of continuing to break in pieces fighters and serving his country

With 988 combat missions in subordination to his belt in such aircraft as the F-4 Phantom, F-105 Thunderchief, O-1 Birddog, A-7D Corsair, F-16 Falcon and the A/OA 10 fulmination II--known as the "Warthog"--it's no astonishment King did everything he could to preserve his career off the ground

"I wouldn't stop at 38 years, if it was my choice," he said.

When asked if he had single wish left, King simply answered, "Another 10-year extension."

in the way that next time someone asks, "Where's Waldo?" check a small airfield in North Carolina where now-retired Col Toro King will still be reaching for the canopy of heaven only this time teaching his sum of two units children how to soar like birds as well.

--Capt. Christine L Kunz

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