Veteran to Veteran Connection
Recently my good friend Bernie Ellrodt, a Vietnam War fighter pilot veteran and former Lockheed employee, suggested that I interview his buddy, Tom Mahan. It took awhile, but we finally met to create this veterans page.

Air Force Academy
Thomas P. Mahan was born on April 25, 1942 in Atlanta, Georgia. Thomas and his family lived in Georgia for the next five years.

Thomas’ father, Tom, served with the U.S. Army in the Atlanta region as a recruiter. After Japan surrendered, Tom served two years in the military occupation of Japan.

In 1947, the Mahan family relocated to Jerome, Idaho, where Tom Jr. would continue to grow up. Tom Jr.  graduated from Jerome High School on June 17, 1960. Shortly after, he was accepted to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Tom Jr. earned a bachelor of science degree.

Tom gradated on June 19, 1964, and the next day he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the USAF. Tom went on to attend the undergraduate pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Texas.

The next 11 months, Tom flew T-37 and T-38 trainer jets, receiving his flight wings in September 1965. Apparently top brass had determined that the Vietnam War would soon escalate.

Tom And Shirley’s Wedding

Blatantly Smitten
While on a leave of absence in Jerome, Idaho, Tom met Shirley Ann Moore, and he was thoroughly smitten. Tom and Shirley hit it off splendidly before he reported back to start his high-performance jet training.

Their long-distance relationship became one of regular phone calls and weekly letters. Shirley decided she needed a summer course, so she selected Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, which was conveniently close to Tom’s training base.

On a long weekend away from training, they visited her sister in Fort Worth, and while seeking refuge from Texas’ harsh heat and humidity in the apartment complex swimming pool, Tom popped his proposal for marriage.

Shirley immediately said YES, leading to their September 18, 1965 marriage ceremony at the United Methodist Church in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Following a brief honeymoon, Shirley returned to the University of Idaho while Tom began combat crew training in the F-100 at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

First Combat Tour
Tom’s F-100 combat crew training lasted from November 1965 to May 1966. His unit moved to George Air Force Base in California, where he transitioned over a period of three months to flying the F-104C.

In November 1966, Tom deployed with his unit to Udorn Air Force Base in Thailand, and during the next nine months, Tom completed 120 combat missions, mostly as a flight lead over Cambodia, Laos and North Vietnam.

Lt. Thomas P. Mahan, Jr. F-100 Grad Class Luke AFB

A total of 100 combat sorties over North Vietnam completed his first combat tour of duty, three months short of the typical 12 months. Tom said, “Flying these challenging combat missions while dodging anti-aircraft gunfire and Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs) was the most exhilarating time of my life. Fortunately I was never hit, but many of my fellow aviators were.”

After his combat tour of duty, Tom and 17 other pilots flew the entire F-104C squadron from Udorn, Thailand to Puerto Rico Air National Guard (PRANG). This assignment included multiple airborne refueling and four landings on a route that crossed the Pacific Ocean and the Continental U.S., ending in Puerto Rico.

Colonel Thomas P. Mahan, Jr. Portrait

Training Germans
In August 1967, Tom reported back to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where until January 1969, he was an instructor training German pilots in the F-104G.

Due to his German training at the USAF Academy and his numerous hours flying the F-104, Tom became the first exchange program officer assigned to Bavaria and the German Air Force. Tom and Shirley completed a short language course to improve proficiency.

Second Combat Tour
In 1973-74, Tom returned to Thailand at Korat Royal Thailand Air Force Base for his second combat tour of duty, which included 140 combat missions over Laos and Cambodia, plus one unfortunate ejection.

Flying over Thailand on a check-out, at 80 nautical miles from home base, Tom’s two-seater fighter jet had a fire light with a confirmed smoke trail when they were forced to turn back.

Tom and the new pilot both ejected using their excellent Martin Baker ejection seats while their jet crashed into the jungle below. Both pilots had a smooth descent, landing and a rescue helicopter flight back to Korat.

Thomas P. Mahan, Jr. Legion of Merit

Remaining Interesting Career
Following Tom’s second Luke Air Force Base assignment, he served in 12 different capacities, from instructing in Florida, to a staff tour at the Pentagon, to flying F-15C’s in Europe to a secret program in the Nevada desert.

Thomas P. Mahan, Jr. Distinguished Flying Cross

While in Europe and also later in Utah, Tom attended several professional military schools, completing a Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Utah.

In August 1988, Tom retired from the U.S. Air Force having completed four years as a cadet followed by 24 years as an officer.

Among Tom’s awards are the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, 12 air medals, 4 Air Force Commendation Medals, etc.

Post-Military Careers
Tom’s military and academic background, combined with his understanding of the military missions, netted him a new career in the advanced programs of Lockheed Martin’s “Skunkworks” in Burbank and Palmdale, California.

After 12 years with Lockheed, Tom became the West Coast representative for Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, where he served another 10 years before retiring for good in Santa Clarita in January 2011.

Enjoying Retirement
Tom said, “During my Air Force career, Shirley and I moved 22 times, of which Shirley took the brunt of each move. We had one daughter, Holly, who was born in Augsburg, Germany, and we adopted 2-year-old, Robert, from Quito, Ecuador.”

In 1988, Tom moved his family to Santa Clarita, where he and Shirley live to date. Tom is bound and determined to repay Shirley, who carried such a huge load while he served our country.

Tom belongs to the Order of Daedalians, a military aviator organization. Tom is also active as the secretary of the British United Services Club of Los Angeles. USCLA is a nonprofit organization that promotes camaraderie among British Commonwealth military/citizens and allied American forces.

Thomas P. Mahan, Jr. Colonel Insignia

Tom Mahan, we salute your long-term honorable military service, your dedication to family and friends, and your strong sense of patriotism.

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