Jack L. Van Loan

Jack Van Loan was commissioned a second lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC program on June 7, 1954, and went on active duty beginning September 24, 1954. After completing the Supply Service Officer Course at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, Lieutenant Van Loan served as a Commissary Officer at RAF Kirknewton, Scotland, from April 1955 to May 1958, and was then accepted for pilot training. He was awarded his pilot wings at Webb AFB, Texas, in May 1959, and then completed F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training before serving with the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan, from November 1959 to April 1963. Captain Van Loan next served as an instructor with the 4514th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, from June 1963 to August 1965, and then attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1965 to June 1966. After completing F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training, Major Van Loan served with the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from December 1966 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on May 20, 1967.