Thomas G. Storey

Thomas Storey entered the U.S. Air Force Aviation Cadet program in 1953. He flew the T-6 Texan at Marianna AB, Florida, the T-28 Trojan and T-33 Shooting Star at Greenville AFB, Mississippi, and the F-84G Thunderjet during gunnery training at Luke AFB, Arizona. When the Korean War ended, he was discharged from active duty and he joined the Illinois Air National Guard in 1955. Storey flew the F-51 Mustang, T-33 Shooting Star, F-86E Sabre, and the F-84F Thunderstreak while in the Guard. During his six years with the IL ANG, Storey taught industrial and management curriculum in the Industrial Engineering Department at Milikin University, in Dacatur, Illinois. He was recalled to active duty with the 170th Tactical Fighter Squadron during the Berlin Crisis in 1961, and served at Toul AB, France. During this time he accepted a regular commission and remained on active duty with the Air Force. Storey next served as Wing Standardization and Evaluation Officer for the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill AFB in Florida, where he flew the F-84F Thunderstreak and F-4C Phantom II. After a tour at RAF Alconbury, England, flying the RF-4C Phantom II with the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Colonel Storey volunteered to go to Southeast Asia. He served with the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, and began flying combat missions in October 1966. On January 16, 1967, Colonel Storey was forced to eject over North Vietnam. He evaded capture for 5 days, but was tracked and found by dogs and shot by his captors in the ensuing chase.