Melvin Pollack

Pollack was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Westover AFB, Massachusetts, and then went back on flying status with the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing (the Wing's Motto was Return With Honor) at Homestead AFB, Florida, where he served from February 1974 to January 1978 as an instructor pilot flying the F-4. Colonel Pollack then served as an O-2 Milirole instructor pilot with the 549th Tactical Air Support Training Group at Patrick AFB, Florida, from July 1978 to December 1980, followed by service with the Directorate of Contracting and Support for the Eastern Space and Missile Center, also at Patrick, from January 1981 until his retirement from the Air Force on December 1, 1984. Mel is also a certified aircraft investigator and investigated six Class A fighter accidents prior to his retirement. After his retirement from the Air Force he started a very successful twenty-two year international civilian career in aviation, airports, aerospace and the space program, including many Department of Defense contracts dealing with space launch, tracking orbital debris, destroying chemical and biological weapons, maintaining classified aircraft, Army missile programs, and various other activities. He was also involved with airport and aerospace programs in China, Nepal, Mongolia, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and India. Mel has two daughters, Tracey and Jodie.