Ben M. Pollard

Ben Pollard enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on March 29, 1951, and served until October 6, 1952. Pollard was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC program at Purdue University on July 16, 1954, and went on active duty beginning February 28, 1955. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laredo AFB, Texas, in April 1956, and F-86D Sabre upgrade training in August 1956, before serving as an Interceptor Weapons Instructor with the 3558th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Perrin AFB, Texas, from December 1956 to December 1958. Lieutenant Pollard then served as a Flight Test Maintenance Officer with the 3555th Maintenance and Support Group, also at Perrin AFB, from December 1958 to February 1960. He received an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to Purdue University to complete his Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering before serving as an instructor at the Air Force Academy from June 1961 to August 1966. Major Pollard then completed F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training before being assigned to the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, in February 1967. He was forced to eject over North Vietnam on May 15, 1967, and was taken as a Prisoner of War.