COL Roger Joel Hegstrom
Aug 9,1937-Oct 19, 2017
Colonel Roger Joel Hegstrom was the son of Veronica Mae ‘Marcia’ Wurm (1904-1995) and Raymond Roger Hegstrom (1894-1980). Roger attended the University of Washington for two years. In October 1956, he joined the United States Marine Corps where he served for two years. In 1959, he entered training at the United States Air Force Academy. After graduation in June1963, he and Connie were married. Roger then attended the University of Purdue where he received a Masters degree in Astronautical Engineering. March 1964, Roger and Connie arrived at Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma where Roger was assigned to Pilot Training Class 65-F. He was initially assigned to the 3576th Pilot Training Squadron, Flight 3, ‘Speedy’ where he flew the T-37B ‘Tweet’ under the guidance of Captain Jay Paulson. Part way through our T-37B training, the class was split in half and he was reassigned to the 3575th Pilot Training Squadron, Flight 4, 'Blue Chip' where Lewis Barnard was his instructor. In advanced training, he was assigned to Flight 1, 'Skid Row' where he flew the super-sonic T-38A 'Talon', which was affectingly known as ‘The White Rocket'. During T-38 training his instructors were Lloyd Marshall, James Sack and James Boyd. On March 20, 1965, he graduated and was awarded his Pilot Wings. In 2010 we were planning a class reunion for 65-F and I requested that each individual prepare a biography. The following is Roger’s Biography in his own words: Upon completion of pilot training, Connie and I headed to Nellis AFB where I learned to fly the F-105. Training emphasis was split fairly evenly between the single aircraft nuclear role (radar navigation and weapons delivery), and the normal air-to-air and air-to-ground gunnery/bombing missions. After 6 months in Las Vegas, we continued west across the Pacific to Kadena AB, Okinawa. We expected that our stay on that beautiful island would be for at least three years; the time was significantly reduced when I elected to go PCS to Korat RTAFB, Thailand, rather than try to complete my 100 missions over North Vietnam on a TDY basis. Connie kept our house, which sat on a bluff overlooking the East China Sea, while I was “down South.” Her staying on Okinawa made my combat tour much nicer since I was able to return home and see her for a few days each month. We had hopes that I would be reassigned to Kadena or perhaps back in the States still flying the "Thud", but 1966 ended with us heading toward Big Spring, Texas. We spent a couple years at Webb AFB where I trained T-38 students, then to Tyndall AFB to train instructors, then to Edwards for Test Pilot School, then to the USAF Academy to teach, and finally back to Nellis for F-105G Wild Weasel training – all by late 1973. The “expected 3-year” assignment to Tyndall was even shorter than that at Kadena; in less than 6 months, we bought and sold a home and a classic ChrisCraft speedboat. We returned to Edwards, after my second tour at Korat. I continued aircraft testing and Connie was busy with two grade-school age sons, learning to fly, and trying to find ways of making the desert stay more enjoyable. In 1977, we moved to Albuquerque and fell in love with the area. I was assigned to AFTEC headquarters and got my first real taste of staff work. Although I was pushing paper most of the time, I managed to get back to Edwards often enough to remain flight current and participate in some operational testing. Connie had her first book published, so her writing career was now underway. All good assignments come to an end, so in 1984 we headed to Ohio. I served in engineering and program management positions at Wright-Patterson AFB, ending up in the F-16 program office. In 1989, just prior to hanging up the blue uniform, I went to Edwards to fly my last mission -- a LANTIRN equipped F-16, below 700 feet AGL at night around hills and through valleys. I feel fortunate to have been on active flight status for the biggest part of my career, even with many non-operational jobs. My first post-retirement job was at a local Community College. I supervised college-level business and technical education for two years and then spent three more directing their Training Center. Five years of academia convinced me that I needed a change of occupation, so I started a software company. That was my primary focus for the 9 years until Medicare and Social Security coverage began. Roger and Connie attended the 2010 Reunion for Class 65-F at Branson, Missouri and also the 2013 reunion at Dayton, Ohio.
Aug 9,1937-Oct 19, 2017
Colonel Roger Joel Hegstrom was the son of Veronica Mae ‘Marcia’ Wurm (1904-1995) and Raymond Roger Hegstrom (1894-1980). Roger attended the University of Washington for two years. In October 1956, he joined the United States Marine Corps where he served for two years. In 1959, he entered training at the United States Air Force Academy. After graduation in June1963, he and Connie were married. Roger then attended the University of Purdue where he received a Masters degree in Astronautical Engineering. March 1964, Roger and Connie arrived at Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma where Roger was assigned to Pilot Training Class 65-F. He was initially assigned to the 3576th Pilot Training Squadron, Flight 3, ‘Speedy’ where he flew the T-37B ‘Tweet’ under the guidance of Captain Jay Paulson. Part way through our T-37B training, the class was split in half and he was reassigned to the 3575th Pilot Training Squadron, Flight 4, 'Blue Chip' where Lewis Barnard was his instructor. In advanced training, he was assigned to Flight 1, 'Skid Row' where he flew the super-sonic T-38A 'Talon', which was affectingly known as ‘The White Rocket'. During T-38 training his instructors were Lloyd Marshall, James Sack and James Boyd. On March 20, 1965, he graduated and was awarded his Pilot Wings. In 2010 we were planning a class reunion for 65-F and I requested that each individual prepare a biography. The following is Roger’s Biography in his own words: Upon completion of pilot training, Connie and I headed to Nellis AFB where I learned to fly the F-105. Training emphasis was split fairly evenly between the single aircraft nuclear role (radar navigation and weapons delivery), and the normal air-to-air and air-to-ground gunnery/bombing missions. After 6 months in Las Vegas, we continued west across the Pacific to Kadena AB, Okinawa. We expected that our stay on that beautiful island would be for at least three years; the time was significantly reduced when I elected to go PCS to Korat RTAFB, Thailand, rather than try to complete my 100 missions over North Vietnam on a TDY basis. Connie kept our house, which sat on a bluff overlooking the East China Sea, while I was “down South.” Her staying on Okinawa made my combat tour much nicer since I was able to return home and see her for a few days each month. We had hopes that I would be reassigned to Kadena or perhaps back in the States still flying the "Thud", but 1966 ended with us heading toward Big Spring, Texas. We spent a couple years at Webb AFB where I trained T-38 students, then to Tyndall AFB to train instructors, then to Edwards for Test Pilot School, then to the USAF Academy to teach, and finally back to Nellis for F-105G Wild Weasel training – all by late 1973. The “expected 3-year” assignment to Tyndall was even shorter than that at Kadena; in less than 6 months, we bought and sold a home and a classic ChrisCraft speedboat. We returned to Edwards, after my second tour at Korat. I continued aircraft testing and Connie was busy with two grade-school age sons, learning to fly, and trying to find ways of making the desert stay more enjoyable. In 1977, we moved to Albuquerque and fell in love with the area. I was assigned to AFTEC headquarters and got my first real taste of staff work. Although I was pushing paper most of the time, I managed to get back to Edwards often enough to remain flight current and participate in some operational testing. Connie had her first book published, so her writing career was now underway. All good assignments come to an end, so in 1984 we headed to Ohio. I served in engineering and program management positions at Wright-Patterson AFB, ending up in the F-16 program office. In 1989, just prior to hanging up the blue uniform, I went to Edwards to fly my last mission -- a LANTIRN equipped F-16, below 700 feet AGL at night around hills and through valleys. I feel fortunate to have been on active flight status for the biggest part of my career, even with many non-operational jobs. My first post-retirement job was at a local Community College. I supervised college-level business and technical education for two years and then spent three more directing their Training Center. Five years of academia convinced me that I needed a change of occupation, so I started a software company. That was my primary focus for the 9 years until Medicare and Social Security coverage began. Roger and Connie attended the 2010 Reunion for Class 65-F at Branson, Missouri and also the 2013 reunion at Dayton, Ohio.
COL Roger Joel Hegstrom
Aug 9,1937-Oct 19, 2017
Colonel Roger Joel Hegstrom was the son of Veronica Mae ‘Marcia’ Wurm (1904-1995) and Raymond Roger Hegstrom (1894-1980). Roger attended the University of Washington for two years. In October 1956, he joined the United States Marine Corps where he served for two years. In 1959, he entered training at the United States Air Force Academy. After graduation in June1963, he and Connie were married. Roger then attended the University of Purdue where he received a Masters degree in Astronautical Engineering. March 1964, Roger and Connie arrived at Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma where Roger was assigned to Pilot Training Class 65-F. He was initially assigned to the 3576th Pilot Training Squadron, Flight 3, ‘Speedy’ where he flew the T-37B ‘Tweet’ under the guidance of Captain Jay Paulson. Part way through our T-37B training, the class was split in half and he was reassigned to the 3575th Pilot Training Squadron, Flight 4, 'Blue Chip' where Lewis Barnard was his instructor. In advanced training, he was assigned to Flight 1, 'Skid Row' where he flew the super-sonic T-38A 'Talon', which was affectingly known as ‘The White Rocket'. During T-38 training his instructors were Lloyd Marshall, James Sack and James Boyd. On March 20, 1965, he graduated and was awarded his Pilot Wings. In 2010 we were planning a class reunion for 65-F and I requested that each individual prepare a biography. The following is Roger’s Biography in his own words: Upon completion of pilot training, Connie and I headed to Nellis AFB where I learned to fly the F-105. Training emphasis was split fairly evenly between the single aircraft nuclear role (radar navigation and weapons delivery), and the normal air-to-air and air-to-ground gunnery/bombing missions. After 6 months in Las Vegas, we continued west across the Pacific to Kadena AB, Okinawa. We expected that our stay on that beautiful island would be for at least three years; the time was significantly reduced when I elected to go PCS to Korat RTAFB, Thailand, rather than try to complete my 100 missions over North Vietnam on a TDY basis. Connie kept our house, which sat on a bluff overlooking the East China Sea, while I was “down South.” Her staying on Okinawa made my combat tour much nicer since I was able to return home and see her for a few days each month. We had hopes that I would be reassigned to Kadena or perhaps back in the States still flying the "Thud", but 1966 ended with us heading toward Big Spring, Texas. We spent a couple years at Webb AFB where I trained T-38 students, then to Tyndall AFB to train instructors, then to Edwards for Test Pilot School, then to the USAF Academy to teach, and finally back to Nellis for F-105G Wild Weasel training – all by late 1973. The “expected 3-year” assignment to Tyndall was even shorter than that at Kadena; in less than 6 months, we bought and sold a home and a classic ChrisCraft speedboat. We returned to Edwards, after my second tour at Korat. I continued aircraft testing and Connie was busy with two grade-school age sons, learning to fly, and trying to find ways of making the desert stay more enjoyable. In 1977, we moved to Albuquerque and fell in love with the area. I was assigned to AFTEC headquarters and got my first real taste of staff work. Although I was pushing paper most of the time, I managed to get back to Edwards often enough to remain flight current and participate in some operational testing. Connie had her first book published, so her writing career was now underway. All good assignments come to an end, so in 1984 we headed to Ohio. I served in engineering and program management positions at Wright-Patterson AFB, ending up in the F-16 program office. In 1989, just prior to hanging up the blue uniform, I went to Edwards to fly my last mission -- a LANTIRN equipped F-16, below 700 feet AGL at night around hills and through valleys. I feel fortunate to have been on active flight status for the biggest part of my career, even with many non-operational jobs. My first post-retirement job was at a local Community College. I supervised college-level business and technical education for two years and then spent three more directing their Training Center. Five years of academia convinced me that I needed a change of occupation, so I started a software company. That was my primary focus for the 9 years until Medicare and Social Security coverage began. Roger and Connie attended the 2010 Reunion for Class 65-F at Branson, Missouri and also the 2013 reunion at Dayton, Ohio.
Aug 9,1937-Oct 19, 2017
Colonel Roger Joel Hegstrom was the son of Veronica Mae ‘Marcia’ Wurm (1904-1995) and Raymond Roger Hegstrom (1894-1980). Roger attended the University of Washington for two years. In October 1956, he joined the United States Marine Corps where he served for two years. In 1959, he entered training at the United States Air Force Academy. After graduation in June1963, he and Connie were married. Roger then attended the University of Purdue where he received a Masters degree in Astronautical Engineering. March 1964, Roger and Connie arrived at Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma where Roger was assigned to Pilot Training Class 65-F. He was initially assigned to the 3576th Pilot Training Squadron, Flight 3, ‘Speedy’ where he flew the T-37B ‘Tweet’ under the guidance of Captain Jay Paulson. Part way through our T-37B training, the class was split in half and he was reassigned to the 3575th Pilot Training Squadron, Flight 4, 'Blue Chip' where Lewis Barnard was his instructor. In advanced training, he was assigned to Flight 1, 'Skid Row' where he flew the super-sonic T-38A 'Talon', which was affectingly known as ‘The White Rocket'. During T-38 training his instructors were Lloyd Marshall, James Sack and James Boyd. On March 20, 1965, he graduated and was awarded his Pilot Wings. In 2010 we were planning a class reunion for 65-F and I requested that each individual prepare a biography. The following is Roger’s Biography in his own words: Upon completion of pilot training, Connie and I headed to Nellis AFB where I learned to fly the F-105. Training emphasis was split fairly evenly between the single aircraft nuclear role (radar navigation and weapons delivery), and the normal air-to-air and air-to-ground gunnery/bombing missions. After 6 months in Las Vegas, we continued west across the Pacific to Kadena AB, Okinawa. We expected that our stay on that beautiful island would be for at least three years; the time was significantly reduced when I elected to go PCS to Korat RTAFB, Thailand, rather than try to complete my 100 missions over North Vietnam on a TDY basis. Connie kept our house, which sat on a bluff overlooking the East China Sea, while I was “down South.” Her staying on Okinawa made my combat tour much nicer since I was able to return home and see her for a few days each month. We had hopes that I would be reassigned to Kadena or perhaps back in the States still flying the "Thud", but 1966 ended with us heading toward Big Spring, Texas. We spent a couple years at Webb AFB where I trained T-38 students, then to Tyndall AFB to train instructors, then to Edwards for Test Pilot School, then to the USAF Academy to teach, and finally back to Nellis for F-105G Wild Weasel training – all by late 1973. The “expected 3-year” assignment to Tyndall was even shorter than that at Kadena; in less than 6 months, we bought and sold a home and a classic ChrisCraft speedboat. We returned to Edwards, after my second tour at Korat. I continued aircraft testing and Connie was busy with two grade-school age sons, learning to fly, and trying to find ways of making the desert stay more enjoyable. In 1977, we moved to Albuquerque and fell in love with the area. I was assigned to AFTEC headquarters and got my first real taste of staff work. Although I was pushing paper most of the time, I managed to get back to Edwards often enough to remain flight current and participate in some operational testing. Connie had her first book published, so her writing career was now underway. All good assignments come to an end, so in 1984 we headed to Ohio. I served in engineering and program management positions at Wright-Patterson AFB, ending up in the F-16 program office. In 1989, just prior to hanging up the blue uniform, I went to Edwards to fly my last mission -- a LANTIRN equipped F-16, below 700 feet AGL at night around hills and through valleys. I feel fortunate to have been on active flight status for the biggest part of my career, even with many non-operational jobs. My first post-retirement job was at a local Community College. I supervised college-level business and technical education for two years and then spent three more directing their Training Center. Five years of academia convinced me that I needed a change of occupation, so I started a software company. That was my primary focus for the 9 years until Medicare and Social Security coverage began. Roger and Connie attended the 2010 Reunion for Class 65-F at Branson, Missouri and also the 2013 reunion at Dayton, Ohio.
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Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Class of 1963
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