Younger Arnold Pitts, Jr.No. 13243 • 1 October 1918 – 31 March 1980Died in Los Angeles, California, aged 61 yearsInterment: Family Plot, San Diego, California
SONNY PITTS was born at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California (now North Island Naval Air Station), the first son of Second Lieutenant Younger Arnold Pitts and Nanette Rings Pitts, both from Missouri. His father was both an Army Air Corps officer and a pilot; so Sonny grew up as an “Army Air Corps brat” traveling with his family from California to Hawaii, Texas, back to California, Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, back to Kansas, and finally to Louisiana — from there to West Point. In his youth Sonny was very competitive, excelling in football, basketball, and tennis during high school years, lettering in all three.
Sonny entered West Point by gaining an appointment from Congressman Dick Duncan of St. Joseph, Missouri. Having attended both the University of Missouri and Centenary College, Sonny had no problem sailing through academics and graduating in the middle of our class. He was active in track, tennis, and cross-country, and was a member of the Ring Committee, the Chess Club, and the Squash Club. An inveterate frequenter of the “Boodlers,” he rarely missed a hop. His great love and the driving force which led him to West Point was to have a career as a military aviator. To that end he completed flight training and was rated a pilot during first class year.
On graduation Sonny transitioned in Arizona to the P-38 “Lightning” and then entered a “hardship” tour at the air station where he had been born, undergoing P-38 combat training. It was here that he met and married his beloved wife, Jane. It was also here that, impatient with the slow progress of getting in action overseas, he volunteered for combat with the 1st Air Commando Group. They were deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater, with a main base in northeast India and a forward operating base in northwest Burma — the air arm of the offensive to drive the Japanese out of Burma. Sonny served there two years from late 1943 to late 1945 flying combat missions in P-40, P-51, and P-47 fighter aircraft. His gallantry in action earned him a Silver Star, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and four Air Medals; in rank he rose to major.
On return to the U.S., Sonny served two years in the Pentagon in Operations for the Army Air Force. Then came Germany for a tour in tactical fighter aircraft, where he became a lieutenant colonel. Next came Hamilton Air Force Base in California where he commanded the largest fighter squadron in the Air Defense Command, operating three types of fighters: F-86, F-89, and F-94. It was at Hamilton that son Mike arrived.
Subsequently, Sonny served an isolated tour in Iceland, commanding a detachment in the High Flight project, a chain of refueling stations for jet fighters ferrying across the Atlantic. Jane and Mike rejoined him at the Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, where he was promoted to colonel. That led to command of the Air Defense Group in Portland, Oregon, a unit equipped with the F-102. His leadership was the key factor in the unit’s winning the William Tell Competition — an annual gunnery and rocket exercise for all the groups in the Air Defense Command.
There followed a two-year tour in Oslo, Norway, on the Staff of Air North and then the 1964 Class of the National War College, where Sonny also won a master of arts in international affairs. His post in J-3 of the Joint Staff was a logical progression, but Sonny chafed at staff duty and being away from command. In 1966, he retired, looking for new worlds to conquer. Northrop Corporation provided that challenge, making him regional manager for the F-5 Program in Rome. Next came Iran, as marketing director for the Mid East and North Africa. Six years later, Sonny was assigned to Stuttgart, seat of the European Command. But here an annual physical turned up cancer of the prostate gland.
Northrop immediately returned him to Corporate Headquarters in California, to undergo radical surgery and radiation therapy. For the next seven years he worked there as director of international marketing. But during his surgery, Sonny had received a unit of blood contaminated with infectious hepatitis. This and the radiation therapy damaged his liver. In 1980 he became progressively sicker and his liver function steadily deteriorated. At the end of March 1980 he lapsed into a coma and died, in the Pauley Pavilion of the UCLA Medical Center. With him at his death were Jane, his sister Nanette (Cissy), and his two brothers, Jim and Bill. Just before he went into a coma he turned to me and said,
“Bill, if I had it to do all over again, I would not change one thing.”
So died a loving husband, a good father, a fine brother, and a gallant son of West Point who served his country faithfully, proudly and well. Fair Skies and Happy Landings, Sonny.
— His brother and classmate, Bill
SONNY PITTS was born at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California (now North Island Naval Air Station), the first son of Second Lieutenant Younger Arnold Pitts and Nanette Rings Pitts, both from Missouri. His father was both an Army Air Corps officer and a pilot; so Sonny grew up as an “Army Air Corps brat” traveling with his family from California to Hawaii, Texas, back to California, Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, back to Kansas, and finally to Louisiana — from there to West Point. In his youth Sonny was very competitive, excelling in football, basketball, and tennis during high school years, lettering in all three.
Sonny entered West Point by gaining an appointment from Congressman Dick Duncan of St. Joseph, Missouri. Having attended both the University of Missouri and Centenary College, Sonny had no problem sailing through academics and graduating in the middle of our class. He was active in track, tennis, and cross-country, and was a member of the Ring Committee, the Chess Club, and the Squash Club. An inveterate frequenter of the “Boodlers,” he rarely missed a hop. His great love and the driving force which led him to West Point was to have a career as a military aviator. To that end he completed flight training and was rated a pilot during first class year.
On graduation Sonny transitioned in Arizona to the P-38 “Lightning” and then entered a “hardship” tour at the air station where he had been born, undergoing P-38 combat training. It was here that he met and married his beloved wife, Jane. It was also here that, impatient with the slow progress of getting in action overseas, he volunteered for combat with the 1st Air Commando Group. They were deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater, with a main base in northeast India and a forward operating base in northwest Burma — the air arm of the offensive to drive the Japanese out of Burma. Sonny served there two years from late 1943 to late 1945 flying combat missions in P-40, P-51, and P-47 fighter aircraft. His gallantry in action earned him a Silver Star, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and four Air Medals; in rank he rose to major.
On return to the U.S., Sonny served two years in the Pentagon in Operations for the Army Air Force. Then came Germany for a tour in tactical fighter aircraft, where he became a lieutenant colonel. Next came Hamilton Air Force Base in California where he commanded the largest fighter squadron in the Air Defense Command, operating three types of fighters: F-86, F-89, and F-94. It was at Hamilton that son Mike arrived.
Subsequently, Sonny served an isolated tour in Iceland, commanding a detachment in the High Flight project, a chain of refueling stations for jet fighters ferrying across the Atlantic. Jane and Mike rejoined him at the Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, where he was promoted to colonel. That led to command of the Air Defense Group in Portland, Oregon, a unit equipped with the F-102. His leadership was the key factor in the unit’s winning the William Tell Competition — an annual gunnery and rocket exercise for all the groups in the Air Defense Command.
There followed a two-year tour in Oslo, Norway, on the Staff of Air North and then the 1964 Class of the National War College, where Sonny also won a master of arts in international affairs. His post in J-3 of the Joint Staff was a logical progression, but Sonny chafed at staff duty and being away from command. In 1966, he retired, looking for new worlds to conquer. Northrop Corporation provided that challenge, making him regional manager for the F-5 Program in Rome. Next came Iran, as marketing director for the Mid East and North Africa. Six years later, Sonny was assigned to Stuttgart, seat of the European Command. But here an annual physical turned up cancer of the prostate gland.
Northrop immediately returned him to Corporate Headquarters in California, to undergo radical surgery and radiation therapy. For the next seven years he worked there as director of international marketing. But during his surgery, Sonny had received a unit of blood contaminated with infectious hepatitis. This and the radiation therapy damaged his liver. In 1980 he became progressively sicker and his liver function steadily deteriorated. At the end of March 1980 he lapsed into a coma and died, in the Pauley Pavilion of the UCLA Medical Center. With him at his death were Jane, his sister Nanette (Cissy), and his two brothers, Jim and Bill. Just before he went into a coma he turned to me and said,
“Bill, if I had it to do all over again, I would not change one thing.”
So died a loving husband, a good father, a fine brother, and a gallant son of West Point who served his country faithfully, proudly and well. Fair Skies and Happy Landings, Sonny.
— His brother and classmate, Bill
Younger Arnold Pitts, Jr.No. 13243 • 1 October 1918 – 31 March 1980Died in Los Angeles, California, aged 61 yearsInterment: Family Plot, San Diego, California
SONNY PITTS was born at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California (now North Island Naval Air Station), the first son of Second Lieutenant Younger Arnold Pitts and Nanette Rings Pitts, both from Missouri. His father was both an Army Air Corps officer and a pilot; so Sonny grew up as an “Army Air Corps brat” traveling with his family from California to Hawaii, Texas, back to California, Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, back to Kansas, and finally to Louisiana — from there to West Point. In his youth Sonny was very competitive, excelling in football, basketball, and tennis during high school years, lettering in all three.
Sonny entered West Point by gaining an appointment from Congressman Dick Duncan of St. Joseph, Missouri. Having attended both the University of Missouri and Centenary College, Sonny had no problem sailing through academics and graduating in the middle of our class. He was active in track, tennis, and cross-country, and was a member of the Ring Committee, the Chess Club, and the Squash Club. An inveterate frequenter of the “Boodlers,” he rarely missed a hop. His great love and the driving force which led him to West Point was to have a career as a military aviator. To that end he completed flight training and was rated a pilot during first class year.
On graduation Sonny transitioned in Arizona to the P-38 “Lightning” and then entered a “hardship” tour at the air station where he had been born, undergoing P-38 combat training. It was here that he met and married his beloved wife, Jane. It was also here that, impatient with the slow progress of getting in action overseas, he volunteered for combat with the 1st Air Commando Group. They were deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater, with a main base in northeast India and a forward operating base in northwest Burma — the air arm of the offensive to drive the Japanese out of Burma. Sonny served there two years from late 1943 to late 1945 flying combat missions in P-40, P-51, and P-47 fighter aircraft. His gallantry in action earned him a Silver Star, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and four Air Medals; in rank he rose to major.
On return to the U.S., Sonny served two years in the Pentagon in Operations for the Army Air Force. Then came Germany for a tour in tactical fighter aircraft, where he became a lieutenant colonel. Next came Hamilton Air Force Base in California where he commanded the largest fighter squadron in the Air Defense Command, operating three types of fighters: F-86, F-89, and F-94. It was at Hamilton that son Mike arrived.
Subsequently, Sonny served an isolated tour in Iceland, commanding a detachment in the High Flight project, a chain of refueling stations for jet fighters ferrying across the Atlantic. Jane and Mike rejoined him at the Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, where he was promoted to colonel. That led to command of the Air Defense Group in Portland, Oregon, a unit equipped with the F-102. His leadership was the key factor in the unit’s winning the William Tell Competition — an annual gunnery and rocket exercise for all the groups in the Air Defense Command.
There followed a two-year tour in Oslo, Norway, on the Staff of Air North and then the 1964 Class of the National War College, where Sonny also won a master of arts in international affairs. His post in J-3 of the Joint Staff was a logical progression, but Sonny chafed at staff duty and being away from command. In 1966, he retired, looking for new worlds to conquer. Northrop Corporation provided that challenge, making him regional manager for the F-5 Program in Rome. Next came Iran, as marketing director for the Mid East and North Africa. Six years later, Sonny was assigned to Stuttgart, seat of the European Command. But here an annual physical turned up cancer of the prostate gland.
Northrop immediately returned him to Corporate Headquarters in California, to undergo radical surgery and radiation therapy. For the next seven years he worked there as director of international marketing. But during his surgery, Sonny had received a unit of blood contaminated with infectious hepatitis. This and the radiation therapy damaged his liver. In 1980 he became progressively sicker and his liver function steadily deteriorated. At the end of March 1980 he lapsed into a coma and died, in the Pauley Pavilion of the UCLA Medical Center. With him at his death were Jane, his sister Nanette (Cissy), and his two brothers, Jim and Bill. Just before he went into a coma he turned to me and said,
“Bill, if I had it to do all over again, I would not change one thing.”
So died a loving husband, a good father, a fine brother, and a gallant son of West Point who served his country faithfully, proudly and well. Fair Skies and Happy Landings, Sonny.
— His brother and classmate, Bill
SONNY PITTS was born at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California (now North Island Naval Air Station), the first son of Second Lieutenant Younger Arnold Pitts and Nanette Rings Pitts, both from Missouri. His father was both an Army Air Corps officer and a pilot; so Sonny grew up as an “Army Air Corps brat” traveling with his family from California to Hawaii, Texas, back to California, Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, back to Kansas, and finally to Louisiana — from there to West Point. In his youth Sonny was very competitive, excelling in football, basketball, and tennis during high school years, lettering in all three.
Sonny entered West Point by gaining an appointment from Congressman Dick Duncan of St. Joseph, Missouri. Having attended both the University of Missouri and Centenary College, Sonny had no problem sailing through academics and graduating in the middle of our class. He was active in track, tennis, and cross-country, and was a member of the Ring Committee, the Chess Club, and the Squash Club. An inveterate frequenter of the “Boodlers,” he rarely missed a hop. His great love and the driving force which led him to West Point was to have a career as a military aviator. To that end he completed flight training and was rated a pilot during first class year.
On graduation Sonny transitioned in Arizona to the P-38 “Lightning” and then entered a “hardship” tour at the air station where he had been born, undergoing P-38 combat training. It was here that he met and married his beloved wife, Jane. It was also here that, impatient with the slow progress of getting in action overseas, he volunteered for combat with the 1st Air Commando Group. They were deployed to the China-Burma-India Theater, with a main base in northeast India and a forward operating base in northwest Burma — the air arm of the offensive to drive the Japanese out of Burma. Sonny served there two years from late 1943 to late 1945 flying combat missions in P-40, P-51, and P-47 fighter aircraft. His gallantry in action earned him a Silver Star, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and four Air Medals; in rank he rose to major.
On return to the U.S., Sonny served two years in the Pentagon in Operations for the Army Air Force. Then came Germany for a tour in tactical fighter aircraft, where he became a lieutenant colonel. Next came Hamilton Air Force Base in California where he commanded the largest fighter squadron in the Air Defense Command, operating three types of fighters: F-86, F-89, and F-94. It was at Hamilton that son Mike arrived.
Subsequently, Sonny served an isolated tour in Iceland, commanding a detachment in the High Flight project, a chain of refueling stations for jet fighters ferrying across the Atlantic. Jane and Mike rejoined him at the Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, where he was promoted to colonel. That led to command of the Air Defense Group in Portland, Oregon, a unit equipped with the F-102. His leadership was the key factor in the unit’s winning the William Tell Competition — an annual gunnery and rocket exercise for all the groups in the Air Defense Command.
There followed a two-year tour in Oslo, Norway, on the Staff of Air North and then the 1964 Class of the National War College, where Sonny also won a master of arts in international affairs. His post in J-3 of the Joint Staff was a logical progression, but Sonny chafed at staff duty and being away from command. In 1966, he retired, looking for new worlds to conquer. Northrop Corporation provided that challenge, making him regional manager for the F-5 Program in Rome. Next came Iran, as marketing director for the Mid East and North Africa. Six years later, Sonny was assigned to Stuttgart, seat of the European Command. But here an annual physical turned up cancer of the prostate gland.
Northrop immediately returned him to Corporate Headquarters in California, to undergo radical surgery and radiation therapy. For the next seven years he worked there as director of international marketing. But during his surgery, Sonny had received a unit of blood contaminated with infectious hepatitis. This and the radiation therapy damaged his liver. In 1980 he became progressively sicker and his liver function steadily deteriorated. At the end of March 1980 he lapsed into a coma and died, in the Pauley Pavilion of the UCLA Medical Center. With him at his death were Jane, his sister Nanette (Cissy), and his two brothers, Jim and Bill. Just before he went into a coma he turned to me and said,
“Bill, if I had it to do all over again, I would not change one thing.”
So died a loving husband, a good father, a fine brother, and a gallant son of West Point who served his country faithfully, proudly and well. Fair Skies and Happy Landings, Sonny.
— His brother and classmate, Bill
