Jack S. McWicker

1924 - 2013

Flt. Lt. Jack S. McWicker; AFM, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings on Oct. 29, 2013. Born Feb. 25, 1924, in Barnoldswick, England, to Arthur and Sara J. In 1941 Jack enlisted in the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 thus beginning a military career of nearly 27 years. After completing pilot training in Canada, he was assigned to Burma, flying C-47 Dakotas over the Hump. After the war he returned to England but only for a short time; the Berlin Airlift found him flying the corridors in and out of Germany. By the end of the airlift he had completed one of the highest total of sorties by a RAF pilot. The early 1950's were devoted to world wide flying and the Central Flying School. During the years of 1957 thru 1959 Jack was assigned to the 32nd ATS of the 1705th Air Transport Group, McChord Air Force Base, Washington, as an C-124 exchange officer. The return to the RAF in the 60's was the culmination to a great career; flying many types of aircraft and becoming the Wing Chief Pilot at RAF Brize Norton and RAF Lyneham. In November 1964 he married the former Mary E. Mitchell, who was a U.S. Air Force nurse stationed at RAF Burderop Park. A year later he started the most important position of his life, the father of John M. McWicker. He is survived by John and Rebecca McWicker, Doreen Whiteley, Peter and Kim Jones, Donald and Joan Mitchell, George Mitchell, great friends, and all his great stories. He has now topped the windswept heights and trod the high sanctity of space. Put out his hand and touched the face of God. The family requests donations, in place of flowers, be made to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (www.rafbf.org).