Carl F. Moslener

Carl F. Moslener PENNINGTON - Carl F. Moslener, 71, of Pennington, NJ, and Vero Beach, FL, a naval aviator and commercial airline pilot, passed away peacefully after returning from a 7-mile bike ride in Vero Beach, FL, on Dec. 13, 2011. Mr. Moslener was born at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, on Feb. 27, 1940, to William A. and Kathryn E. (Neill) Moslener. He was the last of four children: two girls and two boys. Mr. Moslener grew up in Mt. Lebanon, PA, and went through the Mt. Lebanon school system, graduating in 1958. He then went on to Brown University, from which he graduated in January 1963 with a bachelor's of arts in physics, and was commissioned into the United States Navy as an ensign through the NROTC program. After completing Navy flight training and receiving his Wings of Gold on June 12, 1964, Ensign Moslener was assigned to fly the A-4E Skyhawk with the Bluehawks of Attack Squadron Seventy Two (VA-72). While on this assignment, he made two combat cruises to the Gulf of Tonkin in support of the Vietnam War. He flew over 150 combat missions and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses and several Air Medals. He also made a cruise to the Mediterranean before leaving active duty. He joined Eastern Air Lines as a pilot in February 1968 and flew with them for the next 23 years in a large variety of aircraft and positions. He retired from Eastern as a 727 captain. After Eastern went out of business, he eventually joined Atlas Air and flew 747 Classics and -400's before retiring from commercial flying at age 60. He then became a simulator instructor on the 747-400 for the next 10 years and worked in Minneapolis, Seattle and Seoul, Korea (Asiana Airlines). While flying for Eastern he was also actively flying with the Navy Reserve. He served a total of 30 years, flying the A-4, A-7 and RF-8 aircraft. He held positions of increasing responsibility, including commanding officer of several reserve units, and retired as a captain. He is survived by his wife, the former Janet A. Andrews of Enon Valley, PA, whom he married on Dec. 29, 1965; two sons, Carl F. Moslener II and Brandt A. Moslener (married to Jennifer Taylor), and two grandchildren, Emily and Kate. While his sons were growing up, he was active in their scout troop and in coaching their soccer and baseball teams. He enjoyed his work immensely but also enjoyed reading history of all kinds and riding his bicycle. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, William A. Moslener Jr., and his sister, Kathryn Ann Furman. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on March 6, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. Contributions may be made to the Tailhook Association Scholarship Fund (www.tailhook.org); the Association of Naval Aviation scholarship fund (www.anahq.org), or the Boy Scouts of America (www.scouting.org).