David D. Rines

DAVID D. RINES Retired Air Force Command Pilot LAST FLIGHT Retired Air Force Command Pilot, David D. Rines, took his last flight on August 13, 2012. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 2, 1928. He was the second son of Margaret and Stanley Rines and grandson of Henry Rines, former Speaker of the House and Treasurer of Minnesota. Dave (as he preferred to be called) took his first airplane ride in 1933 and, after his second flight the following year in an open cockpit biplane, developed an intense interest in aviation. Dave began taking flying lessons at age 9 and was hailed in the Minneapolis paper as "Minnesota's youngest pilot". His flying was curtailed at the outset of WWII. Ten days after graduation from Saint Louis Park High School, he was on his way to Navy Boot Camp in San Diego. He served two years in the Navy, the last year aboard the U.S.S. Estes in Tsing Tao, China, as a radio man and teletype technician. He attended the University of Minnesota for one year before applying for and being accepted for the Air Force Pilot Training Program. He earned his wings and was commissioned in May 1951. After fighter-gunnery training and a brief stay in Okinawa, he was sent to Korea where he flew 100 missions in the F-80 "Shooting Star". While stationed as an instructor pilot in Valdosta, Georgia, he met a beautiful Delta Airlines stewardess, Mary Tullis, who he married in April 1957. He spent the last seven years of a 28-year career in the Air Force at March AFB. While on temporary duty in Thailand and on Guam, he flew 74 missions in the B-52. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, 7 Air Medals, The Meritorious Service Medal, The Korean Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. As a squadron commander at Guam, he flew two missions over Hanoi as a deputy airborne commander during the 11-day bombing campaign in December 1972 that ultimately led to the release of the American POWs. Dave subsequently completed his higher education in off-duty hours earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Arts degree from Pepperdine University. He retired from the Air Force in December 1977 and immediately went to work for McDonnell-Douglas in the commercial flight crew training department, retiring a second time after 15 years. After all the traveling during his service career, he and Mary still enjoyed journeys to foreign lands. One memorable trip was an Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary II. Dave was a long-time member of Calvary Presbyterian Church where he served terms as chief usher and as an elder. He belonged to the Victoria Club where he enjoyed golfing with The Wild Bunch. He was a member of The Order of the Daedalians, The National Fraternity of Commissioned Pilots. During his Air Force career, he flew 21 different makes and models of aircraft. Dave is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter Leigh and her husband John Dick; daughter Laura and her husband Doug Stetson; daughter Lizbeth and her husband Jerry Nastari; grandchildren Mason Dick, Ian Dick, Catherine Dick, Scott Stetson, Claire Nastari, Samuel Nastari, and Emily Nastari; and his brother Dick Rines of Mound, Minnesota. A celebration of life service will be held at Calvary Presbyterian Church on August 18th at 10:00 a.m. A private interment will take place at Riverside National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Calvary Presbyterian Church general fund.