MALCOLM HOOKER

BRIG. GEN. MALCOLM P. HOOKER, USAF (RET) NOTED AIRLIFTER AND ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE General Malcolm Hooker, age 95, passed away on March 19, 2015 as a result of complications from a heart attack. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he attended Southwestern (now Rhodes) College and the University of Memphis Law School. He started flying
in the summer of 1939. Subsequently, he received his instructor's rating and became a civilian instructor in the Army Air Corps primary training program in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. After Pearl Harbor, he had three choices: stay on as an instructor; go with American Airlines, or join the Army Air Corps Ferry Command and receive a direct commission as a second lieutenant with the opportunity to fly all types of aircraft all over the world. In March of 1942, he joined the 3rd Ferry Group at Romulus, Michigan. In June of that year, the Ferry Command changed its name to the Air Transport Command with two divisions - the Ferry Division for the movement of aircraft, and the Transport Division for the movement of people and things. Because of his experience, he was made Director of Air Training and in the next two years he flew 28 different types of aircraft on many missions to various destinations all over the world. In April of 1943, he was married to Margaret "Bunny" Wulbern. She was an aircraft pilot whom he had met at Oxford, Mississippi while on a cross country training flight in 1940. She was also from Pine Bluff and their friendship grew while he was an instructor there. She made the choice to accept his proposal for marriage rather than join the Women's Air Service Pilots Program. In May of 1944, he was transferred to Accra, British West Africa and saw service as Chief Pilot and Director of Operations for the Central African Division of the Air Transport Command. Their area of responsibility was from Dakar on the west coast of Africa to Karachi, Pakistan and all of southern Africa. One of the most memorable events was a thirty day trip to South Africa as a team member visiting many of the major cities to coordinate evacuation routes, if such should become necessary, from North Africa. Returning to the states in April of 1945, he became Director of Operations of the Air Transport Command training base in Greenville, Mississippi. He was released from active duty in November 1945 and joined Slick Airways as Assistant Director of Operations. In September 1948, during the Berlin Airlift, he was recalled to active duty, and was asked to serve as the Chief of the Liaison and Special Projects office for the Combined Airlift Task Force at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. After the airlift, he remained at Rhein-Main and became Director of Operations for the 61st Troop Carrier Wing. In May 1952, he was transferred to the 435th Troop Carrier Wing at Miami International Airport, Florida and was Commander of the 456th Troop Carrier Group flying C-119 aircraft. General Hooker served at staff level positions in all echelons of command including two years at Eighteenth Air Force Headquarters as Assistant Director of Operations and training, and four years at Headquarters, USAF where he became Deputy Chief of Transport Forces Division of the Directorate of Operations. This division monitored airlift forces worldwide. He was also the Deputy Director of Tactical Airlift at TAC Headquarters. He attended Air Command and Staff School and the Air War College, separately at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. He was also stationed three years each in Germany and Japan, and 16 months in Vietnam (2 separate tours). In 1968, he was assigned as Commander of a C-130 Wing at Langley AFB and was promoted to Brig. General. He retired in 1975 from duty as Vice Commander of the Military Traffic Management Command, a joint Army/Navy/Air Force command in Arlington, Virginia. His twenty-three decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service medal and the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters. General Hooker was one of the founding fathers of a group that organized an annual reunion of Vietnam airlifters starting in 1969 in Las Vegas, later becoming the Airlift Association which was chartered in 1975. In 1979, General Hooker was elected to be the new Chairman, CEO and COO of the Airlift Association, serving in this capacity for two years, and for many years after on the Board of Advisors. Under his tenure, a solid foundation was established and today the Airlift/Tanker Association is a very active and highly respected organization whose members are providing vital airlift throughout the world on a daily basis. As a founding father, he was honored at the Airlift/Tanker Association in October 2005 and a bronze bust was placed in the Air Mobility Park at Scott AFB, Illinois adjacent to the Airlift Hall of Fame. In 1991, General Hooker was elected President of the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA), subsequently restructuring the Association and establishing a sound financial position for future growth. He served as President for five years and was recognized by the Board and members as follows: The idol of those who can't stand idle Whose deeds are more eloquent than words A Renaissance man A Wizard Whose vast understanding does not include That of a lost cause He was Chairman of the Board for two years and continued to serve on the Board until 2000 when he was named Chairman Emeritus. NDTA is recognized worldwide as the premier transportation organization. While living in Alexandria, Virginia, he was a member of the Alexandria Rotary Club, the Sticky Fingers Investment Club, the Westminster Presbyterian Church and belonged to Belle Haven Country Club. In 2010, several years after his wife's death, he relocated permanently to Vero Beach, Florida (having purchased a condo there in 1977) and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Vero Beach Rotary. General Hooker is survived by his two daughters, Jean Hooker and Cathy Moser, a son Malcolm, Jr., six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service was held at First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, March 25th. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to VNA Hospice House, www.vnatc.com 866-705-6681.