Veteran's History Project - Anthony D. Minnick

Anthony D. Minnick

Lieutenant Colonel

US Army Air Corps

US Air Force

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.

In the summer of 1942, Anthony "Tony" Minnick,  was out and about. Driving on Wabash Avenue in his home town of Terre Haute, Ind., an advertisement came across the AM radio that declared that people could enlist in the Army Air Corps and become an officer if they were a high school graduate, (no longer required any college) and could pass the physical examination.  One could become a pilot, a navigator or a bombardier.

That sounded pretty good to Tony.  The Selective Service was starting to notice kids such as him. He had never dreamed of being a pilot, and his background wasn't such that would steer him that direction.  The military was being built up all around the country. 

Tony went into the recruiter's office and had to convince the sergeant that he was old enough.  Tony had to tell the sergeant about the program he heard about on the radio.  The sergeant told him to take a handful of papers home and get them signed by his parents then they would go on from there.  A letter came in the mail a few days later, telling him to go to Indianapolis to take the physical exam and the rest of the tests. 

Following instructions, Tony made it through the physical except for the dental part.  The examiner told him that he was good to go except for his teeth.  He handed the necessary papers back to Tony and Tony immediately went out to find a dentist. It took some looking but he found one and told the man about his situation.  Never mind the deadening of the teeth, the dentist filled several cavities and tidied up a couple of other items and sent him back to the examination station.

He reported back two hours later and handed in the papers and showed the astonished man his teeth.  Good enough.  Now go back home and wait for further instructions.  About two months later, he was notified to report to Lafayette, Ind.    He reported.  He was sworn in and told, "go back home and wait for further instructions." He had already said his good-byes now he was back!

In the following May, he had to report to the station at Lafayette with certain limited clothing.  He was to report to Kelly Field, Texas.  It was a long train ride to a field near San Antonio, Texas.

At Kelly Field, more testing, the issue of clothing, the brand new haircut, and a bunch of shots. Test results showed he had a potential or aptitude for flying.  He still did the required amount of marching, dressing, rifle qualification, learning who to salute and not salute, traditions and culture of the Air Corps.  Once that was completed he began a series of base-hopping to complete the different schools so that he could become a pilot.  There was ground school, then initial flight school with an instructor and without.  He had about 60 hours of flying completed. 

On early flights, he had trouble keeping food down.  There was concern be many that he may not make it because of this sickness.  Some member of the cadre advised him to skip breakfast, it might go easier.  It worked! No more sickness for this cadet.  He flew solo in the PT-19 after eleven hours of accompanied flying.  He had a knack for it.

A subsequent training piece in Greenville, TX involved more advanced training with daily flying, learning the dash and dits of Morse Code, and additional ground school.  Another school was in Victoria Falls, Texas.  Flight conducted in the T-6 which added gunnery, both ground and aerial. Aerial gunnery involved having another plane tow a dummy aircraft so the men could shoot at it.  Prior to the exercise, the men would dip their bullets in paint so the instructors could tell who hit the target and who might have missed.  Few actually hit the target.

Finally, Tony graduated from the training and became a 2nd Lieutenant.  His first destination was Kelly Field – where he started.  Now, he was an instructor pilot.  He felt he didn't know enough about flying but did the work anyway.  When he came back from a detail, he was told that he had to report to Randolf Air Base to continue instructing.  Kelly Field was being closed down.

A year and a half later, the need was for more pilots to fly bombing missions.  Orders came for him to go fly the P-51 Mustang...however, just before leaving for that installation, he and a few others were told they had too much flying time and your experience can't be wasted on fighters.  Now, you'll be flying the Liberator, the B-24.  This entailed even more training.  Soon, the planners told Tony that they didn't need any more B-24 pilots, and he would be working on the Super Fortress, the B-29.  In a matter of months he went from flying a single engine plane to a B-24, to a B-29. 

As time continued to move along, the calendar has him in early August 1945. Just as his current training ends, the two bombs are dropped over Japan.  All needs for future pilots ends.  Tony wanted to stay in the service. 

After a short time, he was shipped (shipped) to Germany to be a part of the Army of Occupation.  He served most of his time in southern France.  The mission there was to fly for photographers to get photos that would be used in strip mapping. 

In time, he was noticed by an individual who convinced Tony to become an assistant legal officer.  Almost immediately, he was made the legal officer of a unit nearby.  His legal casework took him to USAFE Headquarters (US Air Force Europe) where it was determined that since he really didn't have any legal training, he should do other jobs that he might be more qualified. 

His flying career resumed.  Of utmost importance was the air supply of food stuffs bound for the area around Berlin. There were two trips a day flying the C-47 cargo plane. 

The U.S. Air Force was stood up during this time.  It was a separate branch of service.  Tony transitioned over and finished his time in Germany.  He was re-deployed to Texas to fly the B-36 in the 26th Bomb Squadron. Over time, he filled many positions from pilot to operations officer. He ended up being assigned to the Air Force Base in Lincoln, NE flying the B-47. 

After completing the Command Staff College, he was sent back to Lincoln, NE. He worked the staff position and flew as well.  He was sent to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Offutt AFB near Bellevue, Neb.  Here, he became most useful in the new field of computer data management and programming.  His new skills were best used in "war gaming" and running programs calculating the attrition rates of planes and personnel. 

Next, he was re-assigned to flying and was sent to Kadena AFB on Okinawa.  This time in a re-fueling aircraft (KC-135).  They group never missed a re-fueling mission in his time there. His group also flew re-fuel missions over Viet Nam, re-supplying fighter and bomber aircraft. He also was assigned to a C-130 flight group that flew cargo in and out of the combat zones for the year he was there. 

His next assignment was to return to SAC Headquarters. Where he was to work tracking all Aif Force personnel. 

Tony flew thousands of hours in about a dozen different aircraft.  He never waivered from a flying or staff assignment in his 30 years of service.  Out of necessity, he was always ready to move on to whatever came next.   He served during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Great job, Lt. Col. Minnick. Thank you for your service.