Bio, Horinek, Ramon A.

CC: from Joe Milligan...

It is with great sadness that I pass along news that the Lt Col (ret) Ramon A. Horinek (Freedom Flyer #69) made his final yet peaceful take-off on 17 June 2020 and has since flown West. The Cheetahs were honored today to support his service and sacrifice, as well as that of his family with a sunny-day, pull up from #3 above his friends and family.

Lt Col (ret) Horinek was born in 1932 in Atwood, Kansas. He began flying at age 13 and later graduated from Hays Military Academy.

Horinek enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force on August 27, 1953, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on February 24, 1955. Horinek then served as an instructor pilot with the 3575th Pilot Training Group at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, from February 1955 to July 1960.

He then transferred to the 3510th Flying Training Squadron at Randolph AFB, Texas, where he served from July 1960 to January 1962. He served as a flight instructor with the 3576th Pilot Training Squadron at Vance AFB from January 1962 to September 1964.

After completing A-1 Skyraider combat crew training, he served with the 1st Air Commando Squadron at Bien Hoa AB in the Republic of Vietnam from February to August 1965. He was then assigned to the Tactical Air Control Center at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, where he served until February 1966, when he extended his tour and served as an airborne and ground forward air controller.

Capt Horinek then volunteered to fly F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bombers in December 1966, and after completing combat crew training in the United States, he returned to Southeast Asia in August 1967, this time flying with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. He was forced to eject over North Vietnam on October 25, 1967, and was immediately captured and taken as a Prisoner of War.

After spending 1,967 days in captivity (5.5 years!), he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. Maj Horinek was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and then attended pilot requalification training at Randolph AFB, Texas. He then attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from 1975 to 1976.

Col Horinek served with the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England, from August 1977 to July 1979. His final assignment was as Chief of the Group Programs Branch of the 4442nd Tactical Control Group at Hurlburt Field, Florida, from August 1979 until his retirement from the Air Force on February 10, 1983.

Honorable Lt Col (ret) Horinek was a great aviator and man. His enduring patriotism, steadfast honor, and selfless dedication to our nation through profound hardships is the true bedrock of our Cheetah heritage and the foundation of the long blue line within the 560 FTS.

He will surely be missed but never forgotten-at least not within our halls! Here's toast and a nickel in the grass my dear friend!

Respectfully,

Bill "MOSR" Johnson, Lt Col, USAF

Commander, 560 FTS

JBSA-Randolph, TX

Office: 210-652-3594

Cell: 206-226-0952