Wilbur L. “Pete” Carpenter
Preferred Name: Pete
Nickname/Call Sign:
Date of Birth:
Highest Military Grade Held:
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Biography
Wilbur L. “Pete” Carpenter grew up on a farm in Chatham, Louisiana.
Electricity came to his home in the 1930s, plumbing later.
He determined early he would prefer flying to life behind a mule.
After two years of goofing-off in college, he entered Aviation Cadets thus becoming an Air Force pilot.
He flew a 100-mission tour in F-80s in Korea and then was sent into the ferry command, delivering F-84, F-86 and F-100 jet aircraft to stateside and European bases.
He returned to operational units during the “TAC-rote” days deploying to Europe and pulling nuclear alert in F-86s and F-100s.
He married his wife, Honeyjean Roos, a fashion model, and continued his Air Force career.
He checked out in F-4s and was assigned to HQ 7th Air Force in Saigon, experiencing Tet firsthand and up-close.
After retirement he got into the commercial real estate business and Honeyjean passed away of a brain tumor in 2002.
Pete enjoys his daughter and grandson and reminiscing with old flying buddies in Tucson after a great life flying.
- Biography
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Biography
Wilbur L. “Pete” Carpenter grew up on a farm in Chatham, Louisiana.
Electricity came to his home in the 1930s, plumbing later.
He determined early he would prefer flying to life behind a mule.
After two years of goofing-off in college, he entered Aviation Cadets thus becoming an Air Force pilot.
He flew a 100-mission tour in F-80s in Korea and then was sent into the ferry command, delivering F-84, F-86 and F-100 jet aircraft to stateside and European bases.
He returned to operational units during the “TAC-rote” days deploying to Europe and pulling nuclear alert in F-86s and F-100s.
He married his wife, Honeyjean Roos, a fashion model, and continued his Air Force career.
He checked out in F-4s and was assigned to HQ 7th Air Force in Saigon, experiencing Tet firsthand and up-close.
After retirement he got into the commercial real estate business and Honeyjean passed away of a brain tumor in 2002.
Pete enjoys his daughter and grandson and reminiscing with old flying buddies in Tucson after a great life flying.
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