Darrell Dwight Whitaker

He was born on April 10, 1931 in Clarkton, Missouri. His family later moved to Pontiac, Michigan. Following graduation from high school in 1949, he entered the US Air Force and via the Aviation Cadet Program, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1954, receiving his pilot’s wings in 1955. Trained as a fighter pilot, assignment to Korea just after the cease fire and various stateside assignments were followed by an overseas billet in Libya, North Africa and return to the US where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Omaha in 1966. Subsequent assignment to the US Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force base in Las Vegas Nevada followed. A career Air Force officer, he was checked out in/certified to fly approximately fifteen different aircraft to include the F-86, F-101, F-4 Phantom, A-37, and F-111. His all-time favorite was the F-86 Sabre because of its agility, mobility, and firepower. His final aircraft assignment was the F-111 fighter bomber which he flew at Nellis and in Upper Heyford, England where his final flight occurred on March 23, 1972.

He was part of the Combat Dragon development/test program for the A-37 attack jet, evaluated under combat conditions in South East Asia. He flew the A-37 for 2 tours in Vietnam during 1967-68 and 1969-1970. A command pilot with over 3700 flying hours, he flew 299 combat missions, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and approximately 7 Air Medals for heroism and aerial achievement.

Upon return from Vietnam, European operational assignments were at 3rd Air Force Headquarters in London, England as Fighter Staff Officer and a base command in Erding, Germany with the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing. Following assignment to the Pentagon, his responsibilities included acting as liaison between the Air Force and Congress regarding weapons systems inquiries/investigations. He was Chief of Military Sales/Assistance-Middle East/Africa before retiring from a distinguished career in 1978.

Following retirement from the Air Force, he began SPF, Inc., a defense contracting agency of which he was CEO, specializing in logistics/support for foreign military sales. In 2001 he retired for good, spending time outdoors with gardening, bird watching and enjoying his grandchildren.

A fine man of great courage, character, integrity, kindness and dignity, he touched many lives and served as a role model, mentor, morale compass, and hero to his sons, grandchildren, nephews, and niece as well as many others. Even though his illness eventually robbed him of strength and mobility, he retained his courage, character, dignity, and optimism, serving as an example to all. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

He is survived by his wife of fifty nine years, Barbara L. Whitaker, and his sons, Mark D. and Craig D. Whitaker, as well as four grandchildren Paul, James, Jordan, and Helen Whitaker. He will be buried in Stafford, Virginia alongside his grandson Justin L. Whitaker, who died of cancer on April 7, 2008.