A DFC Recipient and Author - 600+ Books Signed, Pen Ran Dry!!
Mr. Bruce Huffman received The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his actions as an aviator in the Vietnam War. What better way to honor this 'hero of the air' by paying tribute to him with a Derringer Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Pen! After 600+ books signed, the Derringer DFC pen continues to perform and deliver - just needs an 'aerial refueling' of ink!
THE ASK: Let's help a very worthy effort and support The Friday Pilots of Tucson. ALL BOOK PROCEEDS WILL BE GIFTED TO THE FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION TO AID MILITARY FAMILIES.
HOW TO ORDER: Paperback and Kindle Versions are available on Amazon - click HERE to order today!
AUTHORS: Each chapter is written by an individual pilot and focuses on life lessons gained through that pilot's experiences. Among other authors are General Earl O’loughlin, USAF (Ret,), LTG Tom Keck, USAF (Ret.), LTG Gene Santarelli USAF (Ret.), LTG Barry Knutson USMC (Ret.) MG Don Shepperd USAF (Ret.), MG Russ Violet USAF (Ret.) BG Jim McDivitt (USAF) (Ret.), Col. Bob Barnett USAF/POW (ret.) Col. Phil Osterli USAR (Ret.), Col. Rob Van Sice USAF (Ret.), Col John Dale USAF (Ret.), LTC Jeff Tice USAF/POW (Ret.).
LEARN MORE: The Friday Pilots of Tucson, Arizona have done it again! Their second book is now available on Amazon, “On the Wings of Geezers” - life lessons from old pilots - you do not want to miss this one - the first printing has quickly sold out.
The Friday Pilots are a group of more than 30 retired military pilots that meet every Friday for lunch at Hacienda del Sol resort in Tucson. They lunch, they laugh, they lie. People ask, “Why would you lunch with the same guys every Friday?” Their answer, “If you have to ask you wouldn’t understand.”
An eclectic group of geezers, they flew the old airplanes, props, even B-29s, the early jets, the first of the supersonic era, the high-flying spy planes, the CIA Oxcart, the U-2, and SR-71. They fought in Korea and Vietnam and flew in space on Gemini and Apollo. They range in rank from 1st Lt. to a 4-star general. Six are over 90 and all are totally with it. They were hit by spotlights over the Yalu. They crashed and burned on their first F-86 solo. They led 60 F-80 aircraft missions in Korea as 1st Lt’s. They ejected upside down at 30,000 ft. from the A-12. They flew unescorted missions deep into Russia in the RB-47. They sat alert with large nuclear weapons. They attacked the first SAM in North Vietnam. They screamed in agony in the “ropes” from the floor of the Hanoi Hilton. They flew Mach 3.5 at 85,000 ft. They provided close air support for ground troops day and night, good weather and bad. They supported troops deep in the jungle with armed helicopters and tracked the NVA where they lived and fought. They became Thunderbirds. They flew onto pitching Navy carrier decks at night. They fought the budget battles for stealth and night vision equipment, ECM and precision standoff weapons. They commanded units and fought in the desert. After a career flying fighters and a successful airline career, they almost perished in a racecar crash. This isn’t just a book about their exploits. It is about what they learned about life flying in difficult times.
John Mollison, designer of the book’s unique “hidden object” cover was a guest at a Friday Pilot luncheon, “I remember thinking, that guy over there — Maj. General Pat Halloran — flew the SR-71 and U-2, two of America’s top-secret aircraft. I wonder what I could learn if I could download all of his life experiences!”
Another gift from the book is a unique cover designed by award-winning aviation graphic artist, John Mollison. The cover is full of embedded symbols - see if you can find them, front and back, in and on the grass and in the sky - an aviation treasure hunt. Most parents don’t leave anything written for their families, friends or for history. These men did. They are the REAL DEAL, and these are their ‘life lessons from old pilots,’ suitable as a supplemental text for the classrooms of today. Most of the authors are recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross and are members of the DFC Society.
ABOUT the DERRINGER DFC Pen Holder: J. Bruce Huffman recently finished his term as the Chairman of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society on Dec 31, 2020.
While attending Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA Bruce joined the U.S. Army in 1967 for the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program (WORWAC). He received a direct commission as a 2nd Lieutenant during his Viet Nam tour.
Serving as both a lift pilot and an aero scout team leader with Charlie Troop 1/9th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Div. (AM), he was awarded the DFC, Bronze Star, Air Medal w/V (3 OLC), 22 Air Medals, Army Commendation Medal w/V (1 OLC), and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Bruce left active duty in the 1970’s but continued to serve during 25 years of continuous aviation service in the National Guard and Army Reserve; he retired in 1998, after 31 years in uniform, with the rank of Colonel.
In his civilian career he lived in Iran with his young family, while instructing in AH-1J Cobras, for Bell Helicopter. He later served and retired from the IBM Corporate Flight Department. He also served as the early Managing Director of NetJets Europe, in Lisbon, and he would go on to lead several corporate flight departments. Presently, he is the founder and President of Flight Assurance LLC.
His undergraduate degree is from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in Professional Aeronautics, and he holds a Masters degree in Instructional & Performance Technology from Boise State University. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and a number of military and veteran’s organizations.