John W. Zimmerman

Zimmy

Air Force Service: April 12, 1956 to April 11, 1960
Station: Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, Texas
B-36 Tail Gunner: 1956-1958

• Wing: 7th Bombardment (Heavy)
• Squadron: 492nd
• Crew Number: N-48
• Crew Aircraft Commander: Captain (Chief) Bolton
• Crew Aircraft Number: 5721
• Flew With Other Aircraft Commanders: Maj.Fanyo-Col.Whitehead-Maj.Dunston-Capt.Giacomo-Maj.Walker-Col.Burch
  Col.Dunston-Col.Zerdecki
• Flew On Other B-36 Numbers: 1093-1344-1348-1350-1362-2823-5704-5713-5716-5721

STORY: Remember the "long range low level missions", 1000 ft. over land, 500 ft. over water? Well, we were flying over land in south Texas heading for Matagorda. Capt. Bolton called the navigator, Charlie Boerschig and asked him for a heading. Charlie, the excellent navigator that he was looked out and noticed that we were flying along in the same direction of a highway below. As you may remember, south Texas was quite open country so Charley asked the "Chief" if he would follow the highway to the next town so he could get a better bearing in order to give him a heading. After a short pause, Capt. Bolton calls Charlie on the intercom and says "Charlie, what the hell are you navigating with, a road map"?

TIDBIT: The next time you watch the movie "Strategic Air Command" with Jimmy Stewart, watch closely in the backround as he walks on the flight line. Our crew aircraft #5721 can be seen clearly in the backround.

5721 Crew Photo

OTHER FLYING TIME

I put a little flying time on a B-25 at Lowry AFB in 1958. It was like riding on a old bus but I'm glad I had the experiance. There was a Navy Reserve base east of Denver where I also put some time in a P2V5F. It was really great. Sat in the "BOW" where the view was fantastic. We made some practice no touch down landings over the runway at Stapleton, flew formation, and had fighters making passes at us. All this was great being viewed from the "BOW" position.

B-52 Tail Systems Mech.: 1958-1960

• Squadron: 7th Armaments and Electronics

Air Force Organizations:

• 7th Bomb Wing B-36 Association
• Air Force Gunners Association
• Society of the Strategic Air Command

Date of Birth: April 28, 1938
Present Location: Torrington, Connecticut
Education: BS Business Administration, University of Connecticut

1995 NCAA WOMENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS (Undefeated 35-0)
1999 NCAA MENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS
2000 NCAA WOMENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS
2000 NCAA MENS NATIONAL SOCCER CHAMPIONS
2002 NCAA WOMENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS (Undefeated 39-0)
2003 NCAA WOMENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS (Record 70 wins in a row)
2004 NCAA WOMENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS (Record tieing 3 Championships in a row)
2004 NCAA MENS NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS (First time both teams from same school win Championships in same year)

Occupation: Retired August 1,1996

• Formerly "Manager of Finance" for the Metropolitan District in Hartford, Ct.

Married: April 23, 1960
Wife: Tresa
Children: John (married to Laurie) & Tracy (married to Armand)
Grandchildren: Sarah & Jacob (John & Lauries) Nicolas & Alexa (Tracy & Armands)

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The B-36 backround is from site of Brian Lockett