Gerald (Jerry) Block - K4LAP
My formative years were spent in south Florida. After graduating from high school, I attended the University of Florida, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor’s Degree in building Construction. Entered the USAF in 1951 through the ROTC program and started pilot school shortly thereafter. Soloed in the T-28 in an experimental program. Went on to fly the T-6 and B-25 before graduating in June of 1953, Class 53-C.
Total flying time is approximately 6500 hours without accident. I flew the C-124 Globemaster for over 4500 hours in various assignments before attending Communications Officer’s School. I also flew the C-47, T-29, C-45 and the U-3. I owned a Beechcraft Bonanza (V-tail) for several years. I served in various communications officer and staff officer positions before being assigned as the Chief of Communications, Air Force Satellite Center in Sunnyvale, California, where I spent seven years managing a global network of voice, data and teletype communications.
Later I was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications 9th Air Force supporting tactical fighter wings in the eastern United States. My last assignment was Commander 1st Combat Communications Group, Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany, providing mobile communications and air traffic control facilities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. During this period the Group received the McClellan Award, for the most outstanding communications unit in the United States Air Force. I retired in September 1981 after 30 years of continuous active duty service and live in Gig Harbor, Washington.
During active duty I attended the University of Southern California, receiving a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Operations Management. I attended the Communications Staff Officer’s School (Dist. Grad.) I am also a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Twice awarded the Legion of Merit, for meritorious Service. I hold a Commercial Pilot’s License, Single and Multi-engine, Instruments.
As a member of the West Sound Amateur Radio Club, I teach fundamentals of electronics to aspiring hams. I am also a member of the Western Washington DX Club in Seattle. As a lifelong DXer I have worked and confirmed 334 countries out of 339 on the current DXCC list. In the four years in Germany, I worked and confirmed 275 countries. Extra Class and VEC.
Married to the former Svanhild (Swanee) Holthe from Søndre Land, Norway while she was employed by Pan American World Airways in New York City. Most summers we travel back to Norway to the family cabin overlooking a lake and quite a beautiful spot.
With my son Erik, a geologist with a master’s degree, we founded Block Environmental, a consulting and engineering company involved in protecting municipal water supplies in southern California (over 20 years in business). Erik was cited by the Director of the EPA for being a leading member of the committee that wrote the criteria for environmental investigations for the nation. Daughter Lisa is a board certified pediatric dentist in Gig Harbor, in practice over 20 years. She is Diplomat of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists and a past president of the Washington Academy of Pediatric Dentists. She was elected to the Pierre Fauchard Academy, an international honorary dental organization for distinguished work in public service.
73 - Jerry Block, K4LAP, AFFC #515