Tom Ames - KF0KCA

Tom was born and raised in Southern California.  He joined the CA Air National Guard  (CA ANG) in 1979 with hopes of becoming a fighter pilot. 

Those hopes became a reality in Jan of 1983 when, after completing Undergraduate Pilot Training, Tom began training in the F-4 Phantom.

Tom then flew Phantoms in the CA ANG for 6 years.   In 1989 Tom transferred to the KS ANG at McConnell AFB, Wichita, KS and became an instructor pilot in the Phantom.  Soon (1990) the Phantoms were retired and replaced with the F-16.  Tom converted too and became an instructor pilot in the F-16.

Some years later his squadron converted to the B-1b bomber and Tom retrained to fly it.  About 5 years later the Air Force decided to pull all the B-1b's back into their ranks and our squadron again went through conversion, this time to the KC-135R.

After flying the KC-135R Tom met his retirement requirements and retired in 2008.  Tom and his wife Virgie still make Wichita their home when they are not traveling in their RV.

73 - Tom Ames, KF0KCA, AFFC #718