USAF ROTORHEAD Members

Joe Fiorillo

I was in the USAF from 1964-1971.

July 1964 – January 1966 I served at Det. 2, 54th ARS later re-designated Det. 19 EARC. We had two HH-43Bs 62-4529 and 62-4530.

January 1966 When I arrived at Sheppard there were no HH-43’s there yet so I worked H-19 dock and post-dock.

September 1967 I went to the HH-43 detachment at Da Nang.  Originally my orders were for the HH-3E 37th ARRS at Da Nang but they were short folks in the H-43 outfit there and therefore modified my orders.

From Da Nang I went to the H-43 outfit out of Ubon, Thailand . 

September 1969 I left Thailand and wound up at instructor duty at Sheppard in the Helicopter Mechanics School.  I made SSgt. there at the school when they started all that PFE and SKT test stuff.  

December 1971 I got out of the USAF and went to college, University of Texas at Austin. Being an out-of-state student I found out that after three years there I ran out of money; VA entitlements.

October 1974 I went into the Navy as an E3 and retired as an E9 in February 1995.  My Navy career started as a jet engine mechanic for A6 Intruders and then I was force converted into a gas turbine systems technician when the Navy went to gas turbine powered surface ships; DD, DDG, CG, FFG. 

During my Navy career I received two undergraduate degrees, spent about 85% of my time at sea.  Last assignment was at the Pentagon where I served in the Office of the Chief Of Naval Operations.

I retired from the Navy and work in Arlington VA. and live in Georgetown in DC.  From my office in Arlington I can see the top of the new USAF memorial.

I am truly blessed having served in both the USAF and USN.