USAF ROTORHEAD Members

John C. Flournoy, Colonel Retired.

Colonel John C. Flournoy was the deputy chief of staff for operations, Twenty-Third Air Force, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Colonel Flournoy was born Nov. 30, 1936 in Florala, Ala. He was educated in the public school system of Alabama and graduated from Vigor High School, Prichard, Ala., in 1955 and the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn) in 1959 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He is a graduate of Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Colonel Flournoy enlisted in the Alabama National Guard in February 1954 as a private in the 31st Infantry, Dixie Division. He transferred to the Army Reserves as a corporal in 1956 and remained with the Army until transferring to the Air Force Reserve as an airman first class in 1957. In December 1959, Colonel Flournoy was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve through the Air Force ROTC Program at Auburn, and was appointed second lieutenant in the Regular Air Force in February 1960.

His first commissinoed assignment was preflight pilot training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in February 1960; followed by primary pilot training at Graham Air Force Base, Fla.; basic pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas; and helicopter pilot training at Stead Air Force Base, Nev. After receiving his wings and helicopter training, Colonel Flournoy’s first operational assignment was with Detachment 1, Atlantic Air Rescue Center, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, flying the H-19 and H-43 as a rescue crew commander from September 1961 to July 1965.

Returning stateside in 1965, Colonel Flournoy was assigned to Detachment 12, Eastern Aerospace Rescue Center at Moody Air Force Base, GA., as an H-43 instructor pilot and flight examiner. After 18 months at Moody, he was assigned as commander, Detachment 18, EARRC, Thule Air Base, Greenland. Returning from Thule in 1968 he became the H-43 standardization pilot for EARRC at Robins Air Force Base, GA. In October 1970, he was assigned to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., as the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS) H-43 standardization pilot, and in December 1971, he became the ARRS H-1/H-43 standardization pilot. During this tour, he served numerous temporary duty assignments in Southeast Asia and, in 1974, he was assigned commander, of Detachment 4, 37th ARRS, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. After 18 months at Little Rock, he was selected as chief, Rescue Services Division, Headquarters, Military Airlift Command Inspector General, and returned to Scott Air Force Base, Ill. In December 1978, he completed qualification in the H-53 and assumed his fourth command as 55th ARRS commander, Eglin AFB, Fla., in January 1979

He moved across the street to the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing in November 1980, first as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, then becoming the Director of Operations in May 1981. He returned to Scott Air Force Base, IL., for his third tour in March 1983 as the Twenty-Third Air Force Assistant Director of Operations.
Colonel Flournoy assumed the position of Twenty-Third Air Force Director of Operations in May 1986 prior to the unit moving to Hurlburt Field, FL.

He was promoted to the grade of Colonel in January 1981, with a date of rank of November 28, 1980.

He is married to the former Charlene Renee’ Lett of Prichard, AL. The have three children: Jamie, Jay and Jeff, eight grandchildren, and one great grandson. John’s hometown is Florala, AL.

Colonel Flournoy was awarded the Legion of Merit upon his retirement from active duty, August 1988.

Added

Mr. Flournoy and Charlene relocated from FL. to NM. in October 1988 where John assumed the position of Site Manager for Link/Hughes Training for the Aircrew Training Simulator operations at Kirtland AFB. He became the Mission Training Simulator Support Training Manager prior to his retirement from Hughes/Raytheon in 1998. He then worked for the Air Force Research Lab at Kirtland, followed by three months in Colorado Springs with Boeing working on the National Missile Defense Program. He returned to Kirtland to consult with the Research Lab and the USAF Safety Center until fully retiring in 2002.

The Flournoy’s are active members of the Kirtland and Albuquerque communities and reside in Albuquerque, NM.

CURRENT AS OF JANUARY 2007

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John C. Flournoy Sr., Colonel, USAF (Retired)
November 30, 1936 – June 18, 2025

With profound sadness and deep respect, we announce the passing of Colonel John C. Flournoy, USAF (Retired), age 88, of Opelika, AL. John was a devoted husband, brother, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, decorated military officer, and steadfast friend to all who knew him. He passed away peacefully on 18 June 2025 at home, surrounded by his family.

John was born at home on 30 November 1936 in Florala, AL and was educated in the public school system of Alabama, graduating from Vigor High School, Prichard, AL in 1955. He worked in a local grocery store and on a shrimp boat during his summers. He graduated from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) in 1959 with a Bachelor Of Science Degree in Business Administration. John enlisted in the Alabama National Guard Band in February 1954 as a Private in the 31st Infantry, Dixie Division. He transferred to the Army Reserve as a Corporal in 1956 and remained with the Army until transferring to the Air Force Reserve as an Airman First Class in 1957. He married his Vigor High School sweetheart, Charlene Lett, on 7 June of that same year. In December 1959, John was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve through the Air Force ROTC Program at Auburn and was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Regular Air Force in February 1960. His first assignment was preflight pilot training at Lackland Air Force Base, TX, in February 1960; followed by primary pilot training at Graham Air Force Base, FL; basic pilot training at Laredo Air Force Base, TX; and helicopter pilot training at Stead Air Force Base, NV. After receiving his wings and helicopter training, John’s first operational assignment was with Detachment 1, Atlantic Air Rescue Center, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, flying the H-19 and H-43 as a rescue crew commander from September 1961 to July 1965. One of his most memorable accomplishments during that assignment was receiving the German Medal of Gratitude in 1963 for flying the H-19 and saving lives during one of the worst floods to ever hit Hamburg, Germany. Returning stateside in 1965, the family was assigned to Detachment 12, Eastern Aerospace Rescue Center at Moody Air Force Base, GA as an H-43 instructor pilot and flight examiner. After 18 months at Moody, he was assigned as Commander, Detachment 18, EARRC, Thule Air Base, Greenland. Here he participated in several notable missions. The most memorable was the rescue/recovery of crashed B-52G, carrying four hydrogen bombs and seven crewmembers. Returning from Thule in 1968, he became the H-43 standardization pilot for EARRC at Robins Air Force Base, GA. In October 1970, he was assigned to Scott Air Force Base, IL as the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS) H-43 standardization pilot, and in December 1971, he became the ARRS H-1/H-43 standardization pilot. During this tour, he served numerous temporary duty assignments in Southeast Asia to include a tour as Commander, Detachment 12, 40th ARRSQ, U-Tapao Royal Tai Naval Airfield, Thailand from February to December 1974. Upon his return he was assigned as Commander, Detachment 4, 37th ARRS, Little Rock Air Force Base, AR. After Little Rock, John was selected as Chief, Rescue Services Division, Headquarters, Military Airlift Command Inspector General, and returned to Scott Air Force Base, IL. In December 1978, he completed qualification in the H-53 and assumed his fourth command as 55th ARRS commander, Eglin AFB, FL in January 1979. He moved across the street to the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing in November 1980, first as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, then becoming the Director of Operations in May 1981. He returned to Scott Air Force Base, IL for his third tour in March 1983 as the Twenty-Third Air Force Assistant Director of Operations. John assumed the position of Twenty-Third Air Force Director of Operations in May 1986 prior to the unit moving to Hurlburt Field, FL.

Colonel John C. Flournoy retired after 35 years of service on 31 August 1988 and relocated from Florida to New Mexico in October 1988 where he assumed the position of Site Manager for Link/Hughes Training for the Aircrew Training Simulator operations at Kirtland AFB. He became the Mission Training Simulator Support Training Manager prior to his retirement from Hughes/Raytheon in 1998. He then worked for the Air Force Research Lab at Kirtland, followed by three months in Colorado Springs with Boeing working on the National Missile Defense Program. He returned to Kirtland to consult with the Research Lab and the USAF Safety Center until fully retiring in 2002. In retirement, John and Charlene enjoyed being part of the Blue Crew, supporting “Out of the Blue” hot air balloon flights across the southwest. He also cherished his annual trips to their condominium in Auburn to enjoy family and, of course, Auburn football, until finally settling in Opelika in 2018. John and Charlene built a new home where John enjoyed everything Auburn, fishing, peanut butter crackers, malted milk balls, chocolate ice cream and watching wildlife in his backyard. He loved collecting coins and rocks at every opportunity and meticulously organizing everything…and we mean everything. John was always committed to serving his fellow veterans and their families by in a variety of capacities in multiple military related organizations. He was President of both the Jolly Green Association (85-86) and Air Rescue Association (01-07) and, served in a variety of roles in those as well as the Pedro Rescue Helicopter Association. In October of this year, he and Charlene will be part of the inaugural class of the Air Rescue Association Member Hall of Fame in recognition of their tremendous contributions to the organization.
More than anything, he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his family, friends, and fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, guardians, and coastguardsmen. He was hardworking, strong-willed, intentional, loving, caring and a little grumpy.

John (aka Buddy, Grumps) is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Charlene Lett; his brother Ron (Pam) Flournoy; his children, Jamie (Huey) Allen, Jay (Anne) Flournoy; Jeffrey (Jennie Collins) Flournoy; his grandchildren, Heather, Melissa, Andrew, Charlene, Emily, Jack, Ashton, and Tristan; 10 (soon to be 11) great-grandchildren, and many extended family members, friends, neighbors, and comrades who will miss him dearly.

Viewing will be at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1010 India Road, Opelika, AL on 25 June 2025 10:15 followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00. A reception will follow at the Springs of Mill Lakes Clubhouse, 2901 Birmingham Highway, Opelika from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. He will be laid to rest at Barrancas National Cemetery, 1 Cemetery Road, Pensacola, FL on 27 June 2025 at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Colonel John C. Flournoy’s memory to the That Others May Live Foundation at thatothersmaylive.org