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AIr Escort Transports War Hero
Last week CEO Joe Gonzales, escorted Retired Lieutenant Colonel James Hensley. The transcontinental flight originated from Mr. Hensley and Mr. Gonzales's home town of Fayetteville, North Carolina to San Juan Capistrano, CA. This is Mr. Hensley's story. He joined the Army Air Corps in WWII. Mr. Hensley trained in the P-47 fighter and flew 89 missions over German territory. On his last mission, January 16, 1945, he shot down 3 German aircraft and was subsequently hit by enemy fire. He bailed out and was immediately captured by a German soldier who led him to a small town where he was held captive in an internment camp. During Jim's captivity he was mistreated and became malnourished. Upon his release in mid May of 1945 his weight was reduced to just over one hundred pounds. Jim recovered after several surgeries to correct the leg injuries he suffered as a result of his bail out.
He had a full career in the USAF and retired in 1964 as a Lieutenant Colonel after flying most of the "Century series" jet fighter aircraft. He then had a full second career at Northrop Aircraft in Hawthorne and later was a consultant to Pilatus Aircraft a Swiss corporation.
Jim and his wife, Celeste, now reside in San Juan Capistrano, CA in an assisted living home near their children and grandchildren. Coming from a military family myself and my father being a decorated war hero from Korea, it was my honor to bring Mr. Hensley home to his children says Joe Gonzales, CEO of Air Escort.
From his family...
Great job in bringing Jim back to Southern California. After all the worrying we did about this move.... Joe, you performed as you said you would and it went smooth as clock work.
Thanks again from the Voss and Hensley families.
Don and Stephanie Voss
Air Escort Missions_________________________________________________________
Air Escort Transports Atomic Bomb Survivor
Air Escort Flight Nurse Mark Meyers transported a patient from Tokyo, Japan to Los Angeles after treatment for a slight heart attack. The 77 year old patient was a survivor of the World War II atomic bombing in Nagasaki. Mark came prepared with our equipment and supplies to take care of the needs of the patient during the trip. After interaction with his counterparts at the Tomo University Hospital, the patient was successfully transported home and to the care of her family.
The planning was wonderful, Mark was awesome, paying so much attention to detail to assure a comfortable and safe trip home. Thank you!
Mary I
Santa Ana, California
Antwerp, Belgium-Mumbai, India
Air Escort Flight Paramedic, Physician and our Chief Flight Respiratory Therapist worked with a local hospital in Awtewarp, Belgium to relocate a patient back home treatment. Although the patient did not required the assistance of our respiratory therapist it was deemed appropriate to have one with us on the trip aboard Jet Airways.
"The trip was so smooth and the care was excellent!"
Meeta R
Antwerp, Belgium
Fairfax, VA-Cairo, Egypt
Our Flight Paramedic escorted a patient being reunited to his family after treatment in a hospital in Virginia. After a short flight to New York, the patient was on his way to Cairo. The family was waiting for the patient in Cairo and took him home for rest and recovery.
"Your services were very professional and despite the challenges you really made the trip easy for him."
Abel B
Washington, DC
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