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Cranston Fine Arts  Aviation Art and Artists Modern Era Pilot Signatures United States M to Z  Townsend, Chuck |
[UP] - Madden, John - Mayo, Jack - McCarthy, Damian - McKeon, Matt - McPhee, Bill - O'Brien, Bill - Olds, Robin - Rietsch, Manfred - Robbins, James - Scott, Vince - Shepherd, Jake - Stanley, Max - Sullivan, Leo - Tarrant, Kevin - Thorsness, Leo - Tibbets, Dan - Torpy, Mark - Townsend, Chuck - Voris, R - Wharmby, Nick - Whitley, Alton - Whittle, Al - Widmer, Robert - Williams, E - Williams, P - Wooden, Dave |
Chuck Townsend
Chuck Townsend was born on July 10, 1942 in San Diego, California. Chuck's Dad was a naval officer, and he got to see the likes of Ft Collins, Colorado, Lincoln, Nebraska, before graduating from High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chuck attended Colorado State University and participated in the Air Force ROTC program. In 1962 Chuck earned a private pilot's license, and following graduation he attended Air Force Flight School at Williams AFB. He earned his wings at Williams (Class 6613) and was sent to MacDill AF13 for advanced fighter training school. As an F-4 Phantom II pilot Chuck spent 8 months in Vietnam - flying a total of 135 combat missions. He served with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing under the command of Robin Olds, and was based in Ubon, Thailand. Chuck was awarded 13 Air Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses while in Vietnam. In late 1967 he returned to the States where he learned to fly the F-106. He was assigned to the Air Defense Command, and was stationed at Selfridge Field, Michigan as part of the 94th Squadron, which traces its roots back to Eddie Rickenbacker. Following the Pueblo incident, Chuck's unit was moved to Korea for six months. Later he would return to Michigan at Wordsmith AFB. Tiring of the harsh winters in northern Michigan, Chuck moved south to Tyndall AFB where he became an instructor in the F-106 for a period of three years. From 1973-1988 he served with the Air National Guard at Otis AFB, Massachusetts. As a Flight Commander, Chuck was involved in scheduling, training, instructing, and pilot evaluation. Known as Mr. 106, Chuck flew the F-106 for twenty years, accumulating the amazing total of 4410.6 hours in the aircraft. After retiring from the Air Force he joined Midway Airlines, and later United. At the latter airline Chuck has commanded 727s, 737-300s, and currently 767s and 757s. Chuck resides on Cape Cod with his wife of 18 years, the former Kathleen Falk. Chuck has two children from a prior marriage. We have learned that Chuck Townsend died in 2020.
| Chuck Townsend - Signed Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
Cold War Encounter by Stan Stokes. General Dynamics began development of the F-106 Delta Dart in 1955, envisioning it as a modification to the F-102 Delta Dagger. The F-102 had first flown in 1953, and with the aid of a few modifications, that aircraft became capable of supersonic flight. Although similar in overall appearance to the F-12, the 106 had a redesigned fuselage allowing incorporation of the more powerful Pratt & Whitney J75. The J75 put out a maximum thrust of 24,500 pounds giving the F-106 a top speed of 1,525 MPH - almost double that of the F-102. In December of 1957 a 106 set a world speed record. Deliveries were made to the USAF in 1959 and 1960 with some 277 single seat interceptors delivered. Many other two-seater versions were also produced. This aircraft would form the nucleus of Americas all weather defensive fighter force (The Air Defense Command) for many years. The F-106 could climb to 30,000 feet in one minute, had an operational ceiling of 57,000 feet, and a typical combat radius of about 600 miles. Equipped with drop tanks, the 106 had a maximum range of about 1,700 miles. Typical armament consisted of a 20-mm M-61 multi-barrel cannon, and an internal weapon bay capable of carrying a mixture of air-to-air, or air-to-ground missiles. The life of the F-106 was extended by major rebuild programs, which added advanced avionics, improved digital systems, and advanced in-flight refueling capabilities. The F-106 was often referred to as the Cadillac of the Century Series, in reference to the series of F-100 USAF fighters dating back to the F-100. In Stan Stokes painting, appropriately entitled Cold War Encounter, a Russian Tupolev Bear Bomber tests US air defenses over Alaska. An F-106 from the Air Defense Command scrambles to intercept the unwelcome intruder. The Bear is no match for the Delta Dart, and takes a heading to leave US airspace. Designed in the early 1950s the Tupolev Tu-20 Bear bomber may have earned the distinction of being one of the loudest aircraft ever produced. With twin counter-rotating propellers on each of its four turboprop engines, the Bear could make some noise. About 300 of these large Soviet aircraft were produced and many were laden with electronics for probing Americas defensive perimeter during the peak of the Cold War years. |
| Chuck Townsend Aircraft details |
 Delta Dart Manufacturer : Convair Built : 340 | Delta Dart F-106 |
 Phantom Manufacturer : McDonnell Douglas Built : 5195 | Phantom The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber produced for the U.S. Navy by Mcdonnell Douglas. It became a major part of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and American Air Force. The Phantom F-4 saw service with all American forces during the Vietnam war serving as a fighter and ground attack aircraft. The Phantom first saw service in 1960 but continued in service until the 1980’s (being replaced by the F-15 and F-16 ) The last Phantoms saw service during the Gulf war in 1991 being used for reconnaissance. Other nations also used the Phantom to great success. The Israeli Air Force used them during various Arab-Israeli wars and the Phantom also saw service in the Iranian Air Force during the Iran Iraq War. Phantom production ran from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 built. The Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy flew versions based on the F-4. The British Phantoms were powered by Rolls Royce Spey engines and also received British avionics, under the names pf Phantom FG.1 and Phantom FGR.2. The last British Phantoms served with 74 Squadron until they were dispanded in 1992. |
| Chuck Townsend Squadron details |
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