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September 1, 2008

Down from the wild blue yonder

Edmond man’s history includes response to Murrah bombing

Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — These days, Elton King’s life is much quieter than it used to be.

The Edmond resident continues his longtime career in aviation by working with the B2 Stealth Bomber Program at Tinker Air Force Base. King said his duties involve software, and given the sensitive nature of the bomber’s role, he could not disclose further details about what he does.

King, a recently retired master sergeant, served in the Air Force for 20 years. He recalled a particular incident on a day Edmondites know all too well.

On April 19, 1995, King was in Oklahoma City when his squadron called. He was off duty and had been talking to his fiance. There had just been a “real life” incident and his services were needed.

In downtown Oklahoma City, a massive explosion had just devastated the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and the response was being organized. Emergency Medical Services Authority ambulances, police and firefighters were headed to the scene.

Shortly after the bombing, the State Emergency Operations Center was operating, being assisted by agencies that included the Air Force.

King was a flight engineer on a C-141 charged that day with flying down to Florida to transport rescue workers, their dogs and equipment back to Oklahoma City.

After landing in Florida, during a routine inspection, King discovered a leaky brake swivel, which meant the aircraft had no anti-skid protection.

During a landing, anti-skid technology helps maintain control during braking and helps prevent overheating or damaging the wheel and tire assembly. In other words, King said, during the next landing there was the real chance a tire could blow.

Faced with the dire need to get potentially life-saving rescue workers to Oklahoma City, knowing the potential dangers due to the leaky brake swivel, the crew decided to take off anyway.

“Otherwise we wouldn’t have done it,” King said.

King said he studied a manual on the plane and calculated the stopping distance based on landing speed and the gross weight of aircraft. Given the length of the Tinker runway — 10,000-plus feet — there was little room for error.

During the landing, the C-141 came to a halt less than 1,000 feet from the end of the Tinker runway. The civilian passengers thanked the flight crew with a rowdy round of applause, King said.

For his actions in the incident, King received the Air Force Achievement Medal.

In other service, King was one of the crew for the first training exchange between Mexico and the United States of a C-141 aircraft. The pilots and aircrew flew 12 missions in a variety of conditions and with varying tactical training goals in support of U.S interests abroad.

“This mission has opened contacts previously unobtainable by Defense Attaché Office personnel,” wrote Louis H. Dupart, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Inter-American Affairs. “Your attention to every detail and exemplary performance of duty reflect great credit upon yourself, the United States Air Force, and the Department of Defense.”

Once, King got to shake hands with then-Vice President Dan Quayle. He flew missions in support of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. And he values what military life taught him.

“It taught me to grow up a lot, to be responsible,” King said. “My word is my bond now.”

King graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor of science degree in education in 2002, and received his master’s in education in 2007.

In addition to spending time with his wife, Yalonda, King is heavily involved with a number of organizations. He also speaks to youth and encourages them to consider a career in the Air Force.

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