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380AEW Article

Deployed Airmen memorialize air mobility legend through mural at Southwest Asia dining facility

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Retired Master Sgt. Roy W. Hooe died on April 18, 1973, but in a way he came back to life some 37 years later to the day in the form of art.

In Roy's Flight Kitchen, also called "Roy's Diner," a dining facility named after Sergeant Hooe run by the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, Airmen deployed to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing put the finishing touches on a mural April 18 highlighting Sergeant Hooe's legacy.

A 2001 inductee to the Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame, Sergeant Hooe is most widely known for his work as an "airborne mechanic" on the famed "Question Mark" flight, according to AMC history. Sergeant's Hooe's famed flight was for 151 hours beginning on Jan. 1, 1929.

Then Staff Sgt. Hooe was responsible for keeping the "Question Mark" aloft during a record-setting endurance flight, which at one point required him to go outside the aircraft on a catwalk to make engine repairs, his A/TA biography states. In addition to serving as airborne mechanic, Sergeant Hooe operated the pump that transferred fuel from the cabin tanks to the wings. Along with the rest of the "Question Mark" crew, which included Maj. Carl Spaatz, Capt. Ira Eaker, 1st Lt. Harry Halverson and 2nd Lt. Elwood Quesada, Sergeant Hooe received the Distinguished Service Cross for his participation in the flight.

"The idea to do the mural was brought up by the rotation of Airmen before us -- we just made it happen," said Tech. Sgt. Johnette Chun, NCO in charge of the flight kitchen, who is deployed from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Force Support Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and whose hometown is Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. "I wanted all of us to be able to work on a project together but wasn't sure what. Since this is a first time deployment for some of my crew, I wanted them to be able to leave something behind for others after us to enjoy. When this idea came up I knew that this was it."

After crafting a rough draft of a design, Sergeant Chun and other Airmen from the Roy's staff enlisted the help of Master Sgt. Scott Sturkol, superintendent of 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Sergeant Sturkol, a career public affairs Airman, has an associate's degree in commercial art and regularly donates paintings to Air Mobility Command and other Air Force units. He said he was more than happy to sign on to the project.

"Two of my deployed roommates work at Roy's and one day they asked me about aiding in the design of their mural," said Sergeant Sturkol, who is deployed from Headquarters Air Mobility Command Public Affairs at Scott AFB, Ill., and whose hometown is Wakefield, Mich. "We took a concept, improved on it and today it's a lasting memory of an air mobility hero. Now people can relate the facility's name with an image. I was happy to make him come to life."

Senior Airman Levar Kinard, services journeyman with the 380th EFSS who also works at Roy's Flight Kitchen, also helped with the mural. He said he was happy to see the team effort come together to complete the project.

"I believe because of our ability to work well together and our structure which allows for group opinion allowed this mural to come forth as it stands today," said Airman Kinard, who is deployed from the 108th FSS at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and whose hometown is Mount Holly, N.J. "First of all, forget about his history at first. I don't think most even knew who the man was before, or what he looked like before we created the mural. I believe now people can put a name to a face and a point in time, and understand what he meant and what he did for the Air Force during his era.

"I had a lot of fun on this mural," Airman Kinard added. "I didn't think I would enjoy it at first until some friends and my roommate (Sergeant Sturkol) came to participate and join in on the creation of a work of art. I think doing it by hand it means more to me and it makes this mural stand out as something special that all can appreciate for years to come."

Sergeant Chun added, "I'm not much of an artist so I admit I was a little worried in the beginning but with help from friends, we made it happen and had fun in the process. I am honored to have been able to participate in this project."

During his aviation career, Sergeant Hooe also served as a crew chief for other aviation pioneers including Ameila Earhart, the A/TA biography states. He retired from the Air Force after 30 years of service in April 1950. Sergeant Sturkol said now every time he goes to Roy's Flight Kitchen it'll be nice to see the history of Sergeant Hooe being represented through the mural.

"Sergeant Hooe was a senior NCO like me," Sergeant Sturkol said. "The fact that he was enlisted, alone, is a perfect reason to honor him, but also because his career represents so much about the people who frequently stop at the flight kitchen. He was an aircraft maintainer and had a hand in the success of the very first air refueling mission.

"In the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, with the KC-10 Extenders and their air refueling support for today's war effort as well as hundreds of maintainers who keep planes flying in the wing every day, it shows Sergeant Hooe had a direct affect on today's Air Force," Sergeant Sturkol said. "My part in this mural was as a member of a team of Airmen who are so proud to remember an enlisted Airman who is a treasured part of our Air Force heritage."

In addition to Sergeants Sturkol and Chun and Airman Kinard, Tech. Sgt. Bobby Ramos and Senior Airmen Abdul Montaser and Priscilla Llanos also helped complete the project.

The 380th AEW is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.