AllenAll photos on this page are official U.S. Navy Photos except Links to Squadrons and Ships used by permission.
Click WINGS for Navy Air Links.
John Allen:
MHS-58
Monongahela High School's Top Gun!
Captain
John Allen, USN (Retired) and his wife Patty (center) are flanked by their
good friends Maria and Coach Lou Sepe. The occasion is the Annual Mon
Valley Florida Reunion held at Homer's Buffet in Largo, Florida on 23 February
2002.
John
Allen graduated from MHS with the Class of 1958. His wife Patty Milesky Allen is
a 1961 alumni.
Lou graduated with MHS-51. Maria Sepe is a 1961 graduate of Monessen High
School.
John is a member of the City Council of Chesapeake, Virginia.
This page synopsizes
Captain Allen's career from MHS through a career as one of the Navy's most
distinguished aviators.
John Allen went to
Lincoln School. In 1952, he was a member of the
Optimist Little League All-Stars that
went to Williamsport and played in the Little World Series.
Remember that team?
They lost in the last inning of the last game to Norwalk, Conn., but the
town still regards them as champions. He also attended Central Jr. High School
and, of course, MHS, graduating in 1958.
MHS Yearbook Senior Photos of John and Patty Mileski Allen. John graduated in
1958, Patty in 1961.
After graduation, John Allen enlisted in the Navy in September, 1958 and went to Boot Camp at Great Lakes. After Great Lakes, he became an Airman and reported to NAS, Pensacola, his first duty station. He rose through the ranks to become a Petty Officer Second Class by May of 1961. In November that year, he was selected for the Navy's NAVCAD Program. He completed Flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator with the rank of Ensign, USN in May 1963. His high school sweetheart, Patty Milesky of Finleyville (MHS-61) pinned on his wings of gold and they married a week later. More on their family at the bottom. The following photos are a Summary of John's career as a Naval Aviator. Click on the photos to enter web sites.
After
winning his wings, he underwent replacement training in the F-8 Crusader,
joining Fighter Squadron 24 (VF-24) at NAS Miramar, San Diego. The squadron made three Far
East deployments, once aboard USS Midway (CV-41) and twice aboard USS
Hancock (CV-19). From Hancock John flew 129 combat missions over Viet Nam.
At left are links to VF-24. Above are links to
Midway and Hancock. Click on the F-8 crusaders above to enlargement. Click on
The Gunfighters Site
for the F-8 Crusader Organization. They are a proud lot and deservedly so! If you're
interested in how the Navy's Carrier Air Arm is organized click:
Carrier Air Wing Composition.
In 1967, LT John Allen became one of the Navy's elite
Blue Angels,
based in Pensacola. He was a Blue Angel for three years in the following
positions: Left Wing(#3) 67, Slot (#4) 68, Lead Solo (#5) 69. Click on the
Photos to enter the Official Blue Angel Web Site! The second great Blue Angel
site is
the Alumni site below.
The
photo at left was taken in 1967 at Orange County Airport where the Blue Angels
put on an Air Show for Californians including then-Governor Ronald Reagan.
Visit
the Blue Angel Alumni Site! Sign
their Guest Book and Get a Free Screen Saver!
Carrier
Aviation
Tailhook Association
John Allen left the Navy for a year to fly
for American Airlines. Upon his return to the Navy, he underwent replacement
training in the F-4 Phantom and was assigned to VF-14, based at NAS, Oceana.
During the period August 1971 through December 1973, the TopHatters made two
long deployments to the Mediterranean in USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). Click on
the TopHatter Logo to visit a member's web site about the Squadron. Click on the
ship photo to find out more about USS John F. Kennedy. Click on the F-4H
photo for a site that has more information on the F-4 than any single site on
the Internet.
Click
on the following GIF to visit Y.A.A.P. presented by TOPEDGE Engineering:
LCDR John Allen was an F-4 Instructor-Pilot at NAS, Oceana from January 1974
through July 1976. During this period ashore, he started his college
education at George Washington University, Tidewater Campus.
From
July 1976 through December 1977, John was assigned as Officer in Charge of the
replacement training squadron Air Combat Maneuvering Detachment, Key West, Fla.
Commander
John Allen was assigned to Fighter Squadron 33 at Naval Air Station, Oceana from
January 1978 until December 1979. His initial assignment was as Executive
Officer. In June 1978, he became Squadron Commander of VF-33. The
StarFighters of VF-33 made a deployment to the Mediterranean in USS Independence
(CV-62). Click the above images for information on the Squadron, Ship and
Phantom.
From January 1980 through October 1981, CDR Allen was assigned as Chief of
Staff, to Commander Fighter Wing One stationed at NAS, Oceana. During this shore
duty period he checked out in the F-14 Fighter. John also completed the
requirements for his college degree at GWU, Tidewater.
Shown at top right is a Navy F-18 showing the condensation sometimes seen in transonic flight as it is about to break the sound barrier. The tentative explanation of the cause is the Prandtl-Glauert Singularity effect. More on this effect.
Operations Officer
USS John F. Kennedy
For two years (October
1981-November 1983), CDR John Allen served in USS John F. Kennedy (Cv-67) as
Operations Officer. During this period, the ship made two Mediterranean
Deployments.
From November
1983 through May 1985, Captain Allen served as the Air Training Officer for
Commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic Fleet stationed at Naval Base, Norfolk,
Virginia.
After a year on the staff of
the Naval Air Warfare Directorate at the Pentagon, Captain John Allen reported
aboard NAS, Oceana as Commanding Officer. serving from June 1986 until November
1988 when he retired with thirty years in the Navy.
Captain
John Allen is
regarded as one of the Navy's distinguished aviators with over 6,000 total flight hours (over 5,000 hours
in tactical jets), 1,006 carrier landings,
and 129 Combat Missions.
After retirement,
John was employed as a civilian instructor at the F-14 Simulator Facility for 12
1/2 years.
This section of the page will focus on other Naval Aviators from the Mon Valley
Area!
Captain David
L. Glunt is one of the Navy's most distinguished aviators. A native of
Charleroi, Pa., he was an All-Valley Guard as well as a member
of the USNA Varsity 150 pound Football Team that won the Eastern Championship
in 1953. Dave won four Distinguished Flying Crosses in Southeast Asia. He also
served as a Test Pilot at
Patuxent River Naval Test Center. He later commanded
USS Ponce (LPD-15),
USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7),
and Attack Squadron 93.
Dave's Father was the Principal of Charleroi
High School. His wife, Ann Buchanan Glunt, also is a graduate of Charleroi High
School. Dave and John were shipmates aboard USS Hancock (CV-19) in the Pacific.
George "Stash" Kickel, MHS below, and Dave were opposing Linemen. Dave
says that the 1947 Charleroi-MHS game was a war!
All-Valley Stash Kickel
Additional
Official Navy Air Web Sites:
USS Kittyhawk (CV-63)
USS Constellation (CV-64)
John: "I am now happily retired, playing golf and riding my 93 Harley
Springer that I have had since new. As an aside, Patty and I participated in
Rolling Thunder 99, and met some folks from Mon City and Little Washington in
the pentagon parking lot.
Patty and I have
four children, Robin, Kent, Kerry, and Stacie.
Robin was born in
May of 64, graduated from WVU and is married to a Navy LCDR, and they have two
boys and a girl.
Kent and Kerry are
twin boys born in Dec 66. Kent works for FedEx and has two sons.
Kerry went to
NC State and is a golf course superintendent. He has one daughter.
Stacie graduated
from St Leos and has a son and two daughters.
Patty's brother Bill owned the Hunting Lodge in Finleyville and now lives in
Waynesburg."
John Allen is a member of the City Council of the City of Chesapeake, Virginia.
Note: Bill Milesky owns Skymile Farm in Greene County. (http://www.clubcalves.com/skymilefarm.htm)
E-Mail Captain John Allen