John Colcock Hutson

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on June 22, 2006:

John Colcock Hutson February 19, 1929 - Died January 14, 1958 On the afternoon of 14 January 1958, an F86D turned on final approach at Wheelus AFB, Tripoli, Libya. Suddenly the control tower advised that a C-47 had declared an emergency and was proceeding straight in for a landing, adding that the pilot of the F-86D should use his own discretion about landing or going around. Captain John C. Hutson though aware that he was low on fuel climbed away, leaving the field clear for the emergency. John's fate, in that fleeting, typically selfless moment of decision, was sealed. Moments later, while turning again on to final, his engine "flamed out." The heavy craft, with thrust gone, "snapped" out of control and crashed short of the runway. John died instantly. Death took from us a husband, a father, a son, a friend, it took from the Air Force a rising star. For "Hut" was on his way to the "top." He was a fiercely competitive but scrupulously honest contender for the winner's circle. One who seemed naturally to be incapable of doing less than his very best, no matter what the endeavor of the moment. His successes were the inevitable rewards of an indomitable and adventurous spirit, a disciplined mind, a purposefully determined will, and a restless dedication to the pursuit of perfection. These qualities and his will and dedication had made him a consistent winner as a diver on the team at West Point. Those qualities and his eagerness to try the new and exciting undoubtedly influenced Hut's decision to enter the Air Force on graduation. He soon came to love flying above practically all else. And, like men who love the challenge of a dangerous occupation, he was totally fatalistic about the risks involved in flying; saying often when the subject came up that "a man could step off his front porch, or a golf tee, and break his neck." This fearless attitude and his ever-ready eagerness survived two previous flying accidents and an emergency ejection high over Palermo, Sicily. No one was the least bit surprised when, during the Korean War, Hut volunteered for combat duty, even less surprised when he volunteered for an extension of his tour. When the war ended he had flown 90 combat missions and was assigned to 15th Fighter Interceptor Sq. at Tucson, Arizona. He again volunteered for overseas and was posted to England with the 513th Fighter Interceptor Sq. and was soon appointed a Flight Commander. In addition to other duties he also became the Unit Rocketry Officer. In the "shoot off" at Wheelus he won individual high-scoring honors. Later he realized an ambition so extraordinary that gave credence to the suspicion that Hut could practically will things to happen. He had long literally ached to fly the Hawker Hunter. A short while before his death Hut was chosen to fly the Hunter. He went TDY to RAF Station West Raynham and spent a week with his RAF counterparts flying the Hunter and other planes as well. On learning of Hut's death, the RAF commander, C. W. Coulthard of West Raynham wrote, "I learnt today that our good friend John Hutson has been killed. John made a profound impression on all of us, both as a pilot and officer, and was personally responsible for doing more to foster close USAF/RAF relations than any man I know." Hut was not always in a competitive role, when duty was done, he could make the transition from rivalry to revelry but rapidly, and completely. Then, with "gingerhigh" in one hand, and the other gesturing restless conversational accompaniment he'd soon be the center of the gayest group about. His social specialty was a sharply satiric wit, which left no man's pet inflations long unpunctured. But the incisions were deftly executed, and rarely left any scars. This interesting, fun-loving, life-loving, work-loving; this many-faceted man cannot be memorialized for you. If you did not know him, no amount of words will let you hear our tears, if you did, you share our crying. How Hut felt about flying was captured by John Magee's poetic description of flight... "Oh; I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings ...." A friend, in a letter to John's widow said, "I can't help feeling that Hut has just once more slipped the surly bonds of earth for another flight." We who knew and loved him share that feeling. John Colcock Hutson is survived by his wife, Myrtle Miller Hutson, daughters Catherine Irene, and Karen, and a son John C. Hutson, Jr., all of Brunswick, Georgia. Click to find out what makes Fly Boys tick Air Force Values ufa

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