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BIOGRAPHY:
Tony, son of a Sicilian immigrant, was
born in Cleveland, Ohio on 7 Oct 1932. After graduating from high school, he
enlisted in the USAF on 29 February 1952. He began Aviation Cadet Pilot
Training Program in January 1953, graduating 14 April 1954, rated and
commissioned the same day.
First assignment following fighter gunnery training was 508th Strategic
Fighter Wing, Turner AFB, GA, flying the F-84 G and F. The 508th was
deactivated in 1956 and became the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, with
RB-57D and U-2 aircraft. Tony checked out in the U-2 at Groom Lake (Area 51),
March 1957.
The 4080th was moved to Laughlin AFB, TX in 1957, and moved again in 1963 to
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. After accumulating 2002 flight hours, Tony reported to
Air Command and Staff College, AL, leaving the U-2 program in the summer of
1965. Following 
ACSC,
assigned to Beale AFB, CA to fly the SR-71. Retired at Beale AFB, 31 March
1973 with 738 hours in the SR-71.
 Combat Crew Orders |
 Duty Title Change |
 1st Orders to Groom Lake |
 Amended Groom Lake Orders |
 Groom Lake TDY Extended |
OTHER
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Following his USAF career, Tony was in the real estate and real estate lending business until 31 December 1999. Married to Marilyn (Carroll), they have five children, and nine grandchildren. Tony is active with several hobbies. They include his autos: Corvettes, a 57 Chrysler New Yorker 2-door Hardtop, a 1961 Chrysler 300-G, and a 1956 Imperial 4 door sedan. Other hobbies include racquetball, spectator sports, volunteer work, and civic/charitable organizations. Tony has been a member of BMLC over 30 years, and was elevated to Chairman in Feb 1989.
Tony is Secretary of the Beale Military Liaison Committee
P.O. Box 1808 Yuba City, CA 95992 1-530-674-0973
He served as Chairman of BMLC for 18 1/2 years.
Click on photo to read article
Tony Bevacqua -
September/October 2009 Imperial Owners of Northern California Recognition
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Kogler - Bevacqua |
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March 15, 2003 BG Stan Gorenc, at his farewell dinner as wing commander, presented Tony with the above presentation designating him as a "High Flyer." Beside the photo of two SR-71s in the fog, the presentation includes a collage of photos of the U-2 and Global Hawk on the top left and right of the U.S. flag, a certificate from Enduring Freedom, that testifies the little flag was flown on a U-2 mission over Afghanistan, and the Cert. of Authenticity stating that the coin to the left of it was flown aboard the Global Hawk during Enduring Freedom mission, also, plus their representative coins. |
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| U-2 tail wheel with a clock in it. Base of it is loaded with 9th RW coins, and the inscription says: Thanks for 18 years of outstanding service to Beale Military Liaison Committee and to Beale Air Force Base. February 1989 to September 2007 | Awarded to Bevacqua by the Commander and his Group Commanders for his 18 1/2 years as Chairman of the BMLC |
Tony Bevacqua and Astronaut Neil Armstrong |
Tony with his family and his first RSO Jerry Crew |
Tony Bevacqua and Kelly Johnson
Model of the U-2 I flew carved by P.I. company owned by James Crossley,
an ex-U-2 pilot who has a model-maker shop in the Philippines.
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3
On
26 July 1968 #976 was piloted by Major's Tony Bevacqua and RSO Jerry
Crew in an operational mission over Hanoi, North Vietnam. This flight
was the first time that a SAM had locked on and fired upon a SR-71.
The crew knew they had been fired upon by two missiles and after
flying a return track over the same area, no additional SAM's were
fired. Landing was uneventful at Kadena. The Terrain tracking camera
recorded the SA-2's launches and later evaluation revealed the nearest
missile exploded about one mile behind and away from #976. Source:
Leland's SR-71 Blackbird Web Site