Two Wichitans receive FAA award for their 50 years – each – as a pilot

Wichitans Charles Chauncey and Paul Pendleton are recipients of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.

The award recognizes pilots who have demonstrated professionalism, skill and aviation expertise by maintaining safe operations for 50 years or more.

Charles Chauncey began his aviation career during World War II as an aircraft commander of a Boeing Superfortress B-29.

He flew the B-29 called “Goin’ Jessie,” built in Wichita in December 1944.

Chauncey and his crew flew 32 of their 35 missions in “Goin’ Jessie” during the war.

On March 24, 1945, the B-29 was among the aircraft that participated in a night strike of the Mitsubishi Aircraft Factory in Nagoya, Japan.

Two hours after takeoff, one of the engines malfunctioned and quit about 200 miles from the target. The crew decided to continue the bombing mission, despite the dangers of being shot down, having to bail out over enemy territory or having to ditch in enemy waters. They made the run at a low altitude of 7,500 feet. The crew managed to return to their base at North Field, Tinian Island, Marianas, after flying for nine hours on three engines.

Chauncey and his crew were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their efforts.

After the war, Chauncey owned an oil field supply store in eastern Kansas before his retirement, and he continued to fly.

He goes on tour with the Commemorative Air Force’s B-29 called “Fifi.” He also speaks at local schools as part of the Commemorative Air Force Jayhawk Wing’s Veterans’ Lectureship program.

Chauncey has more than 500 combat hours and more than 4,000 hours of civilian flight time.

He will receive the award at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Commemorative Air Force Jayhawk Wing hangar at Westport Airport at 2560 S. Kessler.

Pendleton received the Wright Brothers award and the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic award, awarded for 50 years of aircraft maintenance, from the FAA in part because of his support to the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards Division.

He retired as an FAA Aircraft Certification Division engineer. He last worked as a program manager and propulsion engineer for the Military Certification Office in Wichita.

As a young man, Pendleton served in the Air Force, earned a bachelor of science degree in aircraft mechanical engineering and went to work for Beech Aircraft as an engineer and company pilot.

While at Beech, Pendleton worked as an engineering flight test pilot, certification flight test engineer and managed an aircraft modification and Federal Aviation Administration repair station. He became an FAA-designated engineering representative before joining the FAA.

Pendleton has accumulated more than 5,000 hours as an accident-free pilot

This story was originally published October 10, 2014 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Two Wichitans receive FAA award for their 50 years – each – as a pilot."