MICHAEL LAFFERTY • VIETNAM WAR
Michael Lafferty, 82
Gloucester, MA
Born: 2/26/1943
Born/Raised: Dixon Ill./Sterling Ill.
Service: US Air Force
Unit: 19th Air Commando Squadron,
41st Air Refueling Squadron
Rank: Captain
Dates of Service: 1965-1971
Commendations: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 7 clusters.
“I got to Gloucester because my wife went to camp in Minnesota,” explains Michael Lafferty formerly of Sterling, Illinois. But more on this later.
The Midwest boy, son of a district foreman for Commonwealth Edison, Bill, and nurse, Olive, Michael has two brothers (Ed & Bill) and a sister Judy. He attended Monmouth College, also in Illinois, and graduated with a degree in history and an engagement to Ann Murphy, a fellow student studying English. They would marry in December 1965.
Despite that degree in history, what he really wanted to do was fly, so, also in 1965, he joined the Air Force. He attended Officer Training Corp in San Antonio, Texas; pilot training in Lubbock “By God” Texas through February 1967. By May 1967 he was flying C-123k transports out of Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon resupplying troop reinforcements and supplies to various bases, something he would do through the Tet Offensive in 1968. Occasionally those transports included USO entertainers. “We had a girl from the USO and put her on the radio for landing instructions. When we landed, you never saw so many guys lining the runway.”
Michael left Vietnam in May 1968 but returned to service flying KC-135 refueling planes, affectionately referred to as “gas passers” over two three-month tours in Thailand from 1969-1971.
Shortly after leaving his Air Force service, he took a job with Eastern Airlines flying out of Boston. Ann’s friend from that Minnesota summer camp lived in Gloucester, so they visited, and as is typical, fell in love with the area and made it their home where they raised their two daughters, Casey and Sarah. They have one grandchild, Lena. They’ve been married for 58 years.
Michael would continue flying as a commercial pilot for Eastern, US Airways and American until his retirement in February 2000. He now spends his time photographing; riding his motorcycle; and “enjoying living in Gloucester.” Michael had another connection with Gloucester, the Air Medal he earned was designed by longtime Gloucester resident and sculptor and World War II Monuments Man, Walker Hancock who crafted the medal in 1942.