John B. Harbin

Mr. John B. Harbin with his student pilots (from left), J.H.Gist, R.I. Gloos, Mr. Harbin, J.A.L. Gervais, T.E. Cartmell, M.D. Barratt. Thunderbird II Army Air Base, Phoenix, Arizona, October, 1943
Mr. John B. Harbin with his student pilots (from left), J.H.Gist, R.I. Gloos, Mr. Harbin, J.A.L. Gervais, T.E. Cartmell, M.D. Barratt. Thunderbird II Army Air Base, Phoenix, Arizona, October, 1943

John B. Harbin was Tom’s primary flight instructor while at Thunderbird II Army Air Base in Phoenix, Arizona.

Tom writes of him:

I have about the toughest instructor on the field. He reminds me of “Long John Silver”, , his name is John B Harbin so I call him Long John. (not too his face). He’s about 6’3″, about 40 years old and has a vocabulary that doesn’t belong in church. He was on my neck for an hour straight today and believe me it can really get on your nerves.[1]October 7, 1943

References

References
↑1 October 7, 1943

A Young Man Went Off to War