From the Cockpit

Kenneth “Tex” Atkinson, Commander, U.S. Navy (retired), received his wings in July 1949. He was commissioned an Ensign in October of that year and served as a carrier pilot until 1960, when he transferred to the Naval Reserve. From then until his retirement from the Navy, he flew in a Patrol Squadron in New Orleans, retiring as a Squadron Skipper in 1968. Atkinson made five carrier tours, flying over 100 combat missions in Korea. He holds the usual assortment of awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Atkinson spent most of his early years in and around central Texas; hence the nickname, “Tex.” This book is a combination of his first-hand experiences as a Naval Aviator and personal memoirs of growing up in the 1930s and ’40s.