Tommy Towery
Major, USAF (Ret.) earned a B.S. degree in Journalism in 1968 from Memphis State University where he also earned a commission as a 2nd Lt. through the AFROTC program. Attended Navigator Training and Electronic Warfare Officer Training at Mather AFB, CA. Following B-52 CCTS training in B-52F models at Castle AFB, CA he was assigned to the 20th Bomb Squadron at Carswell AFB, TX flying B-52C and B-52D models. He served as a 7th Bomb Wing Combat Intelligence briefer and a Penetration Aids staff officer while grounded from flying status for kidney stones. He was deployed for six months to Guam as part of “Operation Bullet Shot” and was assigned to 8th Air Force Bomber Operations as an Arc Light mission planner. Three month after returning from his first deployment he was sent on a second six-month TDY to Guam where he worked as an Arc Light planner in the 43rd Bomb Wing Bomber Operations. It was during this assignment that he flew on B-52 combat missions as a staff officer and helped plan Linebacker II missions. Upon return to full flight duty status he was assigned to a B-52D crew at Carswell AFB, TX. Shortly thereafter he deployed to Guam and Thailand with his first crew and later progressed from crew duty to instructor to standboard duty on Crew S-1. In 1976 he and his crew received the Mathis Trophy, awarded to the top bomber unit based on combined results in bombing and navigation in the SAC Bomb-Nav Competition.
Following his B-52 assignment he was transferred to the RC-135 program at Offutt AFB, NE and flew operation reconnaissance missions from forward operating bases. In 1983 he was assigned to a four-year tour as an Electronic Warfare Intelligence officer and briefer at RAF Mildenhall, UK. Upon his return to the states he spent his last year of active duty as an Electronic Warfare Intelligence officer with the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Offutt AFB, NE. During his career he logged over 1,600 hours in B-52s and over 5,000 hours total flight time. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the South Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
On December 31, 2008 he retired from his position as a computer specialist at the University of Memphis and lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife Sue who graciously allows him to devote many hours to his writing hobby. Tommy has written four non-military books, “A Million Tomorrows –Memories of the Class of ’64,” “While Our Hearts Were Young,” “Goodbye to Bob.” and "The Baby Boomer's Guide to Growing Up in The Rocket City." He was a writer and editor of eight books in the “We Were Crewdogs” series and has published a revived copy of "Linebacker II: A View From The Rock". His largest work is "The Arc Light Anthology" available on Amazon.com.
Tommy is a member of The American Legion, The American Author’s Association and The Military Writers Society of America, and was selected for inclusion in Who's Who in Publishing. He is a previous officer of the Arc Light - Young Tiger Association.
He is currently the editor of the B-52 Stratofortress Association's newsletter "The BUFF Bulletin" and a member of the Board of Directors for that association.
