John Henry Miltner

MAJOR JOHN HENRY "MILT" MILTNER
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959
Cadet Squadron 2

John Henry "Milt" Miltner was born in Cadillac, Michigan, a fourth-generation Michigan native. He was the son of Mary Blanche (Calvin) Miltner and Charles Howey Miltner. Growing up in northern Michigan, John developed a lifelong passion for outdoor athletics, excelling early in skiing, sailing, swimming, and canoeing.

After graduating from Cadillac Senior High School in 1954, John briefly attended Michigan Technological University before earning a Senatorial appointment to join the charter Class of 1959 at the newly established United States Air Force Academy.

At the Academy, Miltner was an active member of Cadet Squadron 2. An outstanding athlete and outdoorsman, he served as Captain of the USAFA Ski Team and founded the cadet Mountaineering Club. He also served as a cadet football manager and participated in the Cadet Forum. On June 3, 1959, he graduated as part of the Air Force Academy’s historic "Pioneer Class."

MILITARY SERVICE AND AIR FORCE CAREER

Following commissioning, Miltner entered primary and basic pilot training at Bainbridge Air Force Base, Georgia, and Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, earning his command pilot wings in 1960.

He was assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a B-52 Stratofortress pilot:
• 1961–1964: Served with the 325th Bombardment Squadron and 92nd Standardization Evaluation Division at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.
• 1964–1966: Served with the 60th Bombardment Squadron at Ramey Air Base, Puerto Rico. During this period, he flew combat support and high-readiness nuclear airborne alert missions as part of Operation Chrome Dome during the height of the Cold War. While stationed in Puerto Rico, he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico in 1966.
• 1966–1969: Served with the 668th Bombardment Squadron (Standardization Evaluation Division) at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, flying the B-52G.

Miltner separated from active duty in 1969 and continued his service in the Air Force Reserve, eventually retiring at the rank of Major (O-4) in 1996 with 14 total years of military service.

In 1969, Miltner began a second career as a commercial airline pilot with Western Airlines, flying out of San Francisco International Airport and Honolulu, Hawaii. During an airline industry downturn and furlough period in the early 1970s, he pursued a law degree, graduating with a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of San Francisco in 1972.

Admitted to the Colorado Bar, he practiced law in Denver and Honolulu from 1972 to 1975 before returning full-time to commercial aviation while maintaining an active legal practice specializing in aviation products liability law. He lived in Honolulu for 25 years. Following Western Airlines' merger with Delta Air Lines in 1987, he flew out of Salt Lake City, Utah, until his retirement from commercial aviation in 1990.

Following his airline retirement, John returned to his hometown of Cadillac, Michigan, where he resided for 25 years. Deeply engaged in civic affairs, he briefly ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his retirement, he pursued extensive international travel and maintained strong ties to the Air Force Academy community.

In 2017, John relocated to rural Thailand to live with his son, John Jr., daughter-in-law Wiyada, and his grandchildren. He passed away on June 1, 2019, in Thailand at the age of 83.

John is survived by his spouse, Ulle Tensok; his children, John H. Miltner Jr. (USAFA Class of 1992) and Barbara; his grandchildren, Elisabeth and Nick; his brothers, Charles and Ben; and his sister, Barbara. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary-Therese.

EDUCATION


1954 High School Diploma Cadillac Senior High School, Cadillac, MI
1954–1955 Undergraduate Studies Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
1959 Bachelor of Science United States Air Force Academy, CO (Class of 1959)
1966 Master of Business Administration (MBA) InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico
1972 Juris Doctor (JD) University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, CA

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS


1959–1960 Student Pilot (Pilot Training) Bainbridge AFB, GA / Laredo AFB, TX
1961–1964 B-52 Pilot / Stan Eval 325th Bomb Squadron / 92nd Stan Eval Div, Fairchild AFB, WA
1964–1966 B-52 Pilot (Operation Chrome Dome) 60th Bomb Squadron, Ramey AB, Puerto Rico
1966–1969 B-52G Pilot / Stan Eval Division 668th Bomb Squadron, Griffiss AFB, NY
1969–1996 Air Force Reserve Retired as Major (O-4) in 1996

MAJOR MEDALS, AWARDS, AND BADGES


USAF Command Pilot Wings Senior Flying Badge for Command Pilots
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Awarded for unit excellence in Strategic Air Command missions
National Defense Service Medal Awarded for active military service during the Cold War era
Air Force Longevity Service Award Awarded for extended honorable active and reserve service