Former AFA Board Chairman retired Col. Martin Harris died Dec. 9. He was 84 years old and resided in Longwood, Fla. Harris was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and after graduating from New York University, he joined the Air Force. He retired from the Air Force Reserve. He worked for Lockheed Martin for 40 years before retiring in 1997. Harris had served as AFA¹s Chairman of the Board (1986-88), National President, and National Secretary (1972-76). He was Florida’s first AFA state president and chapter president. He also served as vice president and a trustee of the Aerospace Education Foundation and was instrumental in getting the Air Force Memorial constructed without using public funds. He was named AFA Member of the Year for 1972 and was awarded the Exceptional Service Award by the Secretary of the Air Force.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.