WISE BRUCE P

WO1 Bruce P. Wise was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/10/2018 at the age of 70.3
Vonore, TN
Flight Classes 67-19 and 67-21
Date of Birth 11/10/1947
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with C/7/1 CAV in 68, A/7/17 CAV in 68
Call sign in Vietnam WHITE 27
This information was provided by obit

More detail on this person: Bruce Phillip Wise, Vonore, TN, born November 10, 1947, Waukegan, IL. Passed away, unexpectedly, on March 10, 2018 in Ft. Myers, FL.; survived by his wife of 32 years, Nina Wise and step-daughter, Stephanie Dawley of Burke, VA. Bruce graduated from Waukegan High School, 1965, one year at Southern Illinois University and enlisted in The United States Army in December, 1966. After his tour in RVN, Bruce instructed in UH-1s at Fort Rucker for two years until his ETS in December 1970. Within the next few years,he worked non-aviation jobs, obtained his Associate's Degree in Business Administration from College of Lake County, IL and joined The Illinois Army National Guard at Chicago's Midway Airport, flying CH-34s and later UH-1s. Bruce remained in the National Guard for 26 years, retiring as a CW4. During his time in the Illinois National Guard and The Ohio National Guard, he instructed in and flew UH-1M and AH-1S Gunships. In civilian life, Bruce was a pilot for 35 years in fixed and rotory wing aircraft. He was typed in the Cessna Citation 3, 5, 10; Beech King Air 200, 350; Hawker 125; Falcon 50 and 900 EX, Gulfstream II, III, IV, and V; and the Bell 206BIII JetRanger. He was dual ATP and CFI rated. Retiring after 17 years from the aviation department of Motorola Corporation, Bruce went on for another 10+ years with Priester Aviation in Waukegan, flying corporate and charter flights in a Gulfstream IV; finally retiring in 2012. He built a retirement home south of Knoxville, on a cove of The Little Tennessee River, on a golf course and spent most of his time playing his best ever golf. When winters disallowed playing golf due to less than 60 degrees or so, Bruce bought a condo in Ft. Myers, FL to spend four or five months during the winter to continue his active lifestyle. Bruce last attended the VHPA Reunion in Indianapolis in 2017, along with many of his Chicago National Guard buddies. All who knew him agree: Bruce was a pure pilot, a real stick and rudder man, a good guy, and a friend to many.

This information was last updated 11/19/2018

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Date posted on this site: 04/13/2025