GEORGE VELDBOON
1951 - 1977
PILOT
SLC DEN


Here are some additional dates for the Obituary file.
Pilots:
Art Ashworth,  died March 17, 1977
Wayne Aspinall Jr.  died January 26, 1979
Jack Gardner,  Died Feb 26, 1982
Max Gardner,  Died Oct 8, 1988
F. "Jug" Jella, died May 14, 1993
John Myers,  died July 20, 1994
G. "Swede" Nettleblad,  died Feb 23, 1993
Ed Radford,  died Oct 4, 1980
George Veldboon, died July 26, 1980
-Ken Schultz
(4/26/99)

Photo received from Al Kendell 2/27/00.
-Jake Lamkins
(3/2/00)

The FARPA newsletter shows the date of death as 7/27/80.
The SSDI shows
GEORGE VELDBOON  
Born 13 Mar 1923 
Died Jul 1980 
Age 57
At 80010 (Aurora, Arapahoe, CO) 
SSN issued in California
-Jake Lamkins
(12/3/02) 

In Memoriam
George Howard Veldboon, retired captain, July 26.
Captain Veldboon served 25 years.
-FL NEWS, August 1980
-Jake Lamkins
(8/20/04)
   
Hope you can view this pic....  G.H. Veldboon 3rd from right.  
My sis found this pic on the internet somewhere.
-Vicky Veldboon
(1/2/05)

It is nice to have a photo of George.  
As you know, he was a favorite of many, myself included.  
I will send it to Jake Lamkins for George's obit page...  
Happy New Year and,
Blue Skies & Tailwinds...
-Billy Walker
(1/2/05)
 
Here is a photo of George Veldboon from his daughter Vicki (old AND new Frontier F/A).  
George was a P-47 pilot and retired FAL.
-Billy Walker
(1/2/05)

Vicky is one of George's daughters.   
She is a great gal.  I would think she was on your list by now especially 
since she flew with the old FAL and now is flying for the new FAL.
George was a great fellow to fly with too.  
Like many of our group he flew West too young.
Happy New Year Jake, and Thank You for all you do.
Bllue Skies & Tailwinds...
-Billy Walker
(1/3/05)

Posted at EP Lietz funerary guestbook.
November 1, 2005
My Dad, George Veldboon and I both flew with him at Frontier Airlines. 
So sorry to hear of your loss.
-Vicky Veldboon (Northglenn, CO )
(11/6/05)

The 1973 two page article about George is from the Summer 1973 
issue of WHY? FRONTIER AIRLINES MAGAZINE, page 32-33.
-Jake Lamkins
(3/3/06)

Cheryl & I enjoyed a nice evening with Vicky Veldboon who was here on a new Frontier layover. 
She shared a box of photos from her dad's memorabilia. 
Here are a few things I scanned for your viewing pleasure. 
I had not realized that ol' George was a double ace! 
I flew with him and knew he had some success in the P-47, but not to the extent indicated in the photos. 
Vicky said he'd shot down two in one mission and flew 111 missions total. 
He began WWII with the RCAF before transferring to the Army Aircorps. 
During Korea he was on leave from FL and flew F-86s and later F-89s in Alaska.
Here’s George with an RCAF Blenheim Bomber P-47, 12 victories
and George in his P-47D in Europe 1944 and an article.
-Billy Walker
(11/15/07)

UNSUNG WORLD WAR II ACE FINALLY GETS RECOGNITION
by Bob Jain
Denver Post Staff Writer on 8/6/1980
George Howard Veldboon was a quiet man, even shy, a friend said.
Not until he died 10 days ago at the age of 57 did some of the people who knew him 
know that he was an ace twice over in World War II with a toll of 12 enemy planes 
shot down and 'innumerable' enemy trains and road vehicles destroyed.
Veldboon died July 27 at his home, 54 Lura St., Aurora, after what was described as a 'long illness.'
Perhaps his illness stemmed from depression because he was no longer able to fly, 
Chick Stevens, editor of Frontier Airlines' customer magazine, said.
He was born March 13, 1923, in Sioux Falls, S.D. and attended school there.
When World War II broke out, Veldboon, 
whose father had been a Royal Air Force pilot in World War I, 
didn't wait for the United States to get in.
He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, 
learned to fly and for a year and a half taught gunnery and airmanship.
The war reached the United States and Veldboon transferred to the U.S. Army Air Force.
Flying P-47 Thunderbolts with the 9th Air Force, 
he took part in 111 combat missions and shot down 12 enemy planes.
After the war he attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1950.
Frontier Airlines hired him in 1951 as a Douglas DC-3 co-pilot.
During the Korean fighting, he went on leave to fly F-86 Sabrejets there.
After he returned to Frontier, he moved up to become captain in the airline's Boeing 737 jetliners.
Some time during his later years wit the company he fell and suffered a bad ankle break.
It didn't heal properly.
He wasn't able to move around well, and in 1977 he took early medical retirement.
He had flown for Frontier for 26 years.
He flew out of Salt Lake City until 1959, when he moved to Colorado.
He moved to Aurora in 1966.
An indication of his quiet lifestyle shows through the fact that despite his outstanding war record,
neither the Denver Post nor the Salt Lake City Tribune ever had a story about him.
He was buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery as quietly as he had lived.
Veldboon was divorced.  
Five children survive: two daughters, Vicky V. Holstein of Aurora, and Stacy J. Veldboon, of Lakeside, Calif,
and three sons, Scott, of Arvada, and Steven G. and Bryan A., of Lakeside.

G H  VELDBOON
Pilot seniority date of 7/27/51 on the 9/1/72 FL/ALPA seniority list.
-Jake Lamkins
(11/28/07)

Posted at FLacebook and the FL Club:
SLC DEN pilot George Veldboon's memorial webpage has been updated.
http://Lamkins.tripod.com/George_Veldboon.html
Four items added thanks to daughter Vicky and others.
-Jake Lamkins
(2/20/13)

DEN Capt George Veldboon, 
after fifty years in the aviation business, 
having worked with many aviators both as an aircarrier inspector 
for the FAA and an Airline Captain both comuter and 121 ALPA Carriers, 
I most sincerely must contribute Capt. George was one of the FINEST 
gentlemen I ever had the honor of working with. 
His cheerful demeanor and positive outlook had a great and significant meaning 
to my life as well as others "just getting" stated with the airlines. 
Godspeed and tailwinds dear friend ...!
-Dale Buss
(2/21/13)

FLacebook post on Veterans Day Nov 11, 2020
Vicky Veldboon
Nov 10, 2020
My Dad, Veteran and forever missed by his grateful daughter. 

Donna Miller
Wow! What an amazing life he had!

Dave Seiler
That's just amazing.

Elizabeth White Jump
What a life he lived!

George Fay
And not just a hero... he was a friend to all!
(11/10/20)

Jake Lamkins
http://LAMKINS.tripod.com/George_Veldboon.html
(11/11/20)

Corinne Sheer
What an amazing life!

Crystal Lynn
So cool, Vicky Veldboon
(11/12/20)

Lari Gatewood
We are proud!

Jan Modisette Brictson
Your father was a hero. So grateful for his service. Rest in peace sir.
(11/13/20)

Vicky Veldboon
on Facebook 3/13/24
Today would’ve been his 101st birthday.  
Miss you, Dad.

Jake Lamkins
One of the GREAT ones!
http://LAMKINS.tripod.com/George_Veldboon.html