John Matthew Slattery

United States of America

 

1928 - 2008

John Matthew “Jack” Slattery was a retired Air Force pilot and for many years a historian of helicopters. Born in Bay City, Michigan, he served in the Marine Corps in the South Pacific during World War II. Recalled to active duty during the Korean War, he was evacuated by helicopter (an H-13) after suffering frostbite in South Korea. In 1954, he entered an Air Force aviation cadet program and was soon designated a helicopter pilot. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and retired from the Air Force in 1974. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star Medal.

While serving in the Air Force, he began building and collecting helicopter models. His collection of scale models later became the core of the Helicopter Foundation International’s collection, which he helped found and served as curator from 1983 on. Known as “Slats” to his friends in the helicopter industry, he constantly documented helicopter history and through his efforts he salvaged many important helicopter archives. Those efforts produced one of the world’s foremost collections of helicopter data, including papers, brochures, artifacts, photographs, scale models and other memorabilia.

He consulted for the movie “Towering Inferno,” and the “Airwolf” television series, which ran from 1984 through 1987 and featured an advanced, supersonic military helicopter. In 2005, AHS presented him with its John J. Schneider Historical Achievement Award. He was a member of Helicopter Association International, the American Helicopter Society, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Twirly Birds.

Mr. Slattery died March 6, 2008, age 80, at his home in Fort Washington, MD.

AHS Updates: Vertiflite Spring 2008