Harold T. Skoglund
April 30, 1925 — December 6, 2010
Harold T. Skoglund
Harold T. Skoglund (Ltc USAF Ret.), 85, of Manchester, died at Catholic Medical Center on December 6, 2010.
In His Life: He was born in Manchester on April 30, 1925, and was a graduate of West High School Class of 1942. After school he worked for J.F. McElwain Shoe Co in the supply department. He then enlisted in the United States Army and entered the Army Air Corps Flying Training Program. In August 1944, he received his silver wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. After B-25 Bomber training, he was a flight instructor for the Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASPS) and eventually became a B-29 pilot. After World War II, he returned to McElwain Shoe and also attended Hesser Business College to earn an accounting degree. He was promoted to office manager of McElwain’s Dover plant and later managed plants in Nashua and eventually became assistant manager of Human Resources.
In 1954, Ltc Skoglund became a jet fighter pilot with the 133rd Fighter Interceptor Squad, NH Air National Guard and for the next two years, spent weekends standing Scramble Alert. In 1960, he became a transport pilot for the Air National Guard when it became part of the Military Airlift Command. In 1961, he went on active duty for eleven months during the Berlin Wall crisis. During that time, he flew supply missions to Europe, South American and North Africa. In 1966 during the Vietnam build-up, he resigned from McElwain’s to become the head of the NH Air National’s Safety Department. In the next four years, he flew 21 missions to Southeast Asia, mainly to Vietnam but also to Taiwan, China and South Korea. In the early 1970’s he became a C-130 pilot under TAC and then a KC-135 air refueling pilot with the SAC. He retired from the military in 1979.
After his retirement, he enjoyed maintaining his many flower gardens and taking military space available flights to far off places with his wife. For 25 years, they wintered in Boynton Beach and Safety Harbor, FL. He was predeceased by a daughter, Beverly Cole in 1982.
Family members include his wife of 65 years, Grace (O’Brien) Skoglund; a son, Richard Skoglund of Manchester; his son-in-law, Larry Cole of PA; three grandchildren, Christopher Skoglund, Andy Cole and Amy Hock; a sister, Bunny Rose of Somerville, MA; and nephews, nieces and cousins.
Calling hours will be at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester on Thursday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A committal service with military honors will take place on Thursday at 1:15 in the chapel of St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford. For more information, go to the obituary section of our website at www.phaneuf.net. 603-625-5777.
In His Life: He was born in Manchester on April 30, 1925, and was a graduate of West High School Class of 1942. After school he worked for J.F. McElwain Shoe Co in the supply department. He then enlisted in the United States Army and entered the Army Air Corps Flying Training Program. In August 1944, he received his silver wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. After B-25 Bomber training, he was a flight instructor for the Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASPS) and eventually became a B-29 pilot. After World War II, he returned to McElwain Shoe and also attended Hesser Business College to earn an accounting degree. He was promoted to office manager of McElwain’s Dover plant and later managed plants in Nashua and eventually became assistant manager of Human Resources.
In 1954, Ltc Skoglund became a jet fighter pilot with the 133rd Fighter Interceptor Squad, NH Air National Guard and for the next two years, spent weekends standing Scramble Alert. In 1960, he became a transport pilot for the Air National Guard when it became part of the Military Airlift Command. In 1961, he went on active duty for eleven months during the Berlin Wall crisis. During that time, he flew supply missions to Europe, South American and North Africa. In 1966 during the Vietnam build-up, he resigned from McElwain’s to become the head of the NH Air National’s Safety Department. In the next four years, he flew 21 missions to Southeast Asia, mainly to Vietnam but also to Taiwan, China and South Korea. In the early 1970’s he became a C-130 pilot under TAC and then a KC-135 air refueling pilot with the SAC. He retired from the military in 1979.
After his retirement, he enjoyed maintaining his many flower gardens and taking military space available flights to far off places with his wife. For 25 years, they wintered in Boynton Beach and Safety Harbor, FL. He was predeceased by a daughter, Beverly Cole in 1982.
Family members include his wife of 65 years, Grace (O’Brien) Skoglund; a son, Richard Skoglund of Manchester; his son-in-law, Larry Cole of PA; three grandchildren, Christopher Skoglund, Andy Cole and Amy Hock; a sister, Bunny Rose of Somerville, MA; and nephews, nieces and cousins.
Calling hours will be at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester on Thursday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A committal service with military honors will take place on Thursday at 1:15 in the chapel of St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford. For more information, go to the obituary section of our website at www.phaneuf.net. 603-625-5777.
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