Scope and Contents

Approximately one linear foot of artifacts, slides, photographs, negatives, CD-ROMs and a book documenting John C. Wiren's service with Air America in Southeast Asia.

Biographical / Historical

John C. Wiren was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He played two years of professional baseball before entering the military service as a naval aviation cadet. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps and served a total of four and one-half years on active duty, followed by service in reserve squadrons in Olathe, Kansas while returning to the University of Omaha to complete his education. He later served in the Secret Service in Dallas, Texas prior to his involvement with Air America in Southeast Asia. He also holds a B.A. in foreign trade. Following his service with Air America, he flew for Inter-Mountain Air on Alaska's North Slope, J.C.A. Biafra, Royal Air Lao, Global Associates on Kwajalein Island, Aero Union, Dominicana Airlines, Air Yemen, Singapore Airlines, for Saudi Intelligence as chief pilot, as personal pilot for the Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, and in the same capacity for Prince Walid bin Talah. He ended his aviation career with the Federal Aviation Administration, first as an aviation safety inspector and then as an instructior at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Following his retirement, he now resides with his wife Carolyn, in Mountain Home, Arkansas.