WWI aviator celebrates 104th birthday

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (USTCNS) --- Not many men can say they served in the military during World War I, World War II and Korea. Even fewer can say they were one of the five original Army aviators and the only surviving WWI Army Air Corps pilot, but at the age of 104, retired Lt. Col. John "Jack" Potts says it with pride.

Potts, who celebrated his birthday Aug. 14, helped bring the Army to new heights when he volunteered for military service on May 12, 1917.

Potts was born Aug. 14, 1896, in Ada, Kan., and later moved to Ottawa, Kan., to attend college. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in March 1918 and pinned on first lieutenant in July of the same year. He served as a flight instructor at Park Field, Tenn.

"I was taught by an old fellow who built his own airplane and copied the Wright brothers' design," Potts said.

"There weren't any military guys who could fly an airplane. That was before there was any organized flying of any kind. It made a rather impressive flight to see someone get in a contraption they put together and make it go through the air. I never had an accident, and I never lost a student."

Potts' teacher, a man known as "Pop" Croft, was hired by the government to teach five aviation cadets how to fly. Potts was one of the original five and one of only two surviving cadets -- the other is a Navy pilot living on the West Coast.

As an instructor pilot, Potts taught his students to fly in the Curtiss JN-4 -- which is affectionately known as "The Jenny." Although he never saw combat, Potts helped win the war by teaching military pilots to fly.

In May 1919 Potts was discharged from the service, but maintained his Reserve status until 1935. He married in 1920 to Ruby Conover of Carrollton, Mo. Together they had two children, JoAnne and JT Jr.

In June 1942, Potts was recalled as a captain in the Army Air Corps for duty and served in Okinawa from May to November 1945. He was also recalled from the Reserves in May 1950 for service during the Korean conflict. Potts retired officially in September 1957.

"I was a country boy and learning to fly was something I used to dream of, but I never expected I'd get to fly," Potts said. "I flew during World War I and World War II. I taught the students, and I never even got overseas [during WWI]. I tried to, but they said I was worth more over here teaching the guys to fly."

Potts' daughter, JoAnne Potts Harvey, said she is proud of her father's accomplishments.

"He's been through an awful lot these past few years and he's still here," she said. "He always told us about flying when I was a child."

Also joining the Potts family to celebrate the birthday were the Suncoast Daedalian Flight 25 members, who sat in awe as they listened to Potts speak about learning to fly. The Order of Daedalians is a national fraternity of commissioned military pilots, both active duty and retired.

Retired Maj. Gen. Bob Taylor, Suncoast Daedalian Flight 25 vice flight captain, and former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, called the meeting to order, and Potts was officially inducted into the Order of Daedalians.

"It's really remarkable to see this wonderful gentleman," Taylor said. "Talk about a survivor and a guy who's tough.

"The faculties are still working, and the mind is still sharp at 104. It's an awesome thing," he added.

"I'm still hanging in there," said Potts, the newest and oldest Daedalian member. "I just take it a day at a time." Potts lives in the Bay Village retirement community located in Sarasota, Fla. In addition to military service, Potts is also an accomplished painter and holds a four-year certificate in fine arts from the Ringling School of Art and Design.

To this day, Potts has fond memories of his times soaring through the sky. "I love flying. It was different. You leave this world and go off into the sky and experience an entirely different world," he said. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).