As a fifth generation Coloradan Rick Broome was thrilled to see the Air Force
Academy built. When he was 13 years old he wrote this career book. As you will
read it was the youngsters dream to go to the Air Force Academy, graduate and
then serve his country as an Air Force pilot. His view for the future was not to
be a fighter pilot -- but rather to fly heavy equipment so that he could later
become an airline pilot. Almost all of Rick's close relatives had served their
country in all three major branches of the service.
Rick's maternal grandfather, Wiley Pascal Smith had served in the Air Corps
during World War I. His father George W. Broome Jr. served in the Fifth Air
Force during World War II as a combat photographer and film laboratory
technician in the Pacific Theater of operations for 37 months. His father was
involved in combat operations as our nations forces advanced from Australia to
Japan. He was one of the photographers who filmed the Japanese capitulation
party arrival for signing the peace treaty.
Rick’s mother’s brother was the late James P. Smith who Rick affectionately
nicknamed JP. His uncle Jim was drafted into the Army during World War II. JP
then transferred to the Navy where he became an aircraft mechanic working on
various Navy aircraft throughout the Caribbean area. After the end of the war
Uncle Jim transferred to the Air Force as an enlisted man -- and was deeply
involved in aircraft maintenance on the C-47 and C-54 during the Berlin Air
Lift. Later JP qualified for OCS and was promoted from Staff Sergeant to a gold
bar lieutenant. Rick spent three summers (1958, 1959 & 1960) living with his
Uncle Jim and his family when they were stationed at Webb AFB. JP was then an
aircraft Maintenance Officer and often took Rick to the base where he became
passionately interested in aircraft maintenance.
In addition, Rick's Uncle Tom Martin was a Martin B-26 Marauder instructor pilot
in Tampa during World War II. And his Uncle Dave Alexander qualified as a P-51D
Mustang pilot. Another of Rick's family who proudly served in the United States
Air Force was the late Colonel James Wayne “Woody” Wood who graduated from the
Air Force Institute of Technology in 1956. Woody’s father was Rick’s maternal
grandmother’s brother. Woody was quite instrumental in helping Rick develop a
desire to attend the Air Force Academy as Woody was a famous test pilot at
Edwards Air Force Base. Rick nicknamed him “Uncle Woody” and was proud to take a
copy of LIFE Magazine to show and tell at school when Woody was selected as a
Dyna Soar Astronaut. That program was cancelled under JFK. His Uncle Woody was
later the first Air Force pilot to fly the F-111, was later in charge of the
Lifting Body Project, flew the F-104 chase missions on most of the X-15 test
flights and was assigned as a test pilot at Edwards for 17 years.
Naturally with this kind of inspiration in his immediate family it was no wonder
that as soon as it was announced that the Air Force Academy would be built in
Colorado Springs it became Rick’s goal to become a cadet and then serve his
country as an officer in the Air Force.
Reading this career book will give you an insight into Broome’s deep love of the
Air Force Academy. Astute readers will note not only that Rick had predetermined
his life’s goals at age 13 but also had an original idea for corporate jet
flying that would recently become what is known in the aviation business as
“Fractional Ownership.” Note also that Broome knew enough about the aviation
industry at age 13 to be able to not only be able to establish a privately owned
airline but also how to begin his own airline using equipment from the DC-3
through the DC-8 which was just entering service in the airline industry the
year he wrote this theme paper.
Rick had an internal bleeding problem since he was a toddler. Sadly when he had
one of his stomach problems that resulted in passing blood at age 16 he spent
over a week in the hospital where modern tests revealed that he had always had a
bleeding ulcer. This medical problem was heartbreaking to the teenager as his
dreams of attending the Air Force Academy were not to come true. When he was of
draft age his draft board classified him as 4F. And some years later when he
attempted to get a medical waiver and join the Colorado Air National Guard his
previous medical history disqualified him from serving his country.
Thus, it was Rick’s deep desire to serve his country by sharing his God given
talents with the cadets and officers at the Air Force Academy. Broome began this
“Stewardship” shortly after Rick, his wife Billie, and daughter Lisa moved back
from Inglewood California in 1971. Not only was Rick able to share his talents
as an artist and writer but also as a pilot. At the age of only 21 years old he
was already an accomplished aircraft maintenance mechanic with both FAA Airframe
and Powerplant ratings.
Rick Broome’s devotion and passion to the Academy has always been shared by his
entire family.
