Three Generations of Air Force Women
by Steve Milbourne
It might be genetic or just coincidence. Whatever the cause, three generations of Hoosier women have served in the United States Air Force.
The matriarch, Wanda Towner Harris, actually ended up in the Air Force by a crooked path. Fresh out of high school, she was told by her brother, James Towner, who was in the US Air Force at the time that she could finish her nurses’ training in the Air Force. What neither realized was the Army retained the medical units and responsibility for training after the new military organization, the US Air Force, was formed.
When she found out she could not finish her nurses’ training in the Air Force, Wanda tested for other skills and discovered she had a mechanical skill that would equip her to take radio operator’s training, learn Morse code or work on electrical and technical projects. She was stationed at Biloxi, Mississippi.
After serving one year in the Air Force (1948-1949), she married Robert Loncar, also in the Air Force. In 1949, the Air Force did not allow married women to continue their Air Force service, and Wanda was consequently given an honorable discharge. In 1956, she went to work for Eastern Airlines where she worked as a teletype and radio operator. Later she worked for Lake Central Airlines in their dispatch office. In 1966, she successfully passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exam and became an air traffic controller with the Flight Service Station. Wanda worked at the Indianapolis International Airport, Fort Wayne (IN) Airport, Zanesville (OH) Airport, Dupage County (IL) Airport and Kankakee (IL) Airport where she retired in 1990.
Cindy Loncar Coram followed in the footsteps of her mother, joining the Air Force in 1971 after a brief stint as a hairdresser. Cindy was looking for an opportunity to travel, get an education and find a career that would fulfill her life. Out of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Cindy was stationed at DoverAFB, Delaware. She was assigned to the 9th Military Airlift Squadron. This was one of the first C-5A squadrons. Cindy’s responsibilities included processing flight orders for aircrews, alerting aircrews for missions and ensuring aircrews had all the necessary forms to transit in and out of the US. She was also responsible for updating personal authentication cards for crewmembers during the war. If military personnel were shot down, the way they authenticated themselves to the rescue team was by answering four questions correctly. The answers to those questions (“Who is your favorite quarterback?” or “What is my favorite basketball team?”) were stored on cards kept in the squadron and updated every six months. This was a difficult phase of her military career as she knew missions included flying troops into Vietnam and returning to Dover AFB with the soldiers who had paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Cindy’s service spanned from 1971-1976 as active duty, then 1976-1987 in the active and inactive Air Force Reserve. Cindy was honorably discharged from the Air Force.
Cindy entered duty with the FAA in 1980 and trained at Cleveland International Airport. Her duty assignments included Terre Haute Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), Indianapolis ATCT and the Chicago Regional Office as a Quality Assurance Specialist. Cindy retired from Terre Haute ATCT where she served as the Air Traffic Manager for six years.
Shelby Harbage Navarrette found she was floundering after graduation, not knowing what career path to follow. After trying Indiana Business College and Travel Careers Inc. where she obtained her certification as a travel agent, she realized these opportunities were not rewarding. Knowing her grandmother’s and mother’s career paths, she decided to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam (ASVAB), and her scores led her to enlist in the Air Force in 1997. After basic training, Shelby was stationed at Shaw AFB, Sumter, SC. At the time, she too wanted to pursue a career in the aviation field. She was assigned to base operations. Her responsibilities included runway checks to ensure there was no debris on the runways, relaying flight arrival/departure information and runway lighting checks. She was also responsible for filing flight plans, updating flight publications, assisting transient aircrews and manning the emergency crash phone.
Shelby embraced the Air Force life, and in 1999, she married Ed Navarrette, an F-16 Weapons Specialist. Shelby served four years active duty and four years inactive reserve. She received an honorable discharge in 2001. She and Ed had the opportunity to spend four years at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, with their children, Shaylee and Ryan. Shelby has found her niche in the financial industry and is the Senior Supervisor Teller for Indiana Members Credit Union at the Westside branch.
The military service of these women has spanned 50 years. They have made sacrifices that took them away from family and friends. They all continue to serve in their communities. Wanda is secretary for the Arsenal Technical High School Alumni, and she raised over $40,000 for a military memorial erected at the high school for former students who have served in the military. Cindy is currently serving on the Greenwood VFW Post 5864 Ladies Auxiliary Board as the Junior Vice President. Shelby volunteers for many community-related events sponsored by Indiana Members Credit Union. She especially enjoys the “Indy BackPack Attack” which fills backpacks for economically-challenged children returning to school.
Several other family members served in the military as well. Wanda’s younger brother, Ronald Towner, served in the US Air Force as an air traffic controller. Frank Loncar, Cindy’s grandfather, served in the US Navy as a pipe fitter in the recovery efforts at Pearl Harbor. Wanda’s husband, Bill Harris, served in the Air Force and retired from Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center. Shelby’s father, Dustin Harbage, served in the Air Force as a C-141 pilot and weather observer. Shelby’s uncle, Allan Harbage, served in the US Navy.
Steve Milbourn is a former owner of five weekly newspapers. He graduated from Tech High School in 1964. After his military service he attended The Ohio State University and Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War having served in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in 1966-1967 based in Phan Rang, Vietnam. Currently Steve is an officer with Greenwood VFW Post 5864 and a VFW State Membership Chairman for the South Central Indiana area. He is married to Patti and has three adult daughters and two adult step-children (a boy and a girl). He and his wife make their home in Greenwood.
