Lt Col Thomas A. Neal, USAF Fighter Pilot of McLean, Virginia passed away peacefully on Tuesday, 20 Dec 2022.

Born Dec 31^st, 1933, in Portland OR, Tom at age 5 with his older brother John, took a train alone across the US to Washington, DC.  Rascals unleased on the Nation’s Capitol, Tom started an Aviator’s Club, built a plane, and became the #1 competitive fly fisherman.  At 7, Tom studied aircraft take off and land at Bolling Field with his Aviator’s Club.  From first sight of a biplane at age 4, it’s all he wanted: to Fly!  At age 15, he met his future wife of 67 years, Susan Elizabeth Fishback, and secretly flew her to Rehoboth Beach DE in his boss’ Piper Cub.

After graduating from UMD, Tom joined the USAF straight to pilot training graduating 1^st in his class.  As a commanding young USAF pilot, he quickly demonstrated the skills and grit necessary to become a dogfighter, the top 1% of fighter pilots that go after enemy fighter pilots just as good as they are. With that, Tom flew the fastest, fiercest fighter jets in the world, the Century Series F-86, T-33, F-102 & F-106 and later, the infamous F4 Phantom.

As a heavily decorated F-4 fighter pilot with 101 combat missions into North Vietnam, he received 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 11 Air Medals and a Bronze Star for bravery, saving the life of a downed US airman and battalions of marines at Khe Sahn.  At the Langley NASA Training Center, he trained the original Mercury 7 NASA astronauts how to fly the F-106, then and now the fastest single engine jet in the world.

He had a quick sense of humor, loved speed, master golfer, skier, sailor, and builder.  After an extraordinary USAF career, Tom became Sr VP of Cubic Corp traveling the world developing fighter pilot training systems in allied countries.  For Tom, the Sky was No Limit. He is a superhero, a born fighter pilot—what we call a “Volatile mix of Guts and Genius…with a splash of Get Out of My Way!”  Always for good.  He was the epitome of what he called the best quality in a man—Courage—because it guarantees all other virtues. The world is a lesser place without Lt Col Tom Neal, Husband, Father, Combat Fighter Pilot, Hero.

Lt Col Neal is pre- deceased by his brother John Neal, nephew Johnny Neal and brother-in-law Guy Vassalotti.  Tom is survived by his wife, Susan Elizabeth Fishback Neal; children Thomas Augustine Neal II MD & Patricia, Andra Margaret Neal Stamps & Britt, Adam John Neal; granddaughters Danielle, Rachael, Gwendolyn; great grand-son Thomas Joseph; in-laws Judy Vassalotti and Jim Fishback and many beloved nieces & nephews.

Lt Col Neal will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors on Monday, 17 April 2023.  Arrive at 8am for Security Check, go to Old Post Chapel Gate, 204 Lee Avenue where the Catholic Service starts at 8:45am sharp. Follow caissons to the gravesite where the ceremony will continue until 10:15am. Thereafter, instructions are given to go back through Chapel Gate straight to Ft Myer Patton Hall Officers Club at 214 Jackson Avenue just 1 ¼ mile from the Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.

Time will inevitably take the pilot out of the jet, but never the Fighter Pilot out of the Man.—Tom Neal

To set the cause above renown,
To love the game beyond the prize,
To honour, while you strike him down,
The foe that comes with fearless eyes;
To count the life of battle good,
And dear the land that gave you birth,
And dearer yet the brotherhood
That binds the brave of all the earth.

– Poet, Henry Newbolt