Harry E. Van Den Heuvel
U.S. Air Force Veteran
Civil Air Patrol Officer
Air Force Association Chapter President
Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame President
Harry E. Van Den Heuvel started his aviation career as soon as he became old enough to
do so at the age of 17 years and 12 days, when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force out of Elkton,
MD, after the outbreak of the Korean War. His basic training was cut short, and he was
rushed off to Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt, West Germany. There he flew as a flight
mechanic on medical evacuation missions. When it came time to re-enlist, he wanted to go to
Dover Air Force Base, but there were no vacancies, so he re-enlisted in the support unit for the
512th Air Force Reserve Wing stationed at New Castle Airport, flying in C-119s. After being
there for four years, the unit was moved to Willow Grove, PA., at which time he was moved to
Lake Charles Air Base, Louisiana, as a B-47 crew chief. When his mother developed health
issues, he was able to arrange for a transfer to Dover Air Force Base untll 1964. This
assignment was followed by a tour at Naha Air Base on Okinawa, working with C-130s for 2-
1/2 years. His next assignment was at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, until 1966,
when he was sent for a one year tour as an adviser to the Saudi Arabian Air Force at Jetta,
Saudi Arabia. This assignment was followed by four years at Hurlburt Field in Florida to work
with Special Operations units.
Harry retired to Newark, Delaware, in 1971, after 21 years in the Air Force. During his service
he received three Air Force Commendation Ribbons for his superior performance in the field of
aircraft maintenance. To keep up his love of flying, he purchased a Piper Cherokee and was
also part owner of a Lockheed Bonanza. He also flew a variety of missions for the Civil Air
Patrol. He became a board member of the Air Force Museum at Dover, worklng with that
organization for many years. He became Director of Aviation for the Delaware Department of
Transportation, effecting numerous improvements for aviation facilities and functions in the
state. He was a member of the Air Force Association of Delaware, and when he was
president of that organization, he had the Chapter renamed after General Bill Spruance, who
was an outstanding hero and flyer and head of the Delaware Air National Guard. He was also
a director and the second president of the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame. For years he
transported an aviation simulator to high schools for the Delaware Aviation Education
Foundation. While serving on the board of the Friends of Bellanca Airfield, he purchased, had
painted, and transported an airport beacon tower to Bellanca Airfield to replace the original
beacon tower that had been there. ln 1985, he was honored by being selected as a Quiet
Blrdman, a prestigious association of aviators dating back to the earliest year of aviation.
Harry and his wife Nancy continue to reside in Newark.
