This website is dedicated to my grandfather Donald H. Chaplin, Lt. Col. USAF (1922-1996). During his retirement, he assembled a scrapbook of his four-decade aviation career, now a cherished heirloom. From his first flight as a USAAF aviation cadet in a Taylorcraft DC-65 in Carlisle, PA, 1943, to his last flight in 1984 as a FAA Flight Inspection pilot, flying his 1121 Jet Commander, he logged 13,884 flight hours. Lt. Col. Chaplin was a war hero, earning a Purple Heart at the age of 21 after having to bail out of his burning P-47 Thunderbolt while helping to rid France & Italy of Nazi occupation in WWII. He also helped save countless refugee lives in Vietnam as a C-130 pilot, airlifting them to safety. His scrapbook contains photos and a brief description of his experiences in every aircraft type. His own words are quoted throughout this site.