Master Mechanic Willy Dickerson

Cols. Willy Dickerson of Sharpsburg was honored by the Federal Aviation Administration for having worked in aviation maintenance for more than 50 years. The award is named in honor of Charles Taylor (1868-1956), the first true aviation mechanic, working with the Wright brothers on their first successful powered flight. The award recognizes individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years in the aircraft maintenance profession, as “master mechanics.”
​
Col. William (Willy) Dickerson, Jr., with 57 years of experience, is a native of Hillsborough, N.C. He completed basic training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman, Okla., and graduated from the aviation technical curriculum A school in Millington, Tenn. He performed inspection, repair, maintenance and overhaul on several Navy aircraft before concluding his enlistment in 1957.
He became a mechanic for Flight Enterprises, a U.S. Air Force contract overhaul facility specializing in the C-121 and EC-121 Super Constellation aircraft. He went on to work at Capitol Airways, Airlift International and Shamrock Airlines, followed by Southern Airways, which merged with Republic Airlines and later with Northwest Airlines. He performed extensive maintenance duties until his retirement from Northwest in 1998. Within a year he began to contribute his mechanical expertise at the Dixie Wing. Read more here.