Captain Michael Leo Chinburg, An Airman's Story
Captain Michael Leo Chinburg, An Airman's Story
Captain Michael Leo Chinburg was born on January 23, 1964, in Iowa City, Iowa. During his childhood, his family relocated to Durham, New Hampshire, where he spent his formative years. He graduated from Oyster River High School in 1982, participating in soccer, hockey, and rowing. Known for his love of the outdoors, Chinburg was also an avid hunter and lifelong outdoorsman.
He attended the University of Colorado, graduating in 1986, and soon afterward committed himself to military service. In March 1987, Chinburg enlisted in the United States Air Force, earning his pilot wings and qualifying as a fighter pilot. He was assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, where he flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a role demanding precision, endurance, and constant training.
In December 1990, Captain Chinburg deployed with his unit to Saudi Arabia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as coalition forces prepared for large-scale combat operations in the Persian Gulf.
On January 8, 1991, during nighttime training exercises while deployed, Captain Michael Leo Chinburg was killed in an aircraft crash. He was 26 years old. His death occurred during the critical preparatory phase of the Gulf War, when aircrews trained under demanding conditions to ensure mission readiness.
Captain Chinburg is buried at Durham Cemetery in Durham, New Hampshire. He is remembered as an Air Force officer and fighter pilot whose life was lost in service during the opening chapter of the Gulf War, one of many whose sacrifices occurred beyond the battlefield but were no less real.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
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