Bob Ballenger – Flight Engineer

Bob Ballenger has seen the world through the windows of a helicopter dubbed “Magic” by the crew who accompanied him on missions for the Illinois Air National Guard.

Ballenger grew up in Clinton and joined the Illinois ANG in 1976 after high school. He served in the infantry division for about seven years before a friend in Decatur helped him move closer to his goal of serving in the air.

Helicopters, specifically the UH-1 nicknamed “Huey,” was the aircraft Ballenger would travel in as flight engineer for about four years. Ballenger later served with the first Illinois ANG company to fly Chinook helicopters based in Peoria.

The 106th Aviation F Company was deployed to the Yucatan Peninsula, Panama and Belize to provide military support. The unit spent six months in Honduras providing transportation service to local troops.

The Big Flood of 1993 sent the unit to help residents in southern Illinois.
“We were in Galesburg for an air show when we got the call. They said we had to go pick up sandbags. We were the first helicopter down there,” said Ballenger.

During the three-month assignment, Ballenger’s crew picked up nurses on the western shore of the flooded Mississippi and transported them in the 32-passenger chopper for their work in the water-ravaged towns near Alton.

“We worked 10-hour days. We lifted a lot of sandbags, carried cargo to troops, food and water,” said Ballenger.

Ballenger during winter Survival training in Norway

A winter training in Norway where the local Home Guard taught Illinois guardsmen how to survive in snow lined trenches is among Ballenger’s most memorable assignments.

Ballenger retired in 1996 as a Sergeant First Class.

When he was not serving with the Illinois ANG, Ballenger worked at Hooterville Airport west of Clinton where he maintained the grass landing strip and adjoining flight facilities.

He also drove a bus for the Clinton school district. He retired from both positions in December 2021.

After 20 years of service, Ballenger recommends Illinois National Guard as an option for young men and women looking for a way to serve their country.

“It takes a chunk out of your life, but I’m glad I did it. If they call you up, you go. That’s the way it is.”