DOVER - Colonel David Michael "Mike" Hume Sibbald, "flew West" on Nov. 6, 2012. His wife was by his side. Colonel Sibbald was born on Oct. 4, 1934 in Peebles, Scotland to James Hume Sibbald and Ella Mercer Sibbald, of Innerleithen, Scotland. He completed grade school and high school in Scotland. He immigrated to the United States in Oct. 1953. In July 1955 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at Samson Air Force Base, N.Y. Upon completion of basic training, he was assigned to Amarillo A.F.B. Texas, as a training instructor in the Military Retraining Squadron. Colonel Sibbald became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States in 1958. In June 1959 he was assigned to the Air Force Officer Candidate School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Upon graduation from Officer Candidate School as a Distinguished Graduate he was awarded a regular commission as a Second Lieutenant. His next assignment was at Bartow Air Base, Fla. as a student pilot. Colonel Sibbald completed pilot training in Big Spring, Texas. In July 1961 he went to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma for C 124 Globemaster training. Colonel Sibbald was assigned to the 15th Air Transport Squadron, 1607th Air Transport Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Del. He participated in routine and significant air transport operations including the Cold War Airlift, African Republic of Congo Airlift and the worldwide tour of Astronaut John Glenn's Friendship Seven spacecraft. He was the first pilot to become an aircraft commander on the C 124 Globemaster with less than 2,000 flying hours. As a prolific writer, he submitted several safety articles to the MAC Flyer Magazine. In Jan. 1966, he transferred to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois as Editor of the MAC Flyer. In July 1967, Colonel Sibbald resigned from active duty with the Air Force and joined Trans World Airlines as a flight crew member. In 1968 he joined the Delaware Air National Guard in New Castle, Del. and continued contributing articles to the MAC Flyer. In 1975 he won First Place in the MAC Flyer Safety Contest and joined the 512th Military Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base. In 1982 as a Lt/Colonel and an aircraft commander in the C5 B he was assigned Commander of the 326th Airlift Squadron. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and served as the Vice Commander of the 512th Military Airlift Wing. He retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1988. In 1992 Colonel Sibbald retired as a Captain at Trans World Airlines. He accumulated over 20,000 flying hours during his career with the Air Force and Trans World Airlines. Colonel Sibbald earned a Bachelors Degree from Edison State College and completed numerous Air Force schools and courses. He continued his aviation career as an instructor at Flight Safety in Wilmington, Del. For several years Colonel Sibbald volunteered at the Retiree Office at Dover Air Force Base. Colonel Sibbald was a proud member of the American Legion Post One, Paris, France for 28 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Sibbald; his sister, Isabel Minkiewicz; and his grandson, Michael Sibbald Williamson. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Janice Elaine Sibbald; daughters, Deborah S. Crothers (Richard), Kate S. Kelly (Mark) and Lindy A. Wydeven (Terry); granddaughters, Heather and Kimberly Kelly; grandsons, Christopher J. Williamson (Lisa), Christian and Noah Wydeven; brother, George Sibbald (Julie); sister, Margaret Heath (Tom); along with nieces and nephews and "adopted" daughters, Sheryl M. Long and Holly L. Setzler. Visitation will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 in the Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 in the Carpenter Chapel, DAFB Housing Side, Dover. Access will be granted to civilians and millitary. Burial will follow in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Air Mobility Command Museum, DAFB, The Pat Summitt Foundation (Alzheimers) or a charity of your choice.