By Mike Finney

DOVER — While it is difficult to gather much information about a historic flight at Dover Air Force Base in 1986, it is known that Lt. Col. Joe Lindsay was its pilot.

On that day 36 years ago, Lt. Col. Lindsay was at the helm of a mammoth C-5 Galaxy cargo, along with an all-Black crew — a first for the aircraft.

And following his death Jan. 28 at age 78, colleagues and friends are remembering the longtime pilot, who succumbed to multiple myeloma surrounded by family in San Antonio.

As a command pilot, he logged more than 7,000 hours of flying, which included almost 6,000 hours in the C-5 Galaxy for the 3rd Airlift Squadron at Dover AFB and that first flight with an all-Black team. The event drew international media coverage and generated pride among the Black community.

“In 1988, I was assigned command of Joe’s squadron,” said Gary Garber, a retired Air Force colonel. “It was my great fortune to have a man of his caliber as a leader among all of the unit’s crew members. He had everyone’s respect and was well-liked.

“For me, his finest talent was as a counselor. He always had his finger on the pulse of the squadron because people naturally gravitated to him. Occasionally, Joe would come to me and define an issue that was brewing; he always did so succinctly, with a smile on his face, and the squadron was better off for him having done so.”

Dr. Kathleen C. Jacobs remembers Lt. Col. Lindsay as a consummate professional, saying he also tutored students in the Capital School District during his time in Dover.

“I went through the Central Michigan University master’s degree program with Joe Lindsay at Dover Air Force Base,” Dr. Jacobs said. “We graduated in 1980, and his character was impeccable. He was quiet, low-key and brilliant.

“He was a friend of my family. I was a military spouse, and he was nice to my husband, children, and was a role model.”

Born in San Antonio, Lt. Col. Lindsay was the eldest of 11 children.

After being commissioned in 1965 through Officer Training School, he completed pilot training at Laredo AFB and Sheppard AFB, both in Texas.

He was immediately assigned to Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, and his primary mission was rescuing those whose planes were shot down by enemy forces.

He was later assigned to Charleston (South Carolina) AFB, where he served a brief tour as a C-141 transport pilot. While at Charleston, he was assigned to the C-5 Galaxy.

Subsequently, he was moved to the 436th Military Airlift Wing at Dover and the 611th Military Airlift Support Squadron at Osan Air Force Base in South Korea.

In addition to Vietnam, he served as a pilot during the Persian Gulf War, as well as in Operation Just Cause in Panama, the Iranian evacuation in 1979 and numerous other campaigns and missions.

“I flew occasionally with Joe,” Mr. Garber said. “It was always a pleasure to watch him work. In addition to his considerable pilot skills, he had a way of pulling a crew together and heading them in the right direction. It’s difficult to watch as our flying pals pass on, but we are better people for having known them — especially Joe.”

Upon retirement, Lt. Col. Lindsay returned to San Antonio and was an active community leader, volunteering his time and energy to many civic and religious affairs.

“Joe was such a beautiful person in all ways,” Booker and Carol Alexander posted on an online tribute page. “We have known him for over 20 years and during that time, he always put everyone else before him.

“No matter what you needed help with Joe was always there. He will definitely be missed.”

And while there isn’t much that can be found regarding that historic first all-Black Galaxy crew in 1986, the memories remain for airmen who recall that mission.

“The first all-Black crew at Dover was before my time there,” Mr. Garber said. “I tried to dig up something about the event on the internet but was unsuccessful. Picturing Joe in charge of such an event, though, I can only imagine him being hugely proud of being able to serve in that historic role.”