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Mr. Roy Bateman was a fuel handler for 47 years at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The NPMA dedicates the Fuel Handler of the Year award in his name to honor his tremendous contributions to Luke Air Force Base, the fuels community, and our country. This is his story... Mr. Roy Bateman Mr. Roy Bateman was born on a small farm near Loogootee, Indiana, on 23 January 1922. When Pearl Harbor was attacked on 7 December 1941, much like the attacks of 11 September 2001, the act stirred the hearts of many. Mr. Bateman heard his country’s call and after a 6-month deferment, Roy Bateman entered the Army in August 1942. After basic training, Roy was assigned to the 91st Reconnaissance Platoon, a scouting unit for George S. Patton’s 11th Army. Mr. Bateman’s specialty was driving a half-track; part truck, part tank used as an all-terrain vehicle. In October 1944, the 22-year old corporal was sent to South Hampton, England, prior to the battalion’s deployment to mainland Europe in December. Being an integral part of Patton’s Army required rapid movement throughout the European theater. In January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge, Roy drove a half-track pulling an ammunition trailer and personally experienced several enemy engagements. Although escaping traditional war wounds, Roy developed severe frostbite on his feet due to the lack of proper cold weather equipment and the Army’s drive to defeat the Nazis. By war’s end, Roy wore the rank of sergeant; technical specialist 5. On 13 January 1946, the US Army lost an incredible asset with the discharge of Roy Bateman. Soon after, Roy went home to Indiana to marry his childhood sweetheart, Patricia. Roy attended projectionist school and worked as a theater projectionist for 6 years. During this time, Roy and Patricia had three children. Their third child was asthmatic, prompting the family doctor to suggest a move to Glendale, Arizona. On 5 June 1951, the Bateman family arrived in Glendale. On 5 March 1956, Roy filled a temporary 90-day slot at Luke AFB as a munitions worker earning $1.50 per hour. Shortly thereafter and primarily due to his undeniable work ethic, Mr. Bateman was offered a permanent slot as an aircraft fueling vehicle operator specialist. Thus began his incredible career in Fuels. In 1956, Luke’s designation was the 3600th Combat Crew Training Wing under the direction of Brigadier General T. C. Rogers. The first aircraft Mr. Bateman refueled was the Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star. During his tenure in Fuels, Mr. Bateman has refueled the F100, F84, F86, A7, F104, F5, F4, F15, F16, and many different types of transient aircraft. He has pumped several grades of jet fuel as well, transitioning from Avgas through JP4 and eventually to JP8+100. Mr. Bateman watched Luke Air Force Base grow from essentially a training patch to the most elite training wing in the world. He dispensed over 125 million gallons of aviation fuel to over 104,000 aircraft. His efforts facilitated the successful training of both American and foreign pilots. These same pilots have subsequently projected US airpower throughout the world and enabled allied countries to successfully defend their borders from aggression. He directly contributed to successes in Vietnam, Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Bosnia, and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Immediately after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, Mr. Bateman personally refueled the NORAD alert aircraft, thereby helping secure the home front during a critical stage of our nation’s history. His personal efforts helped drive the success at Luke for almost 50 years. With the unrelenting work ethic and example from Mr. Bateman, Luke’s Fuels Management team garnered such awards as Best Fuels Flight in the Air Force in 1984 and 1990, Best Supply Operation in the Air Force in 1995, and numerous command-level awards. Mr. Bateman was personally recognized as the Air Force Wage Grade Fuels Civilian of the Year in 1995 and again in 2002. Since 1956, Mr. Roy Bateman has left an indelible mark on the hearts of thousands. He has become a true icon at Luke AFB and indeed throughout the fuels community Air Force-wide. Forty-seven years after first setting foot on the ramp, he refueled his last F16-D Fighting Falcon on 9 May 2003. Mr. Bateman passed away peacefully during the morning of October 9, 2003.
Mr. Roy Bateman Hallway Dedication US Air Force Fuels Training Complex - Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas 5 November 2004
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