Chauncey Frank Webb, 76, a long-time corporate pilot and former naval aviator, died July 21. Webb had a career spanning more than five decades flying helicopters and, ultimately, airplanes for the U.S. Navy and later corporate flight departments and aircraft owners.
Born Oct. 22, 1946, in Bay City, Texas, Webb grew up in a small town, spending summers fishing and on his uncle’s farm, winning a pony at the age of seven at a local movie theater drawing, according to obituary information from his family. But he became interested in aviation in his youth and would get scolded because he would become distracted and stare out his school windows to watch airplanes take off from a nearby airport.
As a child, Webb hung out at the airport and asked to wash airplanes for rides. His interest further heightened after his older brother, Randol Webb Jr., enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and flew A-1 Skyraiders in the early years of the Vietnam War.
After graduating from Bay City High School in 1965 and Sam Houston State in 1969, Webb attended Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, to pursue his passion for flying. He had already obtained a private pilot license by that time.
He earned his wings and reported in October 1971 to the all-volunteer Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 7 (HC-7), known as Sea Devils, at NAS Imperial Beach, California. The unit was dedicated to combat search and rescue and included missions over land and in the waters of North Vietnam. During three subsequent deployments, he flew Sikorsky HH-3 helicopters from naval vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin and became helicopter aircraft commander. HC-7 was one of the most highly decorated naval squadrons in the Vietnam War era.
In 1974 he transferred to Training Squadron 2 (VT-2) at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, as a lieutenant to become a flight instructor, training pilot candidates in the North American T-28; and later joined an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) unit flying the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King as an aircraft commander. His last active-duty deployment was aboard the aircraft carrier USS America, where his squadron served as plane guard and flew search-and-rescue, transport, medevac, and ASW missions.
In 1979, he retired from active duty and turned to civil aviation, with jobs that ranged from aircraft sales and charter work in Northern California to training in the Sikorsky S-76. He flew an S-76 in Costa del Sol, Spain for a wealthy sheik but returned to Northern California to fly a Bell 222 for Warner Communications (Atari Division). Warner transferred him to the East Coast to fly company executives in the Sikorsky S-76.
Webb ultimately joined American Express, where he would spend his next 20 years flying its S-76 and later the Gulfstream IV and V. At the same time, he continued in the U.S. Naval Reserves as an SH-3 helicopter pilot.
While a professional pilot, Webb had an affinity for general aviation, flying a multitude of aircraft from Piper Cubs to the gamut of Cessna single-engine models, in addition to floatplanes, warbirds, Stearmans, and Wacos. A former Navy buddy characterized Webb’s passion: “If a brick had wings, Chauncey could fly it.”
Leaving American Express in 2003 when he was near retirement, he continued in the industry at an aircraft management company and flew a Dassault Falcon 900 for the principal of a real estate investment company for the remainder of his years.
Webb is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jane, who is a former AIN employee, as well as his daughter Genny Drash, son-in-law Wayne Drash, and grandchildren Emma and Billy Drash.
Those wishing to honor Webb can donate to the EAA Aviation Foundation and designate the Young Eagles. A Celebration of Life is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 3, at the Cayton's Bistro at the Ritz in Marana, Arizona. Contact [email protected] to RSVP.