Born: c. 1942
Died: May 15, 2022
Married: Linda
Children: Kimberly, Karen
Norman R. Pelkey served in the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1985 and in Viet Nam 1966 to 1967.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 18, 1974
Distressed plane safe because of local man
HOLSTEINBERG, Greenland — An aircraft in distress was able to land safely at an air base in Greenland, thanks in part to the timely actions of T. Sgt. Norman R. Pelkey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman R. Pelkey of 54 Dorsey Street, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Sgt. Pelkey, an air traffic controller in the Sondrestrom Tower, guides aircraft to touchdown after they have been vectored into position for final approach by the controllers who operate the radar scopes.
He was on duty recently when alerted that a single-engine Piper which was in the landing pattern and on normal descent to 4500 feet had encountered icing conditions and had lost use of its instruments and 60 per cent of its engine power. Further, the pilot could not find a break in the clouds to make a visual landing.
Immediately contacting the pilot, Sgt Pelkey learned the exact nature of his difficulties and also his qualifications and capabilities, so he could relay this information to search and rescue people and emergency ground crews.
Working swiftly, he checked weather conditions at all other available airports, but found none which would permit a safe landing in this area where sudden drops in temperature are not uncommon.
Search and rescue personnel were notified and a four-engine C-130 cargo plane of the 17th Tactical Airlift Squadron was launched to aid the small plane. Once in position, the C-130 led the light aircraft down on a rapid descent through the icy clouds to a safe landing.
There, the pilot of the Piper craft discovered he had only 20 minutes' fuel remaining, rather than the two hours of fuel he had estimated.
Sgt. Pelkey is assigned to the 2004th Communications Squadron at Sondrestrom. He was previously stationed at March AFB, Calif., with the 1907th Communications Squadron, and has served a tour in Southeast Asia.
A veteran of nearly 14 years' service, he enlisted in the Air Force in October 1960 after graduating from Saranac Lake High School.
His wife, Linda, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Jones of Rt. 7, Paragould, Ark. Sgt. and Mrs. Pelkey have two daughters, Kimberly and Karen.
