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After 35 Years Missing, an Air Force Captain Mysteriously Reappeared in the Bay Area
SFgate ^ | Aug. 8, 2022 | Andrew Chamings

Posted on 08/10/2022 11:22:56 AM PDT by nickcarraway

The jigsaw puzzle of William Howard Hughes Jr.'s life has many missing pieces. After disappearing into thin air in 1983 he was wanted across the globe by numerous agencies, from the Air Force to the FBI to Interpol. At one point it was thought that he defected to the Russians. Some suggested he sabotaged the disastrous Challenger space shuttle launch. Even after his recent capture, much of this unlikely story remains a mystery for the ages. Here’s what we found out.

Born in Seattle in 1950 to a father who worked in the airline industry, Hughes had three sisters. He left the Pacific Northwest in his 20s to embark on a career in the Air Force, where he enlisted in 1973. By the age of 33 he was a captain at Kirtland Air Force base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he gained top secret access, working on a NATO program that controlled missile launches and missile warning systems.

Hughes bought a modest home in Albuquerque near the base and lived alone. In July of 1983 he was transferred to the Netherlands for a short trip to work on the same technology there. He was due to report back to Kirtland on Aug 1.

Hughes never returned to his air base. The Air Force revealed that he was seen withdrawing money from various ATMs in Albuquerque in late July – the Air Force reported that $28,500 was withdrawn from his account at 19 different locations. A search of his home on Chandelle Loop found to-do lists and books to read upon his return. His car was later found at Albuquerque International Airport. William Howard Hughes was officially classified as absent without leave on Aug 10, 1983.

At that time in New York City, 37-year-old real estate developer Donald Trump was finishing

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Military/Veterans; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: airforce; albuquerque; andrewchamings; awol; bayarea; california; chandelleloop; newmexico; spy4russia; traitor; wmhowardhughesjr
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To: nickcarraway
...father who worked in the airline industry...

If he made wooden airplanes, I didn't know him.

21 posted on 08/10/2022 11:57:37 AM PDT by MurrietaMadman (The Gates of hell shall not prevail against you)
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To: MurrietaMadman

That was the other Hughes.


22 posted on 08/10/2022 11:59:16 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: MayflowerMadam

“Why even mention Trump?”

At the time Lee Harvey Oswald shot Kennedy, a young Donald Trump was finishing 6th grade.


23 posted on 08/10/2022 12:07:03 PM PDT by Flick Lives (FJB and the corrupt FBI)
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To: nickcarraway

Don’t know him either


24 posted on 08/10/2022 12:07:29 PM PDT by MurrietaMadman (The Gates of hell shall not prevail against you)
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To: The Unknown Republican

They just had to find a way to insert Trump’s name into the story. He truly does live rent free in their heads.

______________________________

Such losers...it has nothing to with anything, yet there it is:

“At that time in New York City, 37-year-old real estate developer Donald Trump was finishing the construction of Trump Tower. Hughes wouldn’t be seen again until Trump was president.”


25 posted on 08/10/2022 12:07:50 PM PDT by jacknhoo ( Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: MurrietaMadman

That line had me wondering for a minute.


26 posted on 08/10/2022 12:09:23 PM PDT by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: nickcarraway

Interesting story.


27 posted on 08/10/2022 12:11:31 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: MurrietaMadman

Howard Hughes?


28 posted on 08/10/2022 12:12:02 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: FarCenter
Seems like a rather fast rise.

I was in the AF about that time. If you enlisted already having a 4 year degree and entered OCS soon after, you could get to Captain (O-3) pretty quick.

29 posted on 08/10/2022 12:16:01 PM PDT by fidelis (👈 Under no obligation to respond to rude, ignorant, abusive, bellicose, and obnoxious posts.)
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To: nickcarraway

30 posted on 08/10/2022 12:19:04 PM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: FarCenter

Depends on what year he made O-3. 7 years from commissioning would seem about right.


31 posted on 08/10/2022 12:23:13 PM PDT by Tallguy
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To: nickcarraway

I was stationed at KAFB when this happened. Didn’t know the guy personally, but it was a big story for a while ...


32 posted on 08/10/2022 12:36:34 PM PDT by Fish Speaker (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Oh, and, "Let's Go Brandon!")
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To: Tallguy; fidelis; FarCenter
- Seems like a rather fast rise. -

I was commissioned in 1973. At that time you automatically made Captain (O-3) in 4 years.

33 posted on 08/10/2022 12:39:45 PM PDT by ken in texas
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To: Flick Lives

Did Oswald really shoot Kennedy?


34 posted on 08/10/2022 12:42:52 PM PDT by 353FMG
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To: BigEdLB

had teal skin and was bald
Sounds hot! Got her number?


35 posted on 08/10/2022 12:48:53 PM PDT by Fireone (When they pry them from my cold, dead, unvaccinated hands.)
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To: nickcarraway

2022? But he was gone only 10 minutes!


36 posted on 08/10/2022 12:54:17 PM PDT by ArcadeQuarters (Remember the 2020 backstabbers. No more RINOs ever!)
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To: Fish Speaker

Wasn’t there some other guy at KAFB about the same time that faked his own death?


37 posted on 08/10/2022 12:58:11 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: nickcarraway

1983 is 39 years.

Not 35.


38 posted on 08/10/2022 1:00:16 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: PGR88

Thats gold Jerry, Gold!!!


39 posted on 08/10/2022 1:00:37 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
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To: nickcarraway
What happened to his ears in the 2018? They looked pretty prominent in the old photo.

Looks like he doesn't have any now. Maybe got them stitched?
40 posted on 08/10/2022 1:19:56 PM PDT by chaosagent (Remember, no matter how you slice it, forbidden fruit still tastes the sweetest!)
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