RENNSPIES, Norman (Stormin) Eric

West Valley View, Avondale, Arizona Friday, November 30, 2012 Norman "Stormin" Eric Rennspies, 52, of Tucson and formerly of Goodyear died Nov. 18, 2012, from a gunshot wound. Mr. Rennspies was born Dec. 20, 1959, in Passaic, N.J. He grew up in Oakland, N.J., where he graduated in 1978 from Indian Hills High School. He received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., graduating June 1, 1983, with a degree in human factors engineering and a commission as a second lieutenant. Having earned All-American honors as a member of the Air Force fencing squad, he stayed at the academy as an assistant fencing coach. After his assignment, he proceeded to undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. After earning the wings of a U.S. Air Force pilot, he was assigned to fly the A-10 Warthog at Suwon Air Base, Republic of Korea, Royal Air Force Station Bentwaters, UK, and Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in South Carolina. In 1990, he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, earning the top flying award for A-10s. He then returned to the Air Force Academy as an assistant air officer commanding and later became the deputy commandant. He transitioned to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon and was transferred to Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, where he spent the next three years. He was then transferred to Luke Air Force Base as the F-16 chief academic instructor for the 56th Training Squadron. After two years in the position, he took a one-year tour as F-16 commander of Peace Vector IV at Gianaclis Air Base in Egypt. He returned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base until he retired from the Air Force in 2003. After his retirement, he became a pilot instructor with Lockheed-Martin at Luke Air Force Base, and subsequently a first officer with America West Airlines. He is survived by two sons, Erich Rennspies of Phoenix and Nicholas Rennspies of Big Sky, Mont.; two sisters, Linda Stephenson of Romance, Ark. And Christa Dugan; and his parents, Erich and Elisabeth Rennspies.
Posted by Sharla on November 30, 2012

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