{"id":27461,"date":"2022-07-25T18:47:45","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T18:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/07\/25\/marine-veteran-recognized-for-decades-of-smooth-flying\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:33:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:33:36","slug":"marine-veteran-recognized-for-decades-of-smooth-flying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/veterans\/2022\/07\/25\/marine-veteran-recognized-for-decades-of-smooth-flying\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine veteran recognized for decades of smooth flying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WHEELING, W.Va. \u2014 A lifetime of work on the tarmac and in the clouds earned a Wheeling man the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award<\/a> in recognition of decades of smooth flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al Depto, an Elm Grove native, was presented with the award at a pilots\u2019 picnic at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport on June 25. The award recognizes certified pilots<\/a> with more than 50 years of piloting and operations experience who have maintained their good standing. Depto\u2019s partner, Mary C. Davis, submitted his application to the Federal Aviation Administration in secret, catching him completely by surprise when the award was presented at the picnic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe FAA gentleman started by explaining what the Wilbur and Orville Wright Award is and what qualifications were needed, and then my name came up,\u201d he said. \u201cThey asked if I had anything to say, I opened my mouth, and nothing came out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depto said he dreamed of flying ever since he was a young kid, imagining running down the sidewalk and flying, like Superman, around Elm Grove. Depto said he\u2019d loved aircraft and regularly went to look at commuter aircraft at the local airport, but growing up, he had no aspirations of becoming a pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His career began as an aircraft mechanic shortly after high school. He enlisted for the Marine Corps, fully expecting to become an infantryman, but his recruiter steered Depto toward aviation, where there was a critical need for engineers and mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\t