Colonel Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson, USAF
Clarence. E. Anderson was a World War II fighter ace and veteran military test pilot. He flew more than 100 different types of aircraft and logged 7,000 flight hours.
He served two tours of combat during World War II, escorting heavy bombers over Europe in the P51 Mustang. He chalked up 116 combat missions and destroyed 16 1/4 enemy aircraft in aerial combat.
Anderson had extensive experience in flight testing of military aircraft. At Wright Patterson AFB, he was a fighter test pilot and Chief of Fighter Operations. Later at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, he was Chief of Flight Test Operations and Deputy Director of Flight Test. From 1972-84 he served as Manager of the McDonnell Aircraft Company's Flight Test Facility at Edwards AFB.
During his 30 years of military service, his assignments included duty as: F-86 Squadron Commander in post-war Korea, Commander of an F-105 Wing in Okinawa during the Southeast Asia Conflict, commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, and two assignments to the Pentagon as an advance research and development staff planner and as Director of Operational Requirements.
Anderson co-authored the book "To Fly & Fight--Memoirs of a Triple Ace" in 1990.
Anderson is a life member of the American Fighter Aces Association and a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He has been decorated 25 times. His awards include two Legion of Merits, give Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, 16 Air Medals, the French Croix de Guerre and the Aerospace Walk of Honor (1993).
William H. Dana
William H. Dana piloted the famed X-15 research airplane. He flew the rocket-powered aircraft 16 times, reaching top speed of 3,897 mils per hour and a pick altitude of 307,000 ft. (over 58 miles).
Dana served as a pilot in the manned lifting body flight test program. The wingless lifting bodies were prototype lifting entry spacecraft shapes which competed to be the configuration of the Space Shuttle. Dana flew the M2-F3, HL-10 and X-24B wingless lifting bodies a total of 30 flights.
In 1976, he received the Haley Space Flight Award for his contributions to the design and testing of the flight control system in the M2-F3.
Dana became a Research Pilot for NASA in 1959. He served as project pilot on the F-15 HIDEC Program and the Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology research program. He was co-project pilot for the F-18 Hornet High Angle of Attack Research Program. Dana also took part in the Advanced Fighter Technology Integration program (AFTI-F16).
Dana became NASA's Chief Test Pilot in 1986. He was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Flight Operations Division at the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility in 1992.
Born in Pasadena, California, in 1930, Dana received his B.S. degree from the United States Military Academy and an M.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
Dana is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and has been honored by NASA's Exceptional Service Medal and the Aerospace Walk of Honor (1993).
Colonel Jerauld R. "Jerry" Gentry, USAF
Jerry Gentry logged 4,500 flight hours in more than 50 different fighter, trainer, bomber and research planes.
Serving as Chief USAF pilot of the joint USAF/NASA Lifting Body Research Program, he flew the first flight of the X-24A, the second of the HL-10, and he was selected to pilot the first rocket-powered flight of both. Gentry was the Project Pilot for the F-4E performance, stability and control and spin tests. He also tested the M2-F2, F-4C/D, F-104, F-111 and F-5.
Gentry served for five years as the Tactical Air Command fighter pilot before becoming a test pilot and flew more than 200 combat missions in Southeast Aria. Later he held the positions of Director of Operations of the F-15 and F-4E Tactical Fighter Wings, Commander of Red Flag and Commander of the first operational F-16 Tactical Fighter Wing.
Gentry represented the USAF Headquarters as the F-16 Program Element Monitor, Deputy Director for General Purpose Forces, Directorate of Operational Requirements and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition. He also served as the principal U.S. representative to the NATO Air Forces Armament Group.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, who holds an M.S. in Aerospace Management from the University of Southern California, Gentry has received the Silver Star, two Legion of Merits, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 14 Air Medals.
He has been honored by the Octave Chanute Trophy, Kincheloe Trophy, Harmon International Aviation Trophy and the Aerospace Walk of Honor (1993).
Max R. Stanley
Max R. Stanley logged more than 8,000 flight hours to become known as the "Dean of Northrop Test Pilots." He flew the first flights of all models of the Northrop P-61 Black Widow except the initial XP-61.
Stanley flew for Lockheed Aircraft, Pan American Airways and United Airlines before joining Northrop Aircraft as an Experimental Test Pilot in 1943.
During his 28 years with Northrop, he pioneered as pilot on the first flights of the Northrop F-15, the Tri-Motor C-125 Raider, and participated as pilot in the F-89 Scorpion and T-38 Talon flight test programs.
He served as a Project Pilot on the Northrop N-9M one-third scale model of the large XB-35 Flying Wing Bomber.
Stanley was selected as Chief Pilot on the entire XB-35 contractor flight test program including the first flight. He also served as Chief Pilot on the first flight of the eight-jet YB-49 flying wing. He was later assigned as Chief Pilot and Director, Flight Operations in the development of the SM-62 SNARK Intercontinental Cruise missile. He flew a number of manned aircraft, which were used in the design phase of the full scale, operational missile: P-61, F-89, C-47, P-80, B-45 and B-29.
Stanley is a Founding Member and Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and long-time Chairman of its Scholarship Foundation. He also helped found and served as President of the Aviation Country Club of California.
He is a two-time recipient of Caterpillar Club membership, twice earned when he used his parachute to save his life. Stanley is the recipient of the Barnstormer Trophy for "Distinguished Accomplishments in Aviation" and the Aerospace Walk of Honor (1993).
Photo Gallery Thumbnails
Milton O. Thompson
Milton O. Thompson logged 4,000 hours in more than 60 different aircraft types. He was the first person to fly a wingless lifting body, the lightweight M2-F1, in August 1963. He also piloted the heavyweight M2-F2 lifting body on its first flight in July 1966. Data from the program helped in the development of Space Shuttle orbiters.
Thompson was one of the 12 pilots to fly the X-15 rocket-powered research aircraft between 1959 and 1968. He flew the aircraft 14 times, reaching a maximum speed of 3,723, mph and a peak altitude of 214,100 feet on separate flights.
He was the first to fly the Rogallo Wing Hang Glider and the only civilian pilot selected by the Air Force for the X-20 Dyna Soar program.
Born in Minnesota in 1926, he began flying with the U.S. Navy at the age of 19. He graduated from the University of Washington and was employed by Boeing Aircraft as a flight test engineer. He joined NASA in 1956 and served as an engineer, research pilot, director of Research Projects, and Chief Engineer of the Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards AFB.
Thomas authored the book "At the Edge of Space," a story of the X-15 flight program, published by the Smithsonian Institution Press. He is a charter member of the Federal Senior Executive Services.
Thomas has been honored by NASA’s Distinguished Service, Outstanding Leadership and Exceptional Service Medals and the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. He is a member of the Society of Experimental Test pilots and has received the Kincheloe Award, the AIAA’s Octave Chanute Award, NAA’s Elder Statesman of Aviation Award and the Aerospace Walk of Honor (1993).
Last updated: 7/13/2006 4:45:36 PM