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Home , Gabby Gabreski, Harmon Trophy, North American Aviation, Pilot (pilot boat), Question Mark (aircraft), Sound barrier

More than 150 greats have been enshrined in Dayton.

A V I A T I O N Hall of Fame

Balchen, Bernt (1899–1973). First pilot to fly over the South Pole. Later, the first to fly over both poles. Founder of Norwegian . Served USAF as Arctic aviation expert. Received Harmon Trophy. 1973. Baldwin, Thomas S. (1854–1923). Pio- neered flights. Improved para- chutes. Developed successful dirigibles (including the first one for the Signal Corps). 1964. Beachey, Lincoln (1887–1915). Demon- strated flight capabilities of . Per- formed such maneuvers as spin recovery and inside loop. 1966.

All of Milton Caniff’s portraits courtesy National Aviation Hall of Fame Beech, Olive Ann (1903–1993). Led Beech Aircraft Co., including tenure as chief executive officer. Honored as “The Orville (left) and Wilbur Wright First Lady of Aviation.” 1981. Beech, Walter H. (1891–1950). Created such innovative aircraft as the Stagger- The National Aviation Hall of Allen, William McP. (1900–1985). Led wing, Model 18, Bonanza, UC-45, F-2, development of commercial and military AT-7, AT-10, AT-11, and T-34. 1977. jet travel. Helped to advance supersonic Fame, in Dayton, , began in- flight and space travel in various roles at Bell, Alexander Graham (1847–1922). Co. 1971. Performed research into principles of lift, ducting aviation pioneers in 1962. propulsion, and control. Advanced scien- Andrews, Frank M. (1884–1943). Reor- tific test facil­ities. Promoted independent ganized Army Air Corps. Helped establish US Air Force. 1965. The first were, naturally enough, independent General Headquarters Air Force. 1986. Bell, Lawrence D. (1894–1956). Devel- oped such innovative and unique aircraft Wilbur and Orville Wright, fol- Armstrong, Neil A. (born 1930). Served as P-59 (first US ), X-1 (used as a military pilot and of X-15 and to break sound barrier), X-5, and X-14. other . Astronaut on the Developed first commercially licensed lowed by 153 other aviation no- Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 space missions. helicopter. 1977. First man to walk on the moon. 1979. Bellanca, Giuseppe M. (1886–1960). tables. The Hall of Famers (with Arnold, H. H. “Hap” (1886–1950). Made designer and aviator. Built many pioneering flights. Won first Mackay first parasol monoplane. Built the Bel- their year of induction) are as Trophy. Led Army Air Forces in World lanca CF—first aircraft design to include War II. Only aviator to attain five-star distinctive wing struts. Designed the rank. Founding father of the Air Force WB-1 for the Wright Aeronautical Corp. follows: Association. 1967. of Paterson, N. J. Designed and built Miss Atwood, J. Leland (born 1904). Designed Veedol, which in 1931 completed the first BT-9, O-47, AT-6, P-51, B-25, P-82, FJ-1, nonstop Pacific crossing. 1993. and AJ-1 aircraft for North American Avia- Bendix, Vincent H. (1882–1945). Aero- tion. Led company as it developed F-86, space executive and designer. Founded F-100, XB-70, X-15, B-1, and various Bendix Aviation Corp. Invented the pres- spacecraft and boosters. 1984. sure carburetor for aircraft engines. 1991.

42 AIR FORCE Magazine / January 1997 Boeing, William E. (1881–1956). Orga- Service Pilots (WASPs) program during first Marine aviator. Made first catapult nized network of routes in the 1920s. World War II. Won Harmon Trophy. Was launch from an underway ship. Led Marine Founded namesake company that would first woman to exceed speed of sound. aviation in early decades of flight. 1965. produce many military and commercial Served as president of National Aeronautic Curtiss, Glenn H. (1878–1930). De- aircraft types from to the Association and Fédération Aéronautique veloped lightweight engines. Improved present. 1966. Inter­na­tionale. 1971. and control systems. Cre- Bong, Richard I. (1920–1945). Dem- Collins, Michael (born 1930). Served ated basic new craft, such as sea- onstrated immense skill as fight­er pilot. as Air Force test pilot. Was astronaut planes and amphibians. Constructed Became ’s all-time leading ace on Gemini 10 and Apollo 11 missions. first airplane to take off and land on with 40 confirmed victories. Died prepar- Was planner, developer, and overseer of a ship and first airplane to fly across ing to test gunnery skills in new jet fighter, Smithsonian Insti­tution’s National Air and the Atlantic. 1964. the P-80. 1986. Space Mu­seum. 1985. Davis, Benjamin O., Jr. (born 1912). USAF Borman, Frank (born 1928). Military pilot Combs, Harry B. (born 1913). Aerospace general and military aviator. First African- and astronaut. Commanded Gemini 7 and executive and aviator. Founder of Combs American cadet in the twentieth century to Apollo 8 (first manned spacecraft to orbit Aircraft, which later became AMR Combs graduate from the US Military Academy at the moon). Became West Point. First black AAF pilot to earn executive. 1982. wings. Member of the Tus­kegee Airmen. Air Force’s first black .1994. Boyd, Albert (1906–1976). Set world speed record in the P-80R. Served as deSeversky, Alexander P. (1894–1974). engineer and logistician during World War Was industrialist, author, strategist, and II. Promoted scientific flight test. 1984. pilot with 13 aerial victories in World War I. Invented in-flight refueling and first gy- Bradley, Mark E., Jr. (born 1907). USAF roscopically stabilized bombsight. 1970. general and military aviator. Project officer for the newly ordered P-47. Assisted in Doolittle, James H. (1896–1993). Made improvement in P-51 design that helped first accurate measurement of effects of decimate the German . Among acceleration in flight. Made first takeoff, other posts, commanded 301st Fighter Wing flight, and landing completely on instru- on Okinawa in 1946 and Air Force Logistics ments. Made first outside loop. Organized Command from 1962 to 1965. 1992. and led first raid on Japan in April 1942 (for which he received the Medal of Brown, George S. (1918–1978). Served Honor). Commanded Twelfth, Fifteenth, as pilot in World War II. Provided and Eighth Air Forces during World War leadership during Korean and Vietnam II. Was first National President of Air Force Wars. Was Air Force Chief of Staff and later Association. 1967. Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. 1985. Douglas, Donald W. (1892–1981). De- Byrd, Richard E. (1888–1957). Pioneered signed and manufactured many types of use of airplanes in polar regions, making after merger with Gates Rubber Corp. military and commercial aircraft, including flights over both poles. Acquired scientific Helped engineer merger with Learjet Corp. , SBD, A-26, C-74, knowledge of these regions for more than to form Gates Learjet Corp. President of D-558-II, C-124, A-4, and DC-3. 1969. 30 years. Received peacetime Medal of Gates Learjet from 1971 to 1982. Helped Honor and Medal of Freedom. 1968. develop today’s air traffic control system. Draper, Charles Stark (1901–1987). De- veloped new aircraft instruments (to moni- Cessna, Clyde V. (1879–1954). Developed Received the Wright Brothers Memorial tor engines), gyroscopic sights, automatic early monoplanes. Formed and managed Trophy in 1985 for “significant public ser- inertial guidance systems for aircraft, several aircraft manu­facturing companies, in- vice of enduring value to aviation in the missiles, and spacecraft, and fly-by-wire cluding name­sake company. Produced high- .” 1996. control systems for aircraft. 1981. efficiency general-aviation aircraft. 1978. Conrad, Charles, Jr. (born 1930). Served Eaker, Ira C. (1896–1987). Served as chief Chamberlin, Clarence D. (1893–1976). as Navy test pilot. Was astronaut on Gemini pilot of Question Mark during 1929 record Set record endurance and altitude flights. 5, Gemini 11, , and Skylab 2 endurance flight. Made first “blind” trans- Made 1927 nonstop flight from Long Is- space missions. Was third man to walk continental flight. Organized VIII Bomber land, N. Y., to . Promoted public on the moon. 1980. Command. Commanded flying. 1976. Crawford, Frederick C. (1891–1994). and served as deputy commander of Army Aerospace executive and engineer. Served Chanute, Octave (1832–1910). Wrote Air Forces. 1970. Progress in Flying Machines. Demon- as president of Thompson Products, Inc. Earhart, Amelia (1897–1937?). Promoted strated successful man-carrying glid- (now TRW, Inc.) which developed the interests of women in flying. Set numerous ers. Served as counselor to the Wright sodium-cooled valve used in Spirit of records and milestones. Was first woman brothers and others engaged in flight St. Louis. Established Thompson Auto to fly (as a passenger) across the Atlantic, research. 1963. Album and Aviation Museum in , Ohio. 1993. first to make a nonstop transcontinental Chennault, Claire L. (1890–1958). De- flight (as pilot), and first to pilot an auto- Crossfield, A. Scott (born 1921). Piloted veloped science of fighter tactics and giro. 1968. doctrine. Showed distinguished leader- such research aircraft as D-558-II, X-4, Eielson, Carl Ben (1897–1929). Was first ship in as commander of American X-5, and X-15. Was first pilot to exceed person to fly over polar regions. Devoted Volunteer Group (the Flying Tigers) and Mach 2 and first to surpass Mach 3 and his life to bringing aviation to sparsely Fourteenth Air Force. 1972. survive. Helped form Society of Experi- mental Test Pilots. Won and populated regions. 1985. Cochran, Jacqueline (birthdate unknown; SETP’s Iven Kincheloe Award. Developed Ellyson, Theodore G. (1885–1928). Pio- died 1980). Was first wom­an to fly in Bendix advanced flight controls. 1983. neered with seaplanes and catapults. First Trophy Race. Organized Women’s Airforce Cunningham, Alfred A. (1882–1939). Was naval aviator. 1964.

AIR FORCE Magazine / January 1997 43 Pressed for improved long-range military Guggenheim, Harry F. (1890–1971). Op- aircraft. Served as Chief of the Army Air erated Daniel Guggenheim Fund (which Corps from 1931 to 1935. 1963. proved feasibility of passen­ger service). Provided first aviation weather-reporting Frye, William J. “Jack” (1904–1959). Airline service. Provided full-flight laboratory executive and aviator. Founded Aero Corp., where made the first “blind” which formed Standard Airlines, a major flight. 1971. airmail transporter later consolidated to make TWA. Served as president of TWA. Haughton, Daniel J. (1911–1987). Led Set numerous records in commercial air- development of Lockheed C-130 transport. craft. Set and broke the transcontinental Brought the L-1011 TriStar to market. speed record three times. 1992. Served as Lock­­heed’s board chairman. 1987. Gabreski, Francis S. “Gabby” (born 1919). Demonstrated unusual valor and Hegenberger, Albert F. (1895–1983). combat tactics in becoming third leading Pioneered instruments and systems, Army Air Forces ace in World War II and such as first fully automatic flight control. one of the top aces in Korea. Number one Made first flight to (which won the living American ace. 1978. 1927 ) and first solo “blind” flight (which won the 1934 Collier Trophy). Gentile, Don S. (1920–1951). Mili­tary Served in the Army Air Forces. 1976. Robert Goddard aviator. Part of fearsome two-man fighter team (with Capt. John T. Godfrey) that Heinemann, Edward H. (1908–1991). Ely, Eugene B. (1886–1911). Made first destroyed more than 50 German aircraft Designed and developed such military unassisted takeoff from a naval vessel. in the air and on the ground during World aircraft as the Douglas A-20, A-26, A-1, Made first successful landing and takeoff War II. 1995. D-558-11, A-3, and A-4. Worked as aero- from same ship, thus proving practicality space consultant. 1981. Gilruth, Robert R. (born 1913). Aerospace of aircraft carriers. 1965. executive. Managed the National Advisory Hoover, Robert A. (born 1922). As long- Everest, Frank K. “Pete” (born 1920). Committee for Aeronautics, which became time test pilot for North American Avia- Served as pilot during World War II. As NASA. Directed the Manned Spacecraft tion, performed aerobatics for millions of test pilot, established unofficial altitude Cen­ter and the Apollo 11 program. 1994. spectators. Led Society of Experimental record of 73,000 feet in X-1, set world Test Pilots. 1988. Glenn, John H., Jr. (born 1921). Was speed record of 755.149 mph in F-100, and in World War II and Korea. Hughes, Howard R. (1905–1976). De- flew X-1B to Mach 2.3 and X-2 to record First to make supersonic transcontinental veloped such advanced design aircraft Mach 2.9 in 1956. Tested X-3, X-4, X-5, flight. Was first American astronaut to orbit as the H-1 and H-4. Set aerial records XF-92, YB-52, and most “Century Series” Earth, in 1962. Now a US Senator. 1976. demonstrating the capabilities of a vari- Air Force fighters. 1989. ety of aircraft. Developed domestic and Goddard, George W. (1889–1987). De- Fairchild, Sherman M. (1896–1971). international commercial aviation. 1973. veloped aerial photography for wartime Developed precision aerial cameras, reconnaissance and peacetime aerial Ingalls, David S. (1899–1985). Was only such advanced types of commercial and mapping. 1976. US Navy ace in World War I. Established military aircraft as the PT-19, C-119, and aviation legal codes. Developed Naval F-27 and their engines, and space-related Goddard, Robert H. (1882–1945). Invent- Air Transport Service during World War satellites and components, including ed the bazooka. Launched first success- II. Promoted commercial and private fly- semiconductors. 1979. ful liquid-fueled . Solved problems ing. 1983. of rocket control. Developed parachute Fleet, Reuben H. (1887–1975). Provided recovery system for . 1966. James, Daniel “Chappie,” Jr. (1920–1978). leadership role in military flight training. USAF general and military aviator. Member Organized airmail service. Developed suc- Godfrey, Arthur (1903–1983). Pro­moted of the Tus­kegee Airmen during World War cessful training aircraft and flying boats aviation on radio and television programs. II. Flew 101 combat missions in Korean for commercial and military use and such As a pilot, carried out record-setting, multiengine as B-24, B-32, and around-the-world flight in a JetCommander B-36. 1975. business aircraft. 1987. , Anthony H. G. (1890–1939). De- Goldwater, Barry M. (born 1909). Served signed Dr.I, D.VII, D.VIII, and T-2, which military aviation as a pilot and administrator was first aircraft to fly across US nonstop. and as a US Senator supporting national Designed synchronized machine gun. defense, space developments, and com- Developed airliners vital to establishment mercial and private aviation. 1982. of worldwide air routes. 1980. Grissom, Virgil I. “Gus” (1926–1967). Ford, Henry (1863–1947). Produced air- Served as Air Force fighter pilot in Korea. craft engines in World War I and aircraft Was astronaut on second Mercury mission and engines in World War II. Built first and first Gemini mission. Died in Apollo modern airport and trimotor airliner. 1984. capsule fire. 1987. Foss, Joe (born 1915). Was second leading Gross, Robert E. (1897–1961). Led Lock- Marine Corps ace in World War II. Received heed Aircraft Co. in various capacities in Medal of Honor. Established South Dakota manufacture of commercial and military Air National Guard. Was National President aircraft from 1932 to the space age. 1970. of Air Force Association. 1984. Grumman, Leroy R. (1895–1982). De- Foulois, Benjamin D. (1879–1967). Par- veloped such engineering innovations as ticipated in trials of first military airplane folding wings. Designed aircraft from FF-1 and designed first airplane radio receiver. through lunar module. 1972. “Hap” Arnold

44 AIR FORCE Magazine / January 1997 War. First African-American four-star Langley, Samuel P. (1834–1906). Studied Trophy in 1921 for development of “Aerial general. 1993. air and space. Demonstrated the practi- Yacht.” Furthered the utility of aircraft and cality of mechanical flight and provided helicopters. 1969. Jeppesen, Elrey B. (born 1907). Aerial inspirational guidance to others. 1963. cartographer and aviator. Created the Jepp Luke, Frank, Jr. (1897–1918). Showed Charts—the first navigational aid designed Lear, William P., Sr. (1902–1978). Devel- courage and skill as pursuit pilot and skill specifically for use by pilots to guide them oped advanced radio-operated navigation in development of new tactical combat in their flights. Charts were adopted by the and control systems and Learjet family of maneuvers. Was America’s second leading US Navy as the “Airways Manual,” now a business aircraft. 1978. ace of World War I. 1975. standard guide for pilots. 1990. LeMay, Curtis E. (1906–1990). Was lead MacCready, Paul B., Jr. (born 1925). Johnson, Clarence L. “Kelly” (1910–1990). navigator on two historic B-17 flights to Aerospace designer and glider pilot. Pio- Created innovative technical concepts that South America. Commanded XXI Bomber neered the concept of high-altitude wave significantly advanced aircraft design, Command and Twentieth Air Force during soaring. First American to win the World performance, and reliability. Helped design World War II. Commanded US Air Forces Soaring Championship. Designed and built Lockheed P-38, T-33, U-2, and SR-71 in Europe (organized Berlin Airlift) and Gos­samer Condor, the first sustained, aircraft. Helped achieve supersonic flight controlled human-powered plane. 1991. and . 1974. Macready, John A. (1887–1979). As early Johnston, Alvin M. “Tex” (born 1914). test pilot, participated in first nonstop trans- Test pilot and aerospace executive. While continental flight in Fokker T-2. Won three working at Co., tested some of consecutive Mackay Trophies. Pioneered the nation’s most advanced aircraft. Flight- high-altitude flight. 1968. tested world’s first swept-wing bomber for Martin, Glenn L. (1886–1955). Made Boeing Aircraft Co. 1993. important advances in aircraft design. Jones, Thomas V. (born 1920). Aerospace Manufactured such aircraft as MB-1, executive and aeronautical engineer. B-10, B-26, and Matador and Mace mis- Helped establish the Aeronautical Institute siles. 1966. of Technology in Brazil. Worked 39 years McCampbell, David (1910–1996). Served for Northrop Corp., establishing it as a in World War II. Commander of Air Group multimillion dollar company. Developed 15 (“Fabled Fifteen”) aboard USS Essex. several systems that became state of the Destroyed 34 airborne enemy planes, art in aviation technology. 1992. becoming the Navy’s “Ace of Aces.” Kenney, George C. (1889–1977). Devel- Received Medal of Honor, among other oped wing-mounted machine guns and honors. Commanded USS Severn and other warplane armament. Was Gen. Doug- USS Bon Homme Richard. 1996. las MacArthur’s top air officer in the Pacific McDonnell, James S. (1899–1980). Ad- region in World War II. Organized postwar Jimmy Doolittle vanced military aircraft design in F3H, Strategic Air Command. Was National F-101, F-4, F-15, AV-8B, and F/A-18. President of Air Force Association. 1971. was architect of Strategic Air Command. Served as Air Force Chief of Staff from Did pioneering work in space technology Kettering, Charles F. (1876–1958). Devel- 1961 to 1965. 1972. with the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft. oped reliable engine ignition systems. Laid Developed such commercial aircraft as out principles for and built one of the first LeVier, Anthony W. (born 1913). Raced the DC-9 and DC-10. 1977. cruise missiles. Developed tetraethyl-lead high-speed planes. Flight-tested Lock­heed Meyer, John C. (1919–1975). Dem­ engine “knock” suppressant and high- P-38, XP-80, F-104, and U-2 and contrib- uted knowledge about flight safety.1978. onstrated extraordinary courage and compression engines and fuels. 1979. skill as fighter pilot in World War II and Kindelberger, James H. “Dutch” (1895– Lindbergh, Anne Morrow (born 1906). Korea. Was seventh leading Air Force 1962). Developed aeronautical designs Made pioneering flights to survey air ace of all time. Commanded Twelfth Air and precision manufacturing techniques routes to the Orient and Europe. Wrote Force. Was Air Force vice chief of staff that helped North American Aviation build extensively to encourage aviation and air and commander in chief of Strategic Air the AT-6, B-25, P-51, F-86, F-100, X-15, travel. 1979. Command. 1988. and XB-70. Contributed to development Lindbergh, Charles A. (1902–1974). Mitchell, William “Billy” (1879–1936). of Apollo spacecraft. 1972. Made first solo flight across the Atlantic, Developed early theories of airpower. Knabenshue, A. Roy (1876–1960). Per- in 1927. Pioneered the Great Circle Route. Demonstrated concept of strategic bomb- formed public demonstrations of balloons Provided valuable technical service to ing by sinking obsolete German battleship and steerable balloons. De­signed and built Army Air Forces before and during World Ostfriesland. Defined roles and missions early dirigibles. Managed airplane exhibi- War II. 1967. for an independent Air Force. 1966. tion teams for the Wright brothers. 1965. Link, Edwin A. (1904–1981). Pioneered Mitscher, Marc A. (1887–1947). Attempted Knight, William J. “Pete” (born 1929). Was improvements in flight training and safety to be first pilot to cross the Atlantic. Com- Air Force test pilot in the F-100, F-104, through development of unique ground- manded USS Hornet (the carrier that F-5, and especially X-15, in which he set based trainers and simulators. 1976. launched Doo­little’s 1942 raid on Japan). unofficial speed record of Mach 6.7 and Lockheed, Allan H. (1889–1969). Made Participated in the Battle of Midway. Com­ earned astronaut wings. 1988. first dual-pilot controlled flight. Founded manded Task Force 58 during World War II in the Pacific. 1989. Lahm, Frank P. (1877–1963). Was the three airplane manufacturing firms and Army’s first airplane and dirigible pilot and was consultant to namesake company. Montgomery, John J. (1858–1911). Re- an early proponent of aircraft for military 1986. searched the nature of laws of flight. Con- purposes. Organized training facilities Loening, Grover C. (1888–1976). De- structed and tested a series of early gliders for Army Air Corps. Held unofficial title veloped new amphibian airplanes with without flight-control systems. Made public “Father of the West Point of the Air.” 1963. retractable landing gear. Received Collier demonstrations of gliders. 1964.

AIR FORCE Magazine / January 1997 45 Moorer, Thomas H. (born 1912). Was naval flying suit, which led to discovery of the ager—first plane to fly nonstop around aviator during World War II. Commanded jetstream. He and Will Rogers were killed the world without refueling. 1995. in a crash near Point Barrow, Alaska. 1969. both Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. Served Ryan, T. Claude (1898–1982). Developed as Chief of Naval Operations from 1967 Read, Albert C. (1887–1967). Was naval significantly advanced aircraft, such as M-1, to 1970 and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs aviator and commander of NC-4 on first PT-22, X-13, and Firebee drone. Trained of Staff from 1970 to 1974. 1987. successful transatlantic flight in 1919. critically needed pilots during World War Moss, Sanford A. (1872–1946). Studied Pioneer of . 1965. II. Developed electronic space-navigation and demonstrated gas turbine engines systems that helped make it possible for Reeve, Robert C. (1902–1980). As a and developed aircraft turbosuperchargers­ humans to land on the moon. 1974. barnstormer, airmail pilot, and bush pilot, while working for General Electric. 1976. played a vital role in demonstrating uses Schirra, Walter M. “Wally”, Jr. (born 1923). Neumann, Gerhard (born 1917). Served of the airplane in the economic, social, Was Navy fighter and test pilot and the as mechanic with American Volunteer and cultural environment of Alaska. 1975. only astronaut to fly in Mercury (Mercury- Group in China. Technical expert in de- 8), Gemini (Gemini 6), and Apollo velopment of variable stator compressor () spacecraft. 1986. system for jet engines. Led development Schriever, Bernard A. (born 1910). Was of J79 engine while working for General Air Force test pilot and leader of USAF’s Electric. 1986. research and development and ballistic Nichols, Ruth Rowland. (1901–1960). missile and military space programs. Aviatrix and aerospace executive. First Adapted those technologies to the nation’s licensed female seaplane pilot. First to fly efforts to explore space. 1980. nonstop from , N. Y., to Miami, Fla. Selfridge, Thomas E. (1882–1908). Designed Co-founder of the women’s flying group the and developed airplanes and made pioneer- “Ninety-Nines.” Only woman to hold three ing flights. First Army officer to fly; first fatality maximum international records. “First of powered flight, killed while a passenger woman” in nearly 30 categories. 1992. in an aircraft flown by Orville Wright. 1965. Norden, Carl L. (1880–1965). Aerospace Shepard, Alan B., Jr. (born 1923). Was Navy designer. Developed the Norden bomb- test pilot and first US astronaut launched sight, designed to drop bombs from an into space. Commanded Apollo 14. Was aircraft and hit targets on land or sea. 1994. fifth man to walk on the moon. 1977. Northrop, John K. (1895–1981). Demon- Sikorsky, Igor I. (1889–1972). Developed strated originality and ingenuity in aircraft Ira Eaker large multiengine aircraft, including flying construction and design, especially in boats used in commercial transoceanic “flying wing” designs in use today. Pro- flights. Developed single-rotor helicopter, duced such aircraft as the P-61, F-89, Rentschler, Frederick B. (1887–1956). of which VS-300 was the first successful X-4, and America’s first rocket plane, the Helped establish Pratt & Whit­ney, United example. 1968. MX-324. Developed such missiles as the Airlines, Sikorsky Helicopters, and - Snark. 1974. ilton Standard, which developed control- Six, Robert F. (1907–1986). Developed lable propellers. 1982. regional airline that became Continental. Pangborn, Clyde E. (1894–1958). Barn- Expanded it to serve both national and stormer. Formed the famous “Gates Flying Richardson, Holden C. (1878–1960). Was international routes. 1980. Circus.” Made first nonstop transpacific naval aviator who conceived, developed, flight (with Hugh Herndon, Jr.). Formed and demonstrated water- and ship-based Slayton, Donald K. (1924–1993). Astronaut the Ferry Command of the aircraft and such devices as the turntable and test pilot. One of the original Mercury during World War II. 1995. catapult for capital ships. 1978. 7 astronauts. Member of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. First chief of the Astronaut Patterson, William A. (1899–1980). Dem- Rickenbacker, Edward V. (1890–1973). Office and served as the director of Flight onstrated professionalism in airline devel- Combat pilot and leading American ace Crew Operations, directing all astronaut opment, innovations in passenger service, of World War I. Managed several airlines, activities. Served as the manager of the and con­cern for employees in numerous including Eastern. Assisted in the growth Approach and Landing Test official capacities at United Airlines.1976. of modern commercial aviation. 1965. program from 1975 to 1977. Managed the Piper, William T., Sr. (1881–1970). De- Rodgers, Calbraith P. (1879–1912). Made Shuttle Orbital Flight Test program until his veloped, produced, and marketed such first flight across the United States in retirement in 1982. 1996. lightplanes as Cub, Tripacer, and Cherokee Wright EX Vin Fiz in 1911, surviving many Smith, C. R. (1899–1990). Developed for general aviation use. Promoted their hardships and crashes. 1964. domestic air transportation as president application to a wide variety of commercial Rogers, Will (1879–1935). Demonstrated of American Airlines. Organized Army Air and military uses. 1980. public support of aviation for defense and Forces Air Transport Command. Expanded Pitcairn, Harold F. (1897–1960). Aero- transportation. He and were international aviation. Was National Presi­ space executive and designer. Formed killed in an airplane crash near Point dent of Air Force Association. 1974. Pitcairn Aviation. Designed and built the Barrow, Alaska. 1977. Spaatz, Carl A. “Tooey” (1891–1974). Was PA-5 Mailwing to carry mail from New York, Rushworth, Robert A. (1924–1993). pilot attached to Gen. John J. Pershing’s N. Y., to Atlanta, Ga. Brought the autogiro USAF general and military aviator. Test- 1916 expedition to Mexico. Won three to the US and made it the safest aircraft flew a variety of planes. Second USAF aerial victories in World War I. Com- flown in this country. 1995. X-15 pilot to attain the astronaut rating. manded Question Mark endurance flight. Post, Wiley H. (1898–1935). Performed Led major test programs, including the Commanded Eighth Air Force, Twelfth Air flights around the world in Lockheed Vega F-5, A-10, F-15, YF-16, and B-1. 1990. Force, and US Strategic Forces in Europe Winnie Mae, demonstrating the practicality Rutan, Elbert L. (born 1943). Aerospace during World War II. USAF’s first Chief of of new flight-related equipment. Conceived executive and designer. Invented Voy- Staff, from 1947 to 1948. Was first Board and proved feasibility of fully pressurized Chairman of Air Force Association. 1967.

46 AIR FORCE Magazine / January 1997 Sperry, Elmer A., Sr. (1860–1930). De- 6, 1945. Technical advisor for Operation veloped gyroscopic instruments, such as Cross­roads project, the atom bomb tests the turn-and-bank indicator and artificial at Bikini Atoll. President of Executive Jet horizon, gyroscopic bombsight, and an- Aviation, Inc., an all-jet, air-taxi company, tiaircraft searchlight. Was 1930 inventor from 1976 to 1986. 1996. of automatic pilot system that kept an Towers, John H. (1885–1955). Made airplane on a prescribed flight path.1973. first attempt to cross Atlantic in NC-3. Sperry, Lawrence B., Sr. (1892–1923). Established first Naval Air Station at Pioneered development of automatic flight Pensacola, Fla. Commanded USS Lang­ley stabilizers, flight instruments, including the and USS Sara­toga. Fought for recogni- side-slip indicator and optical drift indica- tion of air­power as a vital part of naval tor, guided missiles, and such innovative doctrine. 1966. aircraft as the R-3 and Messenger. 1981. Trippe, Juan T. (1899–1981). De­veloped Stanley, Robert M. (1912–1977). Engineer basic principles of airline operation and and aviator. Pioneered development of pioneered international commercial avia- aircraft and survival systems. Formed tion as head of Pan American Airways. Stanley Aviation Corp. Developed USAF’s 1970. first downward ejection seats and the Turner, Roscoe (1895–1970). Par­ticipated automatic-release lap belts. Invented the “Gabby” Gabreski in early commercial aviation and air races extraction escape system. 1990. leading to important technical advance- ment. Participated in 1924 round-the-world Stapp, John Paul (born 1910). Specialized ment in design and performance of high- flight. 1974. in aerospace medicine. Proved that human speed aircraft and engines. 1975. bodies can withstand forces associated Walden, Henry W. (1883–1964). Con- Twining, Nathan F. (1897–1982). Com- with ejecting from aircraft at high speeds ceived, built, and demonstrated manned manded Thirteenth and Fifteenth Air and high altitudes. Promoted automobile flight in the first successful monoplane in Forces during World War II. Directed final seat belts. 1985. the United States. 1964. Twentieth Air Force operations against Stearman, Lloyd C. (1898–1975). Found- Japan. Commanded Air Materiel Com- Wells, Edward C. (1910–1986). Aerospace ed company that produced C-1, C-2, mand and Alaskan Air Command. Air designer. Served as chief engineer, vice C-2C, C-2M, and PT-9. As president of Force Chief of Staff from 1953 to 1957. president, and general manager at Boe- Lockheed, oversaw design of Electra and First Air Force general to be Chairman ing. Under his direction, Boeing won the of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, from 1957 to first-phase development contract for the 1960. 1976. X-20 Dyna-Soar and the assembly and test of the Air Force Minuteman. Directed the Vandenberg, Hoyt S. (1899–1954). USAF design development of the Boeing B-17 general and military aviator. Served in a Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress, and number of high-level positions in World other jet transport aircraft. 1991. War II, including command of . Helped plan the Normandy inva- Wilson, Thornton A. (born 1921). Devel- sion. Air Force Chief of Staff from 1948 oped many Boeing aircraft and missiles. to 1953. 1991. Led the planning, development, and production of such jetliners as the 707, von Braun, Wernher (1912–1977). De- 727, 737, and 747. 1983. veloped rocket-powered ballistic missiles, satellites, space probes, and Earth-orbit- Woolman, Collett Everman “C. E.” (1889– ing and lunar spacecraft that made up US 1966). Airline executive. Proved that aerial manned space program. 1982. application was a highly effective weapon against agricultural pests. Ran the world’s von Kármán, Theodore (1881–1963). De- first aerial crop dusting company, which veloped theoretical studies and practical evolved into Airlines. 1994. applications of to improve aircraft per­formance. Developed rocketry Wright, Orville (1871–1948). Co-invent­ in creating intercontinental ballistic mis- ed first successful man-carrying airplane. Claire Chennault siles. 1983. Became the first person to fly an airplane that achieved controlled, powered flight. development of Constellation. Stearman von Ohain, Hans P. (born 1911). Aero- Unlocked the secret of powered flight.1962. Division of Boeing produced the World space scientist. Conceived the idea for Wright, Wilbur (1867–1912). Co-invent­ed War II PT-17 trainer. 1989. jet propulsion. Designed and produced a successful liquid-fueled engine. USAF first successful man-carrying airplane. Taylor, Charles E. (1868–1956). Built first chief scientist from 1947 to 1979. 1990. Showed unfailing devotion to the task of successful airplane engine for the Wright unlocking the secret of powered flight.1962. brothers. Maintained such early airplanes , Chance M. (1890–1930). De- Yeager, Charles E. (born 1923). Recorded as Wright Military Flyer and Wright EX for signed VE-7, first airplane to land on USS 13 aerial victories in World War II. Con- their historic flights. 1965. Langley (the Navy’s first aircraft carrier), the OU-1 (the Navy’s first aircraft to be ducted test flights that led to supersonic Thomas, Lowell (1892–1981). Avi­ation catapult-launched), and F4U Corsair flight in the X-1. Contributed to aerospace promoter and enthusiast. Author and radio of World War II. Started what became research and safety. 1973. and TV personality. 1992. LTV, which built the F-8 and the A-7 jet Young, John W. (born 1930). Was first as- Tibbets, Paul W., Jr. (born 1915). Military aircraft. 1989. tronaut to go into space six times (Gem­ini aviator and aerospace executive. Piloted Wade, Leigh (1896–1991). Flight-tested 3, Gemini 10, Apollo 10, Apollo 16, STS-1, the Enola Gay, the B-29 that dropped the and achieved record-setting performances and STS-9). Honored as leader of the US atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August with new and improved aircraft and equip- space program. 1988. ■

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