United States Navy Aviator. During his 30-year career, he had an unrivaled record of aviation achievement. In 1950, he entered the Navy's test pilot school and was the first test pilot to exceed both 60,000 and 70,000 feet in altitude. In 1956, he set a world speed record of 1,220 miles per hour and altitude record of 73,500 feet. In April 1958, he piloted his Grumman F11F-1F Super Tiger to a world altitude record of 76,939 feet, returning the record to America after an absence of 14 years. In 1962, he became the first Navy pilot to make 1,000 landings on aircraft carriers, in 1970, he was the first to log 10,000 hours in Navy aircraft. Later in his military career, he worked at the Navy's information office at the Pentagon and had duties as social aide at the White House for Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and President Nixon. By the time he retired in 1973, he had flown more than 200 aircraft models, made 1,418 fixed-wing landings on 37 aircraft carriers, and accumulated more than 16,000 hours of flight time. A 1943, U.S. Naval Academy graduate, he also served in WW II, Korean and Vietnam wars. His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Meritorious Service Medal. Cause of death, heart attack at age 84.
United States Navy Aviator. During his 30-year career, he had an unrivaled record of aviation achievement. In 1950, he entered the Navy's test pilot school and was the first test pilot to exceed both 60,000 and 70,000 feet in altitude. In 1956, he set a world speed record of 1,220 miles per hour and altitude record of 73,500 feet. In April 1958, he piloted his Grumman F11F-1F Super Tiger to a world altitude record of 76,939 feet, returning the record to America after an absence of 14 years. In 1962, he became the first Navy pilot to make 1,000 landings on aircraft carriers, in 1970, he was the first to log 10,000 hours in Navy aircraft. Later in his military career, he worked at the Navy's information office at the Pentagon and had duties as social aide at the White House for Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and President Nixon. By the time he retired in 1973, he had flown more than 200 aircraft models, made 1,418 fixed-wing landings on 37 aircraft carriers, and accumulated more than 16,000 hours of flight time. A 1943, U.S. Naval Academy graduate, he also served in WW II, Korean and Vietnam wars. His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Meritorious Service Medal. Cause of death, heart attack at age 84.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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