Joe made his first solo flight on 28 May 1942, later going on to enlist as an Aviation Cadet on 8 July 1942 and graduate from Empire Test Pilot School at Farnborough, England in 1952 as an exchange pilot with the Royal Air Force. During Joe’s military career, he was a World War II bomber pilot who was shot down over Greece before making his way to allied-occupied Italy. He flew around 60 different fighters, cargo carriers and bombers during his time as a test pilot. Joe was involved in all weather bomber testing, aircraft systems and engine development with flight tests on the B-52, B-47, B-66 and B-57. Joe later went on to become the pilot and Director of the B-58 “Hustler” flight test program and then the Chief Air Force Pilot and Test Director of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie, NASA/USAF flight research program at Edwards Air Force Base. After Joe retired from the Air Force, he was an engineering flight test pilot for more than 13 years for United Airlines in San Francisco. Joe received many accolades during his career, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, Aerospace Walk of Honor, and 1966 Pilot of the Year by the International Order of Characters.
He is survived by his wife Rema, and loving family.
(Society of Experimental Pilots, 9 May 2016)
He is survived by his wife Rema, and loving family.
(Society of Experimental Pilots, 9 May 2016)
Joe made his first solo flight on 28 May 1942, later going on to enlist as an Aviation Cadet on 8 July 1942 and graduate from Empire Test Pilot School at Farnborough, England in 1952 as an exchange pilot with the Royal Air Force. During Joe’s military career, he was a World War II bomber pilot who was shot down over Greece before making his way to allied-occupied Italy. He flew around 60 different fighters, cargo carriers and bombers during his time as a test pilot. Joe was involved in all weather bomber testing, aircraft systems and engine development with flight tests on the B-52, B-47, B-66 and B-57. Joe later went on to become the pilot and Director of the B-58 “Hustler” flight test program and then the Chief Air Force Pilot and Test Director of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie, NASA/USAF flight research program at Edwards Air Force Base. After Joe retired from the Air Force, he was an engineering flight test pilot for more than 13 years for United Airlines in San Francisco. Joe received many accolades during his career, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, Aerospace Walk of Honor, and 1966 Pilot of the Year by the International Order of Characters.
He is survived by his wife Rema, and loving family.
(Society of Experimental Pilots, 9 May 2016)
He is survived by his wife Rema, and loving family.
(Society of Experimental Pilots, 9 May 2016)
