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<span class=prefix>MAJ</span> Elwood Thomas “Woody” Driver

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MAJ Elwood Thomas “Woody” Driver Veteran

Birth
Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA
Death
26 Mar 1992 (aged 70)
Reston, Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA GPS-Latitude: 38.8806, Longitude: -77.0703
Plot
Section 2, Site 4955-E
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Army Aviator. Renowned Tuskegee Airman and Federal Government official. Driver, a native of Trenton, New Jersey, earned his bachelors' degree from the New Jersey State College in 1942. He later earned a masters' degree in safety from New York University. Driver was comissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in October of 1942 and served as a combat pilot and flight leader with the 99th Fighter Squadron. He was officially credited with 1 combat victory over a German Focke-Wulf 190 aircraft on February 5, 1944. He also had one "probable" victory as well. By the end of the Second World War, Driver had completed 123 combat missions. After retiring from the Air Force following a 20-year career, Driver served for 5 years as the Chief, System Safety Engineering, for North American Aviation. He was then hired by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He was the NTSB's Associate Administrator for Rule Making from 1967 to 1978. He then accepted a Presidential appointment, serving as the Vice Chairman of the NTSB from 1978 to 1981. His last government position was with NASA Headquarters as the Director of the Aircraft Management Office in Washington DC from 1986-1990. Driver is buried in a place of honor, in front of General Daniel J. "Chappie" James, Jr.
World War II Army Aviator. Renowned Tuskegee Airman and Federal Government official. Driver, a native of Trenton, New Jersey, earned his bachelors' degree from the New Jersey State College in 1942. He later earned a masters' degree in safety from New York University. Driver was comissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in October of 1942 and served as a combat pilot and flight leader with the 99th Fighter Squadron. He was officially credited with 1 combat victory over a German Focke-Wulf 190 aircraft on February 5, 1944. He also had one "probable" victory as well. By the end of the Second World War, Driver had completed 123 combat missions. After retiring from the Air Force following a 20-year career, Driver served for 5 years as the Chief, System Safety Engineering, for North American Aviation. He was then hired by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He was the NTSB's Associate Administrator for Rule Making from 1967 to 1978. He then accepted a Presidential appointment, serving as the Vice Chairman of the NTSB from 1978 to 1981. His last government position was with NASA Headquarters as the Director of the Aircraft Management Office in Washington DC from 1986-1990. Driver is buried in a place of honor, in front of General Daniel J. "Chappie" James, Jr.

Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett


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  • Maintained by: SsjD
  • Added: Feb 27, 2001
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20597/elwood_thomas-driver: accessed ), memorial page for MAJ Elwood Thomas “Woody” Driver (20 Aug 1921–26 Mar 1992), Find a Grave Memorial ID 20597, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by SsjD (contributor 48849350).