Post-test pilot career Robert Michael White

f-105d @ takhli rtafb

in may 1967, during vietnam war, colonel white assigned deputy commander operations of 355th tactical fighter wing, f-105 unit based @ takhli royal thai air force base, thailand. flew 70 combat missions on north vietnam, including leading attack against paul doumer bridge in hanoi on august 11, 1967, awarded air force cross. transferred in october seventh air force headquarters @ tan son nhut air base, south vietnam, serving chief of attack division in directorate of combat operations.

white returned united states , wright-patterson air force base in june 1968, served director of f-15 eagle systems program, responsible managing development , production planning, in aeronautical systems division, air force systems command.

on 31 july 1970, white assumed duties commander of air force flight test center, edwards air force base, responsible research , developmental flight testing of manned , unmanned aerospace vehicles, aircraft systems, deceleration devices , air force test pilot school. during tenure commander, testing begun on such important programs f-15 air superiority fighter, a-x ground attack aircraft, , airborne warning , control system. in october 1971 completed naval test parachutist course , awarded parachutist s wings.

he served @ flight test center until 17 october 1972. following month, assumed duties of commandant, air force reserve officer training corps (afrotc), responsible entire afrotc officer accession program @ colleges , universities across united states. in february 1975, received second star , in march became chief of staff of fourth allied tactical air force.

white promoted grade of major general effective february 12, 1975, date of rank july 1, 1972. retired active duty on february 1, 1981.

in 1992, white inducted aerospace walk of honor. general white inducted national aviation hall of fame in dayton, ohio, on 15 july 2006. rumor abounds in honor of achievements, scaled composites white knight spacecraft launch plane named after white , fellow x-15 pilot pete knight. space ship 1 , white knight pilot/astronaut brian binnie reports not true.

he died march 17, 2010, @ age of 85.