Biography Robert A. Rushworth

1 biography

1.1 life , education
1.2 flight experience
1.3 personal

biography
early life , education

rushworth born in madison, maine on october 9, 1924. attended madison memorial high school, class president 4 years, graduating in 1942. after attending hebron academy (prep school) graduated in june 1943, , joining united states army air forces, studied mechanical engineering @ university of maine, receiving bachelor of engineering degree in 1951. received bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering u.s. air force institute of technology in 1954. in 1967 graduated national war college in washington d.c.

flight experience

in september 1944 rushworth earned pilot wings , second lieutenant commission following aviation cadet training program graduation. first assignment 12th combat cargo squadron in february 1945, in china-burma-india theater of operations, flew c-47 skytrain transport combat missions india throughout burma campaign , c-46 commandos across himalaya mountain range known hump shanghai , beijing. after 5 years reserve , air national guard, during received bachelor s degree university of maine, rushworth recalled active duty in 1951. during korean war, rushworth served f-80c shooting star pilot 49th fighter-interceptor squadron @ dow air force base.

following graduation u.s. air force institute of technology in 1954, rushworth stayed @ wright-patterson air force base in dayton, ohio. among duties serve @ directorate of flight , all-weather testing. there specialized in development , flight testing of experimental automatic flight control systems. graduated air force experimental flight test pilot school (class 56c) in 1957, flying f-101 voodoos, f-102 delta daggers, f-104 starfighters, f-105 thunderchiefs, f-106 delta darts , other jet fighters. rushworth selected x-15 program in 1958. made first flight on november 4, 1960. on next 6 years, made 34 flights in x-15, of pilot. included flight altitude of 285,000 feet, made on june 27, 1963. flight above 50 miles qualified rushworth astronaut wings, though have attained honor sooner had usaf man in space soonest project proceeded according plan.

on later x-15 flight, awarded distinguished flying cross landing north american x-15 after nose wheel extended while flying @ mach 5. made final x-15 flight on july 1, 1966, returned regular air force duties. attended f-4 phantom ii combat crew training, , in march 1968 sent cam ranh bay air base, republic of vietnam, assistant deputy commander operations 12th tactical fighter wing , flew 189 combat missions.

following return vietnam, april 1969 january 1971, program director of agm-65 maverick program , in february 1971 became commander of newly organized 4950th test wing, aeronautical systems division @ wright-patterson air force base, ohio. rushworth served inspector general, air force systems command, andrews air force base, maryland, may 1973 february 1974. served commander of air force flight test center @ edwards air force base, california, responsibilities included major test programs, including f-5, a-10, f-15, yf-16, yf-17 , b-1, , commander of air force test , evaluation center @ kirtland air force base, new mexico.

at time of retirement major general, vice commander, aeronautical systems division, air force systems command, @ wright-patterson air force base, ohio, dealt directly senior deputies , managers , assisted management of major acquisition programs such f-5, a-10, f-15, f-16 , b-1 numerous modernization programs b-52 , c-5. held position since october 1976.

rushworth member of society of experimental test pilots, , in 1975 received setp s james h. doolittle award outstanding accomplishment in technical management or engineering achievement in aerospace technology . rushworth retired on june 1, 1981.

he rated command pilot astronaut , has more 6,500 flying hours in more 50 different types of aircraft.

personal

rushworth married joyce butler, , had 1 daughter, cheri (born march 29, 1957). died of heart attack in camarillo, california on march 18, 1993, @ age of 68.