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Today in History – April 5, 1962 – 1962 Neil Armstrong takes X-15 to 54,600m

Neil Armstrong and the X-15 by Bob van der Linden, Posted on Tue, July 23, 2019, Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “Released from duty in mid-1952, Armstrong returned to Purdue where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. His love of flight and engineering drew him to the National Advisory

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Anderson, John Jr.

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  • Anderson, John Jr.

John Anderson, Jr.

Preferred Name: John
Date of Birth: April 21, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-8 – Major General
Hometown: Linden, NJ
Headed West Date: June 15, 2014
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

Major General Anderson retired in March, 1993 after a career in the U ,S .Air Force and Air National Guard which spanned 38 years from start to finish.

He graduated from Cocoa High School in 1951 and entered the Georgia Institute of Technology that same year, graduating in 1955 with a degree in Engineering and a commission in the Air Force, earned through the ROTC program. Following pilot training and advanced gunnery training, he then served tours at Soesterberg AB, Holland, Cannon AFB, NM, and an exchange tour with the U.S. Navy.

During the 4 years he was assigned at Cannon AFB, he completed rotational tours in Turkey, Japan, and Korea He participated in the first Composite Air Strike Force deployment across the Atlantic and also deployed to France for the Berlin Crisis. He served special tours in Dhahran and Jidda, Saudi Arabia and Tehran and Isfahan, Iran. He led a detachment of 8 F-100 aircraft to Takhli AB, Thailand, after accepting the aircraft in Okinawa and served as the unit’s Operations Officer for 4 months.

He then returned to the US and began an exchange tour with the US Navy. After aircraft carrier checkout, he made a combat cruise aboard the USS Ranger, compiling 250 carrier landings and 165 combat missions into North Vietnam.

In 1967, he left the Air Force and went to work as a pilot for United Airlines. After a few years, he returned to the military as a pilot with the Massachusetts Air National Guard, while continuing to also fly for UAL. He served as Operations Officer and after 4 years, as Squadron Commander of the 101 51 Ftr Sqdn. He then was named Director of Operations and then Vice Wing Commander of the 1 02nd Ftr Wing at Otis AFB on Cape Cod, before being named Commander of the Air National Guard for the State of Massachusetts, where he was responsible for command, control and supervision of the state’s 29 units and some 3000 personnel.

On 1 January 1991, General Anderson was assigned as ANG Assistant to the Commander, US Space Command and held that position until his retirement. While there, he represented the Air Defense community in all matters with the multiple Headquarters and Directorates of NORAD (North American Air Defense), the United States Air Force, Air Combat Command, the NORAD regions, States, ANG units and the National Guard Bureau. He contributed to the counter drug interface between NGB and NORAD and operational and tactical control procedures benefitting the FAA, DEA, Customs, NORAD and the ANG. Under his direction and with the concurrence of Air Force Space Command, five concept of operations studies were completed and submitted for consideration of ANG involvement in space programs such as mobile communications, launch control, etc.

As a result of these proposals, 100% of the primary NORAD gained fighter squadrons are ANG units, 1st Air Force is commanded and manned by the Guard , all regional and sector control centers are likewise and the ANG now operates a missile space organization.

General Anderson has almost 6,000 hours of flying time in T-28, T-33, T38, F-86, F-100, A-4, F-9F, F-4, F-106, A-10, F-15, and F-16 aircraft. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross(2), Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal(16), Air Force Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal w/Combat “V”, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award(2), Navy Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal , Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal(2) Vietnam Service Medal.

Units Assigned

  • 1957 32nd Fighter Day Squadron,  Soesterberg, Holland (F-100C)
  • Cannon AFB, NM (TDY Turkey, Japan, and Korea, France, Composite Air Strike Force, Dhahran and Jidda, Saudi Arabia, Tehran and Isfahan, Iran
  • Navy Exchange tour (USS Ranger -250 carrier landings and 165 combat missions into North Vietnam)
  • 1967 Left USAF
  • Returned to USAF, 101st Fighter Squadron, Operations Officer/Squadron Commander
  • 102nd Fighter Wing, Vice Wing Commander, Otis AFB, MA
  • Commander of the Air National Guard for the State of Massachusetts,
  • January 1, 1991 ANG Assistant to the Commander, US Space Command and held that position until his retirement.

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air Medal (16)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Navy Commendation Medal w/Combat “V”
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award(2)
Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2)
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal

Flight Info

T-28
T-33
T-38
F-86
F-100
A-4
F-9F
F-4
F-106
A-10
F-15
F-16

Flight Hours: 6,000

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • ROTC

Civilian Education:

  • 1951 Cocoa High School
  • 1951-1955 BS/Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

John Anderson, Jr., MGen USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on June 15, 2014.

John was born in Linden, NJ on April 21st, 1933. He grew up in Cocoa, FL; lived in New York City; South Salem, NY; and Duxbury, MA before returning to Florida in 2002, where he lived out his retirement in Melbourne.

John was a Father, Brother, Son, Husband, and Professional Aviator. In his professional life he became a highly decorated US Air Force Fighter Pilot. A Veteran of the Vietnam war, he served on exchange duty with the United States Navy, flying 165 combat missions from the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. John was also a Veteran of Operation Desert Storm, as Vice Commander of US Space Command. He retired Honorably in March of 1993 as a Major General, after 38 years in service of his country. John continued his 2nd career as a Commercial Airline Captain with United Airlines until April of 1999, when he retired after 32 years in the cockpit. Arguably, he touched every corner of the Globe in his life as an Aviator.

John was extremely dedicated to his family. He is survived by his Mother – Mary Anderson, of Melbourne, FL; his Brother – Robert Anderson of West Melbourne, FL; Son – Tyson Anderson of Washington, DC; Son – Justin Anderson of Auburn, MA; and Wife – Karin Anderson of Annapolis, MD. He enjoyed playing golf, tennis, jogging, skiing, boating and fishing, and being with his family. He will be dearly missed.

A funeral service was held on June 21, 2014 at the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial. He is buried in Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, FL.

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