John R. Gearhart

Preferred Name: John
Nickname/Call Sign: Skyraider
Date of Birth: March 3, 1931
Highest Military Grade Held: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Biography

Ask me about my attempt at a triple Immelmann in an F-100.

Pilot Information

Units Assigned

  • US Military Academy Preparatory School, Stewart AFB, NY
  • Aviation Cadets, Stallings AB NC/Bryan AFB TX; Commissioned Class 53-G: Fighter Gunnery School, Nellis AFB, NV, F-86 (T-6, T-28, T-33)
  • 1951-1953 (Enlisted) Green Hornet Sqdn; Asst. Crew Chief F-80, Nellis AFB, NV (F-80)
  • 1954-1956 334th FIS, 4th FIW, Kimpo, Korea & Chitose AB, Japan (F-86F)
  • 1956-1960 CCMG, Williams AFB, AZ (F-86, F-100, T-33, L-20, C-45)
  • 1960-1962 BS Degree University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (T-33)
  • 1963-1965 F-4/F-5 Test Force, Edwards AFB, CA (F-5, T-33, T-34, C210, Tri-Pacer, Navion)
  • 1965-1972 Special Operations Center, Hurlbert AFB, FL/Bien Hoa AB, RVN/Pleiku/Udorn/Ubon (A-1E, 0-2, OV-10, U-22, AU-23, AU-24, YAT-28, YF-51, and other experimental aircraft and weapons as Director of S/O Flight Test, Eglin AFB, FL)
  • 1973 19 TASS Operations, Osan AB, Korea (O-2)
  • 1974-1975 SAMSO (Director Space Defense); Metal Desk, El Segundo, CA
  • 1976 Satellite Test Center (Chief of Maintenance), Metal Desk, Onasuka AFS, CA
  • 1976  Retired as an Aerospace Research Flight Test Officer

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

T-6
T-28
T-3
F-86 F
F-100
T-33
L-20
C-45
F-4
F-5
T-34
C-210
Tri-Pacer
Navion
A-1E
0-2
OV-10
U-22
AU-23
AU-24
YAT-28
YF-51
Other experimental aircraft

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • Numerous courses of which most I cannot remember.

Civilian Education:

  • 1960-1962 BS/(Aeronautical Engineering) University of Colorado, Boulder, CO