9 Oct 61- Lt Raymond H. Vos, participating in the T-38 test at Randolph AFB, became the first student to solo in a supersonic aircraft. (https://www.aetc.af.mil/About-Us/History/Significant-Events/)
Ray “graduated from the New Sharon High School in 1956 and received mechanical and aeronautical degrees from the University of Wyoming in 1960. He worked for J.T. Banner installing missile launchers in Colorado before entering Air Force pilot training in 1961. He was a member of Class 62FZ, the first group of students to fly a supersonic trainer, the T-38 (later designated the F-5). He was the first student to solo in that new trainer. During his five years of service in the Air Force, he was stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix, and Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis.
He was hired by American Airlines in 1966 and was domiciled for a short time in New York before spending the rest of his 30-year career flying out of San Francisco. He retired as a Captain on 757s and 767s in 1997.
Ray was a long time member of the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol, the Shack Riders, the American Airlines Grey Eagles and the Super Sabre Society, a group of former F-100 pilots.” (1)
Source: (1) https://obituaries.oskaloosa.com/obituary/raymond-vos-770632941
Raymond H. Vos, F-100 Pilot USAF, “Headed West” on January 6, 2011.
Raymond H. Vos, 72, of Woodside, Calif., and formerly of New Sharon, passed away at his home on Jan. 6, 2011, from complications as a result of cardiac arrest on Dec. 1, 2010. Ray was born in rural New Sharon on Aug. 19, 1938, to W. H. Vos and Artie (DeBoef) Vos.
He graduated from the New Sharon High School in 1956 and received mechanical and aeronautical degrees from the University of Wyoming in 1960. He worked for J.T. Banner installing missile launchers in Colorado before entering Air Force pilot training in 1961. He was a member of Class 62FZ, the first group of students to fly a supersonic trainer, the T-38 (later designated the F-5). He was the first student to solo in that new trainer. During his five years of service in the Air Force, he was stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Phoenix, and Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis.
He was hired by American Airlines in 1966 and was domiciled for a short time in New York before spending the rest of his 30-year career flying out of San Francisco. He retired as a Captain on 757s and 767s in 1997.
Ray was a long time member of the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol, the Shack Riders, the American Airlines Grey Eagles and the Super Sabre Society, a group of former F-100 pilots.
In 1962, Ray was married to the former Barbara Jackson who survives him. He is also survived by a sister, Arlene (LaVern) Benson, Spencer; two sisters-in-law, Georgia Vos, Sheridan, Wyo., and Pamela Jackson, Van Nuys, Calif.; seven nieces; Eloise (Dean) Roys, Papillion, Neb.; Judith Vos Ferneau, Butte, Mont.; Janet Benson, Lisle, Ill.; Miriam Stewart and her fiancé Tom Nance, Sheridan, Wyo.; Cheryl (LaVern) Bartell, Penrose, Colo.; Linda (Burt) Simbro, Monroe; Maureen Vos, Casper, Wyo.; a nephew Michael Vos, Oskaloosa; his special caregiver, JoJo Angelo, Woodside, Calif.; many cousins and a host of friends. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Howard.
