View source for Dick Johnson (test pilot)

'''Richard Lowe Johnson''' (September 21, 1917 - November 9, 2002) is best known for being chief [[test pilot]] for [[Convair]],<ref name="Blackburn">{{cite book |last=Blackburn |first=Al |title=Aces Wild: The Race for Mach 1 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] p. 207 |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-8420-2732-8}}</ref> a division of the American [[defence contractor]] [[General Dynamics]], and as a founding member of the [[Society of Experimental Test Pilots]] in 1955.<ref name= "pilot">{{cite news |last=Helm |first=Merry |url= https://www.willistonherald.com/community/dick-johnson-test-pilot/article_2e49a49e-2e67-11ea-9c29-5f0cdbe95658.html |title=Dick Johnson, Test Pilot |work=[[Williston Herald]] |date=January 7, 2020 |accessdate=March 11, 2020}}</ref>

==Biography==
Johnson was born in [[Cooperstown, North Dakota]], and educated at [[Oregon State University]]. In 1942, Johnson enlisted in the [[US Army Air Corps]] and served as a [[P-47 Thunderbolt]] pilot with the 57th Group's, 66th Fighter Squadron, in [[North Africa]] and [[Italy]]. He completed 180 combat missions and was awarded the [[Silver Star]], the [[Legion of Merit]], four [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Crosses]] and fourteen [[Air Medal]]s. Johnson graduated from the [[U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School|Air Materiel Command Engineering Test Pilot School]] in 1946.<ref name=Johnson-AWOH>{{cite web |url= https://www.cityoflancasterca.org/our-city/departments-services/parks-recreation-arts/special-events/aerospace-walk-of-honor-program-has-been-concluded/honorees/1998#johnson |title=1998 Honorees, Richard L. "Dick" Johnson |access-date=November 17, 2021 |work=Aerospace Walk of Honor |publisher=City of Lancaster, California }}</ref> The F-86A set its first official world speed record of 671 miles per hour (1,080&nbsp;km/h) on September 15, 1948, at Muroc Dry Lake flown by Major Richard L. Johnson, USAF. Johnson remained in the US Air Force until 1953, having reached the rank of [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]].

He died of [[brain cancer]] on November 9, 2002, and was buried with full military honors at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref name= "records">{{cite news |last=Eriksmoen |first=Curt |url= https://bismarcktribune.com/news/columnists/curt-eriksmoen/test-pilot-from-n-d-set-records/article_7fa58a4a-0ead-11e4-a408-001a4bcf887a.html |title=Test pilot from N.D. set records |work=[[The Bismarck Tribune]] |date=July 20, 2014 |accessdate=March 11, 2020}}</ref>

==Decorations==
*[[File:SilverStar.gif|80px]]&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Silver Star]]
*[[File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|80px]]&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Legion of Merit]]
*[[File:Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|80px]]&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] with 3 [[oak leaf cluster]]s
*[[File:Air Medal ribbon.svg|80px]]&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Air Medal]] with 13 oak leaf clusters

==Other awards==
*[[Ivan C. Kincheloe Award]] in 1967, for the [[General Dynamics F-111]] test program.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061024203247/http://www.codeonemagazine.com/events/jan_03/jan03_events31.html Code One Magazine - obituary]
*[https://www.setp.org/about-setp/history.html The Society of Experimental Test Pilots - history]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080117183550/http://www.prairiepublic.org/programs/datebook/bydate/04/0104/010704.jsp Biography]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Dick}}
[[Category:American aviators]]
[[Category:United States Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Griggs County, North Dakota]]
[[Category:Oregon State University alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from brain cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces officers]]
[[Category:American aviation record holders]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]


{{USAF-bio-stub}}