Eldon Wayne Joersz | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Al Joersz |
Born | February 5, 1944 |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1966–1997 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands held | 410th Bombardment Wing 4th Fighter Wing |
Awards |
Major General Eldon Wayne Joersz (born February 5, 1944) is an American pilot, who jointly holds the World Air Speed Record.
Joersz and Ltc George T. Morgan Jr. set the air speed record on July 28, 1976, in SR-71A Blackbird 61-7958 at Beale Air Force Base. They went to 2,193.167 mph [1] (3,529.56 km/h), breaking the record of Daniel Andre and Robert L. Stephens of 2,070 mph (3,330 km/h).
During his career in the United States Air Force, Joersz held several positions, including instructor for the T-38 Talon and SR-71, as a pilot during the Vietnam War in an F-105 Thunderchief from Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand; as well as Wing Commander of the 410th Bombardment Wing (redesignated 410th Bomb Wing in 1992) of the Eighth Air Force from May 1987 to May 1989 at K.I. Sawyer, AFB, Michigan, over Strategic Air Command's 307th and 46th Air Refueling Squadrons, and the 644th Bombardment Squadron.
His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, amongst others.
Joersz began his education in Hazen, North Dakota. From there, he graduated from North Dakota State University in 1966 with an ROTC commission and received his master's degree from Auburn University in 1978. He retired from the Air Force in 1997.
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a retired long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation. The SR-71 has several nicknames, including "Blackbird" and "Habu".
Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in California. Most of the base sits in Kern County, but its eastern end is in San Bernardino County and a southern arm is in Los Angeles County. The hub of the base is Edwards, California. Established in the 1930s as Muroc Field, the facility was renamed Muroc Army Airfield and then Muroc Air Force Base before its final renaming in 1950 for World War II USAAF veteran and test pilot Capt. Glen Edwards.
Beale Air Force Base (AFB) (IATA: BAB, ICAO: KBAB, FAA LID: BAB) is a United States Air Force base in California. It is outside Linda, about 10 miles (16 km) east of the towns of Marysville and Yuba City, and about 40 miles (64 km) north of Sacramento.
K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force (USAF) installation in Marquette County, Michigan, south of the city of Marquette. Near the center of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the base operated for nearly forty years and closed in 1995. The county airport, Sawyer International, now occupies a portion of the base and has scheduled airline flights and some general aviation activity.
The Convair B-58 Hustler, designed and produced by American aircraft manufacturer Convair, was the first operational bomber capable of Mach 2 flight.
The Lockheed YF-12 was an American Mach 3+ capable, high-altitude interceptor prototype, developed and manufactured by American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation.
Kadena Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is often referred to as the "Keystone of the Pacific" because of its highly strategic location. It is located 650 km (400 mi) off the coast of China and at a distance of 770 km (480 mi) from Shanghai, a major economic hub. It is home to the USAF's 18th Wing, the 353rd Special Operations Wing, reconnaissance units, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and a variety of associated units. Over 20,000 American servicemembers, family members, and Japanese employees live or work at Kadena Air Base. It is the largest and most active U.S. Air Force base in East Asia.
The 100th Air Refueling Wing, nicknamed the Bloody Hundredth, is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Third Air Force, United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. It is stationed at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, United Kingdom. It is also the host wing at RAF Mildenhall.
The 9th Reconnaissance Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command and Sixteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California. The wing is also the host unit at Beale.
The United States Air Force's 410th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command (ACC) It may be activated or inactivated at any time.
Brigadier General Antonio Maldonado was an officer of the United States Air Force, who in 1967 became the youngest pilot and Aircraft Commander of a B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber. He served as Chief, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation, Madrid, Spain. He was the senior Department of Defense representative to Spain and senior advisor to the US Ambassador to Spain. During the Persian Gulf War in 1991 he coordinated the overall US offensive operations from Spain.
Eugene Emil Habiger was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Strategic Command (USCINCSTRAT) from 1996 to 1998. After retiring from the military on August 1, 1998, he served as Director of Security and Emergency Operations, U.S. Department of Energy, from 1999 to 2001.
The 99th Reconnaissance Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 9th Operations Group, Air Combat Command, stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California. The squadron is equipped with the Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft.
The 418th Test and Evaluation Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit assigned to the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, and stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where it was activated on 1 October 2021.
General Charles Clarence McDonald was a United States Air Force general who served as Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC) from 1989 to 1992.
The 903d Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 17th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California. For much of its existence, the squadron focused on refueling SR-71 Blackbird aircraft, which were stationed at Beale after 1965. It was inactivated on 30 September 1976.
Dennis B. Sullivan was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force.
Charles Frederick Goodwyn Kuyk, Jr. is a retired major-general of the United States Air Force. He was also the named party in the Supreme Court Case, Poe v. Kuyk.
Robert Duane Beckel is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force. He was the commander of the 15th Air Force at March Air Force Base, California.
Stanley C. Beck is a retired major general in the United States Air Force. He was the vice commander of the Strategic Air Command's 15th Air Force at March Air Force Base, California.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)