Robert Michael White

2025-10-18T19:05:16Z

2600:1700:C3A0:6D30:5414:CA95:B02E:FE6E: /* Awards and decorations */

{{short description|US Air Force general}}
{{For|the American meteorologist|Robert M. White (meteorologist)}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name =Robert M. White
|other_names =Robert Michael White
|image =Robert M. White.jpg
|type =[[USAF]] [[astronaut]]
|nationality =American
|birth_date ={{Birth date|1924|07|06}}
|death_date ={{Death date and age|2010|03|17|1924|07|06}}
|birth_place =[[New York City]], U.S.
|death_place =[[Orlando, Florida]], U.S.
|alma_mater =[[New York University|NYU]], B.S. 1951 [[George Washington University|GWU]], MBA 1966
|occupation =[[Test pilot]]
|rank =[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|15px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/white-robert-michael/ |title=The NationalAviation Hall of Fame |access-date=2018-09-18 |archive-date=2018-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918193715/https://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/white-robert-michael/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|selection =[[List of astronauts by selection#1957|1957 MISS Group]]
|time =
|mission =[[X-15 Flight 62]]
|Date of ret =February 1, 1981
| module = {{Infobox military person | embed=yes
|allegiance={{flag|United States of America}}
|branch= [[File:US Army Air Corps Hap Arnold Wings.svg|25px]] [[United States Army Air Forces]] {{flag|United States Air Force|size=23px}}
|serviceyears= 1942–1946 1951–1981
|rank= [[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]
|unit=
|commands=53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron
|battles=[[World War II]] [[Korean War]] [[Vietnam War]]
|awards=[[Air Force Cross (United States)|Air Force Cross]] [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] [[Silver Star]] (4) [[Legion of Merit]] [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] (5) [[Air Medal]] (17)
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
}}

'''Robert Michael White''' (July 6, 1924 – March 17, 2010) ([[Major general (United States)|Maj Gen]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]])<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-M-White Robert Michael White]</ref> was an American [[electrical engineer]], [[test pilot]], [[fighter pilot]], and [[astronaut]].<ref>Obituary ''[[New York Times]]'', March 23, 2010; page B12.</ref><ref>Obituary ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', March 24, 2010; page AA1.</ref> He was one of twelve pilots who flew the [[North American X-15]], an experimental [[spaceplane]] jointly operated by the Air Force and [[NASA]]. As an engineer, he supervised the design and development of several modern military aircraft.

On July 17, 1962, he [[X-15 Flight 62|flew]] the X-15 to an altitude above 50 miles, thereby qualifying as an astronaut according to [[Kármán line#Alternatives to the FAI definition|the United States definition]] of the boundary of space.

==Background and career==
White was born in [[New York City]] on July 6, 1924. After graduating from high school, he entered active military service in November 1942 as an [[Aviation Cadet Training Program (USAAF)#Aviation Cadet Program (USAAF), 1940–47|aviation cadet]] in the [[United States Army Air Forces]], and received his [[United States Aviator Badge|pilot wings]] and commission as a [[Second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] in February 1944.

During [[World War II]], he served with the [[355th Fighter Wing|355th Fighter Group]] in the [[European Theater of Operations]]. He flew [[P-51 Mustang]]s from July 1944 until February 1945, when he was shot down over [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] on his 52nd combat mission. He was captured and remained a [[prisoner of war]] until his release in April 1945.

He then returned to the United States, left active duty in December 1945, and became a member of the [[Air Force Reserve]] at [[Mitchel Air Force Base]], [[New York (state)|New York]], while studying [[Electrical Engineering]] at [[New York University]]. He earned his [[Bachelor of Science]] degree from there in 1951, and a [[Master of Business Administration]] degree from the [[George Washington University]] in 1966.

White was recalled to active duty in May 1951 for the [[Korean War]], where he served as a pilot and engineering officer with the [[514th Air Mobility Wing|514th Troop Carrier Wing]] at Mitchel Air Force Base. In February 1952, he was assigned as a [[fighter pilot]] and flight commander with the [[40th Flight Test Squadron|40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], based at [[Johnson Air Base]], Japan. In August 1953, he returned from overseas to serve as a [[systems engineer]] at [[Rome Laboratory|Rome Air Development Center]], [[Griffiss Air Force Base]], New York.

==Test pilot==
[[Image:whiteairforce.jpg|left|thumb| Congratulated after a test flight]]
White attended the [[United States Air Force]]'s [[United States Air Force Test Pilot School|Experimental Flight Test Pilot School]] at [[Edwards Air Force Base]], [[California]], and became a test pilot, flying advanced models such as the [[F-86 Sabre]], [[F-89 Scorpion]], the new [[F-102 Delta Dagger]], the [[F-104 Starfighter]] and the [[F-105 Thunderchief]]. He was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Flight Test Operations Division, later becoming Assistant Chief of the Manned Spacecraft Operations Branch.

[[Image:X-15 in flight.jpg|right|thumb| X-15 in flight]]
White was designated the Air Force's primary pilot for the [[North American X-15]] program in 1958. While the new plane was undergoing its initial tests, he attended the [[Air Command and Staff College]] at [[Maxwell Air Force Base]], [[Alabama]], graduating in 1959. He made his first test flight of the X-15 on April 15, 1960, when the aircraft was fitted with two interim, {{convert|16,000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} XLR-11 thrust rocket engines. Four months later, he flew to an altitude of 136,000 feet (41.5 [[kilometre|km]]) above [[Rogers Dry Lake]]. White would have participated in the Air Force's [[Man In Space Soonest]] program, had it come to fruition.

In February 1961, White unofficially set a new [[air speed record]] when he flew the X-15 at a speed of {{convert|2,275|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, following the installation of a {{convert|57,000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} thrust XLR-99 engine. White was the first human to fly an aircraft at [[Mach (speed)|Mach]] 4 and later Mach 5 over the next eight months. On November 9, 1961, White flew the X-15 at {{convert|4,093|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, making him the first pilot to fly a winged craft at six times the [[speed of sound]] (Mach 6). [[United States President|President]] [[John F. Kennedy]] used the occasion to confer the most prestigious award in American aviation, the [[Collier Trophy|Robert J. Collier Trophy]], jointly to White and three of his fellow X-15 pilots: NASA's [[Joseph A. Walker]], [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] [[Forrest S. Petersen]] of the [[U.S. Navy]], and [[North American Aviation]] test pilot [[Scott Crossfield]]. A day later, Air Force Chief of Staff General [[Curtis E. LeMay]] awarded White his new rating as a Command Pilot Astronaut.

On July 17, 1962, [[Major (United States)|Major]] White flew the X-15 to an altitude of 314,750 feet (59 miles, 96 km). This qualified him for [[Astronaut badge#U.S. Air Force astronauts|USAF astronaut wings]], becoming the first "winged" astronaut, and one of a few who have flown into space without a conventional spacecraft. Major Bob White was featured with a cover story in the August 3, 1962, issue of ''Life'' magazine, detailing his July 17 flight.

Pilot Robert White commented on his high altitude X-15 flights:
<blockquote>
My flights to 217,000 feet [66 km] and 314,750 feet [96 km] were very dramatic in revealing the Earth's curvature ... at my highest altitude I could turn my head through a 180-degree arc and wow!—the Earth is really round. At my peak altitude I was roughly over the Arizona/California border in the area of Las Vegas, and this was how I described it: Looking to my left I felt I could spit into the Gulf of California; looking to my right I felt I could toss a dime into San Francisco Bay.
</blockquote>

==Post-test pilot career==
In October 1963, he returned to [[West Germany|Germany]], where he served as operations officer for the [[22d Fighter Squadron|22d Tactical Fighter Squadron]], [[36th Wing|36th Tactical Fighter Wing]], flying [[F-105 Thunderchief]]s at [[Bitburg Air Base]], and from July 1964 to August 1965 as commander of the wing's [[53d Fighter Squadron|53d Tactical Fighter Squadron]]. He returned to the United States in August 1965 to attend the [[Industrial College of the Armed Forces]], [[Washington, D.C.]], and graduated a year later. During the same period, he attended [[George Washington University]], receiving his [[Master of Business Administration]] degree in 1966. [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] White then was transferred to [[Air Force Systems Command]] at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], [[Ohio]], as chief of the Tactical Systems Office, [[F-111]] Systems Program Office, where he served from September 1966 to May 1967.

[[Image:F-105s-takhli-1964.jpg|thumb|F-105D at Takhli RTAFB]]
In May 1967, during the [[Vietnam War]], [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] White was assigned as Deputy Commander for Operations of the [[355th Fighter Wing|355th Tactical Fighter Wing]], an F-105 unit based at [[Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base]], Thailand. He flew 70 [[Aerial warfare|combat missions]] over [[North Vietnam]], including leading an attack against the [[Long Bien Bridge|Paul Doumer Bridge]] in [[Hanoi]] on August 11, 1967, for which he was awarded the [[Air Force Cross (United States)|Air Force Cross]]. He was transferred in October to the [[Seventh Air Force]] Headquarters at [[Tan Son Nhut Air Base]], [[South Vietnam]], serving as chief of the Attack Division in the Directorate of Combat Operations.

White returned to the United States and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in June 1968, where he served as director of the [[F-15 Eagle]] Systems Program, responsible for managing development and production planning, in the Aeronautical Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command.

On July 31, 1970, White assumed duties as commander of the [[Air Force Flight Test Center]], Edwards Air Force Base, where he was responsible for research and developmental flight testing of manned and unmanned aerospace vehicles, aircraft systems, deceleration devices and for the Air Force Test Pilot School. During his tenure, testing was begun on such important programs as the F-15 Air Superiority Fighter, the [[A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-X ground attack aircraft]], and the [[E-3 Sentry|Airborne Warning and Control System]]. In October 1971, he completed the Naval Test Parachutist course and was awarded parachutist's wings.

He served at the Flight Test Center until October 17, 1972. The following month, he assumed the duties of Commandant, [[Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps]] ([[AFROTC]]), responsible for the entire AFROTC officer accession program at all colleges and universities across the United States.

White was promoted to the grade of [[Major general (United States)|major general]] effective February 12, 1975, with date of rank July 1, 1972. In March became [[Chief of staff (military)|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force]]. He retired from active duty on February 1, 1981.

In 1992, White was inducted into the [[Aerospace Walk of Honor]].<ref name=ind92>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36299236/the_los_angeles_times/|title=Ceremony Will Honor 5 Test Pilots|last1=Halley|first1=Blaine|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|date=September 19, 1992|via=Newspapers.com|page=B2}}</ref> General White was inducted into the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]], on 15 July 2006. A rumor abounds that in honor of his achievements, the [[Scaled Composites White Knight]] spacecraft launch plane was named after White and fellow X-15 pilot [[William J. Knight|Pete Knight]]. Space Ship One and White Knight pilot/astronaut Brian Binnie reports this is not true.

He died on March 17, 2010, at the age of 85.

==Awards and decorations==

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan=12|[[File:USAF Master Astronaut badge.jpg|235px]]
|-
|colspan=12|[[File:United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg|120px]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Air Force Cross ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|name=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|name=Silver Star Medal ribbon|width=103}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Legion of Merit ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=4|type=oak|name=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Bronze Star Medal ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=16|type=oak|name=Air Medal ribbon|width=103}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.png|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=v|name=Outstanding Unit ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Organizational Excellence ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=NasaDisRib.svg|width=103}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Prisoner of War Medal|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Army Good Conduct ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=American Campaign Medal ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|name=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon|width=103}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=World War II Victory Medal ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Korean Service Medal - Ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|name=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon|width=103}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=8|type=oak|name=Air Force Longevity Service ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Armed Forces Reserve Medal ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=USAF Marksmanship ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|width=103}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=United Nations Service Medal for Korea Ribbon|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=103}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Republic of Korea War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=103}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan=12|[[United States Aviator Badge|Air Force Command Pilot Badge]] with [[Astronaut Badge|Astronaut Device]]
|-
|colspan=12|[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Air Force Parachutist Badge]]
|-
|[[Air Force Cross (United States)|Air Force Cross]]
|[[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal|Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]] with [[oak leaf cluster|cluster]]
|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]]
|[[Silver Star]] with three clusters
|-
|[[Legion of Merit]]
|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]] with four clusters
|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]
|[[Air Medal]] with sixteen clusters
|-
|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]]
|[[Air Force Outstanding Unit Award|Outstanding Unit Award]] with cluster and [["V" Device]]
|[[Organizational Excellence Award]]
|[[NASA Distinguished Service Medal|NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|[[Prisoner of War Medal]]
|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Army Good Conduct Medal]]
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|[[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with three [[service star|stars]]
|-
|[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]]
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] with one star
|[[Korean Service Medal]] with one star
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with three stars
|-
|[[Air Force Longevity Service Award]] with eight clusters
|[[Armed Forces Reserve Medal]]
|[[Marksmanship Ribbon|Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon]]
|[[Armed Forces Honor Medal]]
|-
|[[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)|Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm]]
|[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|[[Korean War Service Medal]]
|}
'''Other achievements'''
* 1960 [[Harmon Trophy|Harmon International Aviators Trophy]]<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=8462&st=Harmon+Trophy&st1= John F. Kennedy – Remarks Upon Presenting the Harmon Trophy to Three Test Pilots of the X-15 Rocket Plane, November 28, 1961]</ref>
* 1961 [[Collier Trophy]], for invaluable technological contributions to the advancement of flight, and for great skill and courage as test pilots for the X-15.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.aerofiles.com/collier-trophy.html |title = Collier Trophy}}</ref>
* 1962 [[John J. Montgomery Award]]
* 1991 Elected to the [[American Philosophical Society]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=APS Member History |url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Robert+M+White&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref>

===Air Force Cross citation===
:Colonel Robert M. White
:U.S. Air Force
: Date Of Action: August 11, 1967

<blockquote>The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, awards the Air Force Cross to Colonel Robert M. White, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-105 Mission Commander near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 11 August 1967. On that date, Colonel White led the entire combat force against a key railroad and highway bridge in the vicinity of Hanoi. In spite of 14 surface-to-air missile launches, MIG interceptor attacks, and intense antiaircraft artillery fire, he gallantly led the attack. By being the first aircraft to dive through the dark clouds of bursting flak, Colonel White set an example that inspired the remaining attacking force to destroy the bridge without a single aircraft being lost to the hostile gunners. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Colonel White reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.</blockquote>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* Thompson, Milton O. (1992). ''At The Edge Of Space: The X-15 Flight Program'', Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London. {{ISBN|1-56098-107-5}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{webarchive |date=2012-12-12 |url=https://archive.today/20121212025612/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7574 |title=White's official Air Force biography}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090607235555/http://www.nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/nasaNAS~8~8~63235~167189:Major-Robert-M--White-is-seen-here- NASA Images: Major Robert M. White is seen here next to the X-15 aircraft after a research flight]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150824111326/http://www.astronautix.com/astros/whiobert.htm Astronautix biography of Robert Michael White]
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/white_robert.htm Spacefacts biography of Robert Michael White]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090207020238/http://firstflight.org/shrine/robert_white.cfm First Flight Society: Major Robert M. White]
* [http://www.nationalaviation.org/white-robert-m/ Robert Michael White] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910214128/http://www.nationalaviation.org/white-robert-m/ |date=2015-09-10 }} at the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]]
* [http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=243 Veteran Tributes biography: Robert M. White]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100603223018/http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/1988/February%201988/0288valor.aspx "A Place called the Doumer Bridge", ''AIR FORCE Magazine'', February 1988]}}
* [http://www.setp.org/winners/iven-c-kincheloe-recipients.html Iven C. Kincheloe Awards]

{{North American X-15}}
{{Authority control}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
| title = Human altitude record
| years = 1960–1961
| with =
| before = [[Iven Carl Kincheloe Jr.]]
| after = [[Joseph A. Walker]]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:White, Robert M.}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Air Force generals]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces officers]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:American Korean War pilots]]
[[Category:American Vietnam War pilots]]
[[Category:Shot-down aviators]]
[[Category:American prisoners of war in World War II]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:American test pilots]]
[[Category:American aviation record holders]]
[[Category:Flight altitude record holders]]
[[Category:X-15 program]]
[[Category:National Aviation Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Collier Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:Harmon Trophy winners]]
[[Category:United States Air Force astronauts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:American systems engineers]]
[[Category:American electrical engineers]]
[[Category:U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School alumni]]
[[Category:Air Command and Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy alumni]]
[[Category:George Washington University School of Business alumni]]
[[Category:Polytechnic Institute of New York University alumni]]
[[Category:Aviators from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American World War II fighter pilots]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Germany]]
[[Category:People who have flown in suborbital spaceflight]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]

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Robert Michael White