This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
White, Robert Michael, Maj Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town New York City, NY
Last Address Orlando, Florida
Date of Passing Mar 17, 2010
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
He flew 52 combat missions in WWII, was shot down, and became a POW. He was the first pilot to fly an aircraft at Mach 4, 5, and 6. He flew 70 combat missions in the Vietnam War.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Colonel Robert M. White (AFSN: 0-24589A), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-105 Mission Commander and Pilot of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Takhli royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action 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 anti-aircraft 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.
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: one * Length: 50 ft 9 in (15.45 m) * Wingspan: 22 ft 4 in (6.8 m) * Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.12 m) * Wing area: 200 ft² (18.6 m²) * Empty weight: 14,600 lb (6,620 kg) * Loaded weight: 34,000 lb (15,420 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 34,000 lb (15,420 kg) * Powerplant: 1× Thiokol XLR99-RM-2 liquid-fuel rocket engine, 70,400 lbf at 30 km (313 kN)
Performance
* Maximum speed: Mach 6.70 (4,520 mph / 7,274 km/h) * Range: 280 mi (450 km) * Service ceiling 67 mi (354,330 ft / 108 km) * Rate of climb: 60,000 ft/min (18,288 m/min) * Wing loading: 170 lb/ft² (829 kg/m²) * Thrust/weight: 2.07
