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
Model Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk Length 65.88 ft | 20.08 m Width 43.31 ft | 13.20 m Height 12.40 ft | 3.78 m Engine(s) 2 x General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 non-afterburning turbofan engines generating 10,800lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 29,498 lbs | 13,380 kg MTOW 52,503 lbs | 23,815 kg Max Speed 646 mph | 1,040 km/h | 562 kts Max Range 690 miles | 1,111 km Ceiling 0 ft | 0 m | 0.0 miles Climb Rate Not Available Hardpoints 0 Armament 2 x 2,000lb bombs carried in an internal bomb bay.
? XST "Have Blue" - Program Prototype Designation of which two were produced to the "Exerimental Stealth Technology" requirement. ? FSD - Developmental models of which five were produced. ? F-117A - Initial Production Model of which 59 have since been produced and delivered.