Alvin S. “Al” White
Preferred Name: Al
Nickname/Call Sign: Al
Date of Birth: 12-9-1918
Highest Military Grade Held:
Hometown: Oro Valley, AZ
Biography
Alvin S. White age 87, of Oro Valley, Arizona, died on Saturday April 29, 2006 after a brief illness. Born December 9, 1918 to Harold H. White, Sr. and Ruth A. (Winkleman) White, in Berkeley, California.
A pilot for over 60 years, Al began his flying career in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, receiving his Private Pilot license in 1940.
During World War II he flew bomber escorts and strafing missions over Europe with the 355th Fighter Group from D-Day through V-E Day.
After the war, he completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering and went on to become an engineering test pilot for the U.S. Air Force and North American Aviation. Al participated in a variety of flight test programs over his career, including the F-86 Sabre jet, the F-100 Super Sabre series, the F-107 and the X-15.
In 1961 he was elected Chief Test pilot for the flight test program of the XB-70 Valkyrie, the world’s largest supersonic aircraft, piloting the first flights of both planes and taking the aircraft through the build up programs to flight at Mach 3. In 1966 Al joined TWA as Manager of Flight Operations, Research and Development.
In 1969, he became a consultant in the field of aviation and aeronautics, working primarily as an expert witness in accident investigation litigation, requiring simulation of accident flight conditions in a comparable aircraft.
A past President and founding member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Al earned some of the top awards for his profession, including the Iven C. Kinchloe award, the Octave Chanute Award, and the Harmon Trophy, which was presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
After 8500 hours of flying time in over 125 different aircraft, Al retired from the ranks of active pilots and settled in Tucson, Arizona.
Al is survived by his wife, Betty J. of Tucson; his brother Harold H. White, Jr. of Auburn, CA; son, Stephen and daughter-in-law, Donna White of Sacramento, CA, daughter, Cathie (White) Deisher and grandson, Christopher Farrar of Fleetwood, PA, daughter, Leslie White Hester, son-in-law, Les Hester and grandson, Andrew Hester of North East, MD, as well as step-daughter, Karen Tomsett of Seattle, WA, step-son, Edward Tomsett of Tucson, and step-daughter and son-in law, Kimberly and Dan Aurand and daughters, Brittany and Taylor of Spokane, WA.
- Biography
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Biography
Alvin S. White age 87, of Oro Valley, Arizona, died on Saturday April 29, 2006 after a brief illness. Born December 9, 1918 to Harold H. White, Sr. and Ruth A. (Winkleman) White, in Berkeley, California.
A pilot for over 60 years, Al began his flying career in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, receiving his Private Pilot license in 1940.
During World War II he flew bomber escorts and strafing missions over Europe with the 355th Fighter Group from D-Day through V-E Day.
After the war, he completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering and went on to become an engineering test pilot for the U.S. Air Force and North American Aviation. Al participated in a variety of flight test programs over his career, including the F-86 Sabre jet, the F-100 Super Sabre series, the F-107 and the X-15.In 1961 he was elected Chief Test pilot for the flight test program of the XB-70 Valkyrie, the world’s largest supersonic aircraft, piloting the first flights of both planes and taking the aircraft through the build up programs to flight at Mach 3. In 1966 Al joined TWA as Manager of Flight Operations, Research and Development.
In 1969, he became a consultant in the field of aviation and aeronautics, working primarily as an expert witness in accident investigation litigation, requiring simulation of accident flight conditions in a comparable aircraft.
A past President and founding member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Al earned some of the top awards for his profession, including the Iven C. Kinchloe award, the Octave Chanute Award, and the Harmon Trophy, which was presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
After 8500 hours of flying time in over 125 different aircraft, Al retired from the ranks of active pilots and settled in Tucson, Arizona.
Al is survived by his wife, Betty J. of Tucson; his brother Harold H. White, Jr. of Auburn, CA; son, Stephen and daughter-in-law, Donna White of Sacramento, CA, daughter, Cathie (White) Deisher and grandson, Christopher Farrar of Fleetwood, PA, daughter, Leslie White Hester, son-in-law, Les Hester and grandson, Andrew Hester of North East, MD, as well as step-daughter, Karen Tomsett of Seattle, WA, step-son, Edward Tomsett of Tucson, and step-daughter and son-in law, Kimberly and Dan Aurand and daughters, Brittany and Taylor of Spokane, WA.
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