Jerauld Richard 'Jerry' Gentry was born May 16, 1935 in Enid, Oklahoma, the son of Jacob R. and Louise Hoyt Gentry. He attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. He was a 1957 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and took his commission in the Air Force. In 1969, he received a master's degree in aerospace systems management from the University of Southern California.
Jerry graduated from Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1964, before beginning a seven-year tour at the Air Force Flight Test Center as a test pilot. He was the eighth pilot assigned to the lifting body program and made his first air-towed flight in the NASA M2-F1 on July 16, 1965. He transitioned to the heavyweight Northrop M2-F2 lifting body which he first flew on October 12, 1966 in an unpowered mission air-dropped from a B-52. On October 23, 1968, Jerry attempted the first powered flight in the Northrop HL-10, however the rocket engine failed shortly after launch resulting in an emergency landing on Rosamond Dry Lake. Gentry flew the first powered flight of the X-24A on March 19, 1970. He made his 30th and final lifting body flight in the M2-F3 on February 9, 1971. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, for his work as the project test pilot for F-4 Stall/Near Stall testing from December 17, 1969 to June 22, 1970 when he flew numerous approaches to out-of-control flight conditions and successfully determined and refined the correct recovery procedures from this accident-causing phase of flight.
In early 1971, he was assigned to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 'Night Owls', 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4D, Phantom II. While at Ubon, he became the commander of the Wolf FACs and during his tenure he received the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. During his tour at Ubon, he flew more than 200 missions in the F-4D Phantom II.
He then became a leader in the Air Force's lightweight fighter program that led to the development of the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon. He then served at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where he was the 'Red Flag' Aerial Combat Training commander. In 1979, he became commander of the 388 Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah, the first TFW to receive the F-16A/B.
In 1983, he became deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisitions at Air Force headquarters.
After retiring from active duty in 1985, he founded the Alexandria aerospace and defense consulting firm of Gentry and Associates Inc. and remained its head until his death.
Colonel Gentry, a command pilot, flew more than 50 types of aircraft, logging more than 4,500 hours.
Jerry received the following awards and decorations; Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with two silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Harmon International Trophy, Iven C. Kincheloe Award, Octave Chanute Award and the Areospace Walk of Honor.
He was a member of the Air Force Association, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, the Daedalians, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the International Order of Characters.
Colonel Jerauld Richard 'Jerry' Gentry, a Washington D.C. area resident since 1982, died March 3, 2003, at Inova Alexandria Hospital after a heart attack.
Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Anne Rogers Gentry of Alexandria; two sons from his first marriage to Arden Gentry, Jeffrey R., of Georgia, and Alan H., of Tallahassee; and three grandchildren, Ryan Wells, Whitney Elizabeth and Sayler Allyn Gentry.
His hometown of Enid, Oklahoma has re-named the road entering the Enid Woodring Municipal Airport to Jerauld Gentry Road.
Wikipedia has additional information about Jerry.
Jerry graduated from Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1964, before beginning a seven-year tour at the Air Force Flight Test Center as a test pilot. He was the eighth pilot assigned to the lifting body program and made his first air-towed flight in the NASA M2-F1 on July 16, 1965. He transitioned to the heavyweight Northrop M2-F2 lifting body which he first flew on October 12, 1966 in an unpowered mission air-dropped from a B-52. On October 23, 1968, Jerry attempted the first powered flight in the Northrop HL-10, however the rocket engine failed shortly after launch resulting in an emergency landing on Rosamond Dry Lake. Gentry flew the first powered flight of the X-24A on March 19, 1970. He made his 30th and final lifting body flight in the M2-F3 on February 9, 1971. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, for his work as the project test pilot for F-4 Stall/Near Stall testing from December 17, 1969 to June 22, 1970 when he flew numerous approaches to out-of-control flight conditions and successfully determined and refined the correct recovery procedures from this accident-causing phase of flight.
In early 1971, he was assigned to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 'Night Owls', 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4D, Phantom II. While at Ubon, he became the commander of the Wolf FACs and during his tenure he received the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. During his tour at Ubon, he flew more than 200 missions in the F-4D Phantom II.
He then became a leader in the Air Force's lightweight fighter program that led to the development of the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon. He then served at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where he was the 'Red Flag' Aerial Combat Training commander. In 1979, he became commander of the 388 Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah, the first TFW to receive the F-16A/B.
In 1983, he became deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisitions at Air Force headquarters.
After retiring from active duty in 1985, he founded the Alexandria aerospace and defense consulting firm of Gentry and Associates Inc. and remained its head until his death.
Colonel Gentry, a command pilot, flew more than 50 types of aircraft, logging more than 4,500 hours.
Jerry received the following awards and decorations; Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with two silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Harmon International Trophy, Iven C. Kincheloe Award, Octave Chanute Award and the Areospace Walk of Honor.
He was a member of the Air Force Association, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, the Daedalians, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the International Order of Characters.
Colonel Jerauld Richard 'Jerry' Gentry, a Washington D.C. area resident since 1982, died March 3, 2003, at Inova Alexandria Hospital after a heart attack.
Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Anne Rogers Gentry of Alexandria; two sons from his first marriage to Arden Gentry, Jeffrey R., of Georgia, and Alan H., of Tallahassee; and three grandchildren, Ryan Wells, Whitney Elizabeth and Sayler Allyn Gentry.
His hometown of Enid, Oklahoma has re-named the road entering the Enid Woodring Municipal Airport to Jerauld Gentry Road.
Wikipedia has additional information about Jerry.
Jerauld Richard 'Jerry' Gentry was born May 16, 1935 in Enid, Oklahoma, the son of Jacob R. and Louise Hoyt Gentry. He attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. He was a 1957 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and took his commission in the Air Force. In 1969, he received a master's degree in aerospace systems management from the University of Southern California.
Jerry graduated from Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1964, before beginning a seven-year tour at the Air Force Flight Test Center as a test pilot. He was the eighth pilot assigned to the lifting body program and made his first air-towed flight in the NASA M2-F1 on July 16, 1965. He transitioned to the heavyweight Northrop M2-F2 lifting body which he first flew on October 12, 1966 in an unpowered mission air-dropped from a B-52. On October 23, 1968, Jerry attempted the first powered flight in the Northrop HL-10, however the rocket engine failed shortly after launch resulting in an emergency landing on Rosamond Dry Lake. Gentry flew the first powered flight of the X-24A on March 19, 1970. He made his 30th and final lifting body flight in the M2-F3 on February 9, 1971. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, for his work as the project test pilot for F-4 Stall/Near Stall testing from December 17, 1969 to June 22, 1970 when he flew numerous approaches to out-of-control flight conditions and successfully determined and refined the correct recovery procedures from this accident-causing phase of flight.
In early 1971, he was assigned to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 'Night Owls', 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4D, Phantom II. While at Ubon, he became the commander of the Wolf FACs and during his tenure he received the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. During his tour at Ubon, he flew more than 200 missions in the F-4D Phantom II.
He then became a leader in the Air Force's lightweight fighter program that led to the development of the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon. He then served at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where he was the 'Red Flag' Aerial Combat Training commander. In 1979, he became commander of the 388 Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah, the first TFW to receive the F-16A/B.
In 1983, he became deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisitions at Air Force headquarters.
After retiring from active duty in 1985, he founded the Alexandria aerospace and defense consulting firm of Gentry and Associates Inc. and remained its head until his death.
Colonel Gentry, a command pilot, flew more than 50 types of aircraft, logging more than 4,500 hours.
Jerry received the following awards and decorations; Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with two silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Harmon International Trophy, Iven C. Kincheloe Award, Octave Chanute Award and the Areospace Walk of Honor.
He was a member of the Air Force Association, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, the Daedalians, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the International Order of Characters.
Colonel Jerauld Richard 'Jerry' Gentry, a Washington D.C. area resident since 1982, died March 3, 2003, at Inova Alexandria Hospital after a heart attack.
Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Anne Rogers Gentry of Alexandria; two sons from his first marriage to Arden Gentry, Jeffrey R., of Georgia, and Alan H., of Tallahassee; and three grandchildren, Ryan Wells, Whitney Elizabeth and Sayler Allyn Gentry.
His hometown of Enid, Oklahoma has re-named the road entering the Enid Woodring Municipal Airport to Jerauld Gentry Road.
Wikipedia has additional information about Jerry.
Jerry graduated from Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1964, before beginning a seven-year tour at the Air Force Flight Test Center as a test pilot. He was the eighth pilot assigned to the lifting body program and made his first air-towed flight in the NASA M2-F1 on July 16, 1965. He transitioned to the heavyweight Northrop M2-F2 lifting body which he first flew on October 12, 1966 in an unpowered mission air-dropped from a B-52. On October 23, 1968, Jerry attempted the first powered flight in the Northrop HL-10, however the rocket engine failed shortly after launch resulting in an emergency landing on Rosamond Dry Lake. Gentry flew the first powered flight of the X-24A on March 19, 1970. He made his 30th and final lifting body flight in the M2-F3 on February 9, 1971. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, for his work as the project test pilot for F-4 Stall/Near Stall testing from December 17, 1969 to June 22, 1970 when he flew numerous approaches to out-of-control flight conditions and successfully determined and refined the correct recovery procedures from this accident-causing phase of flight.
In early 1971, he was assigned to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 'Night Owls', 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4D, Phantom II. While at Ubon, he became the commander of the Wolf FACs and during his tenure he received the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. During his tour at Ubon, he flew more than 200 missions in the F-4D Phantom II.
He then became a leader in the Air Force's lightweight fighter program that led to the development of the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon. He then served at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where he was the 'Red Flag' Aerial Combat Training commander. In 1979, he became commander of the 388 Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah, the first TFW to receive the F-16A/B.
In 1983, he became deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisitions at Air Force headquarters.
After retiring from active duty in 1985, he founded the Alexandria aerospace and defense consulting firm of Gentry and Associates Inc. and remained its head until his death.
Colonel Gentry, a command pilot, flew more than 50 types of aircraft, logging more than 4,500 hours.
Jerry received the following awards and decorations; Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with two silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Harmon International Trophy, Iven C. Kincheloe Award, Octave Chanute Award and the Areospace Walk of Honor.
He was a member of the Air Force Association, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, the Daedalians, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the International Order of Characters.
Colonel Jerauld Richard 'Jerry' Gentry, a Washington D.C. area resident since 1982, died March 3, 2003, at Inova Alexandria Hospital after a heart attack.
Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Anne Rogers Gentry of Alexandria; two sons from his first marriage to Arden Gentry, Jeffrey R., of Georgia, and Alan H., of Tallahassee; and three grandchildren, Ryan Wells, Whitney Elizabeth and Sayler Allyn Gentry.
His hometown of Enid, Oklahoma has re-named the road entering the Enid Woodring Municipal Airport to Jerauld Gentry Road.
Wikipedia has additional information about Jerry.
Gravesite Details
COL US AIR FORCE; VIETNAM
