Albert Boyd

Albert Boyd
File:Major General Albert Boyd USAF.jpg Major General Albert Boyd (USAF Photo)
Nickname(s)	Al
Born	(1906-11-22)November 22, 1906 Rankin, Tennessee, U.S.
Died
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1927 - 1957
Rank	Major General
Commands held	Chief of Flight Section, Wright-Patterson AFB Commander, Experimental Test Pilot School Commander, USAF Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB Commander, Wright Air Development Center Deputy Commander, Weapons System Headquarters, ARDC
Awards	Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Service Medal

Albert Boyd (November 22, 1906 – September 18, 1976) was a pioneering test pilot for the United States Air Force (USAF). During his 30-year career, he logged more than 23,000 hours of flight time in 723 military aircraft (though this number of the total number flown includes variants and sub variants of some types, and is not 723 distinct types). When he retired in 1957, he had flown every aircraft type operated by the USAF, including attack, cargo, trainer, fighter, experimental, bomber, mission trainer, liaison, observation, and general aviation planes and helicopters.

From 1947 to 1957, Boyd flew and approved every aircraft type acquired by the USAF. When he retired, he was praised as the "Father of Modern Flight Testing," "World's Number One Test Pilot," "Dean of American Test Pilots" and "Father of USAF Test Pilots." Boyd died on September 18, 1976.

His assignments included:

• Chief of Flight Section at Wright Patterson AFB
• Commander, Experimental Test Pilot School
• First Commander, USAF Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base
• Commander, Wright Air Development Center (Maj. Chuck Yeager, a test pilot in his command, was the first American pilot to test the MiG-15, associated with Operation Moolah.)
• Deputy Commander, Weapons System Headquarters, Air Research and Development Command

The prototype Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, modified as a racer and designated P-80R, was piloted by Colonel Boyd to a world air speed record of 623.73 mph (1,004.2 km/h) on 19 June 1947.

Awards

• Octave Chanute Award
• Legion of Merit
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Air Power Trophy
• Schilling Award
• Médaille de l'Aéronautique
• Brevet Militarire de Pilote d'Aviation
• Aerospace Walk of Honor (1991)

References

• City of Lancaster AWOH biography retrieved February 5, 2011.
• Arlington Cemetery Biography retrieved June 13, 2008.
• Air Force Link Biography retrieved February 5, 2011.