- Fred Ascani
Infobox Military Person
name= Fred John Ascani
born= birth date and age|1917|05|29
died=
placeofbirth=Beloit, Wisconsin
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=
caption=
nickname= Fred
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears= 1937–1973 (32 yrs)
rank=
current position=
commands= Vice commander,Fifth Air Force , 1965-67 WP AFB Systems Eng. Group, 1964-65 50th Fighter Bomber Wing, 1955-57 86th Fighter Interceptor Group, 1954 Vice commander,AFFTC , 1951-53 816th Bombardment Squadron, 1944 815th Bombardment Squadron, 1943
unit=
battles=World War II
awards= Distinguished Service MedalLegion of Merit , 1 OLC Distinguished Flying Cross, 1 OLCAir Medal , 4 OLCsArmy Commendation Medal , 1 OLCCroix de Guerre with palm
relations=
laterwork=Fred Ascani (born 1917) is an retired American Major General and
test pilot of theUnited States Air Force . He is one of the "Men of Mach 1" and is considered father ofSystems Engineering at Wright Field.Aldridge, "A General Remembers", Introduction.]Biography
Early years
Ascani was born on
May 29 ,1917 inBeloit, Wisconsin just 14 years after theWright brothers achieved powered flight. His interest in aviation was sparked in 1927 when he watchedCharles Lindbergh fly overhead in the "Spirit of St. Louis ".Aldridge, "A General Remembers", Narrative.] His family moved toRockford, Illinois , several miles downriver from Beloit, where Ascani attended Rockford High School and enjoyed a hobby building model airplanes. He graduated as high schoolvaledictorian in 1935 and attendedBeloit College for two years. In 1937, Ascani was accepted at theUnited States Military Academy atWest Point, New York . He graduated 47th out of a class of 424 and in 1941 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. Engineering took a back seat to aviation when Ascani was sent to Hicks Field for initial flight training and Foster Field for advanced flight training.World War II
After the U.S. entered the
second world war , Ascani was assigned as an instructor and squadron commander of the Twin Engine Advanced Flying School inColumbus, Mississippi . Although he had hopes this assignment would be a stepping stone for a combat tour in fighters, Captain Ascani was instead sent to Hendricks Field in Florida, to transition to four engine aircraft. In December 1943, he was placed in command of the 815th Bombardment Squadron of the 483rd Bomb Group. After additional training in theB-17 Flying Fortress , Major Ascani joined the 816th Bombardment Squadron as its commander. The 816th was based in Italy, and Ascani flew 53 combat missions in the B-17, including delivery of supplies in German-occupied Slovakia to partisans and the evacuation of escaping Allied airmen. Two of his missions were toPloieşti , Rumania, and one toMemmingen , Germany, where the unescorted group lost one entire squadron after being attacked by over 200 German fighters.Flight test
Upon his return to the U.S., Lt. Colonel Ascani was transferred to the Flight Test Division at Wright Field where he was assigned chief of the bomber test section. He attended the Flight Performance School (now the
U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School ) and graduated with class 46.(1994) "USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond", p. 66.] In January 1946, Ascani met his new boss, Colonel Al Boyd, who would have a significant impact on both USAF flight test and Ascani's career. Boyd and Ascani worked well together, and Ascani became Boyd’s deputy both at Wright Field and later atEdwards Air Force Base . One notable decision made by Boyd and Ascani was the pilot who would first break thesound barrier . Although Ascani had initially recommended MajorKen Chilstrom , they eventually agreedChuck Yeager would pilot theBell X-1 , and Chilstrom would fly the performance, stability and control tests in the new XP-86. [Blackburn, "Aces Wild", pgs. 173-75.] During his tour at Edwards AFB, Ascani flew a wide variety of research aircraft including the X-1, X-4,-, "NASA Facts: X-4", p. 2.] X-5, and the XF-92A. A highlight of his flying career occurred in 1951 when he flew an F-86E at the National Air Show inDetroit, Michigan , and established a new 100-kilometer closed course speed record of 635 mph.Shaw, "The Cold War and Beyond, p. 10.] [http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet_print.asp?fsID=1067&page=1 Ascani Fact Sheet] , National Museum of the Air Force web site, retrieved July 12, 2008.] In September 1951, Colonel Ascani was named vice commander of theAir Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB.In 1953, Ascani left flight test for a time. He studied for a year at the
Air War College atMaxwell Air Force Base . After completing the coursework, Ascani was selected as the group commander of the 86th Fighter Interceptor Group based in Landstuhl, Germany. In June 1955, he was assigned as the wing commander of the 50th Fighter Bomber Wing, Hahn, Germany, andToul-Rosières Air Base , France.ystems engineering
After completing his overseas tour, Ascani returned to Wright-Patterson AFB in 1957 as the Deputy Chief of Staff/Plans and Operations at the Wright Air Development Center (WADC). For many years, the USAF was under increasing pressure to reduce the time needed to convert new technologies into usable weapon systems. In May 1959, Ascani was one of twelve Colonels appointed to a committee, by the commander of the
Air Research and Development Command (ARDC), General Bernie Schriever, to resolve this issue. Ascani wrote a paper describing a systems engineering group that would be the interface between the laboratories and the product managers. Ascani's paper was the genesis of the committee's recommendations, which became known as the Maxwell Report, released in July 1959. Over the next four years, Wright Field science, engineering, and management capabilities were reorganized to comply with the details of the Report and the vision of General Schriever. Ascani played a key role in implementing the reorganization and was assigned as the first Director of Systems Engineering.In April 1961, Ascani was assigned as deputy commander and system program director of the
XB-70 Valkyrie project. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,871114-1,00.html The Supersonic Cobra] . Time Magazine. Retrieved July 12, 2008.] Although only two were constructed, the sleek Mach 3 bomber pioneered technological advances used in later high speed aircraft such as the YF-12 and SR-71. [http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-084-DFRC.html NASA XB-70 Fact Sheet] . NASA website. Retrieved July 13, 2008.] Ascani's organizational skills were put to the test once again when, in 1962, he was appointed chairman of a task force to realign theAir Force Systems Command functions at Wright Field. The resulting structure of four laboratories and a systems engineering group has remained relatively unchanged to the present day. In 1964, Ascani was named commander of the Systems Engineering Group and deputy commander of the Research and Technology Division at Wright-Patterson AFB.In 1965, Major General Ascani became vice commander of
Fifth Air Force , Pacific Air Forces, with headquarters at Fuchu Air Station, Japan. He returned to Wright-Patterson in 1967 as director of operations forAir Force Logistics Command . In 1970, Ascani was named the senior Air Force member of the Weapon System Evaluation Group within the Office of Secretary of Defense. Ascani retired from active duty on August 1, 1973, after 32 years of service.Later years
Ascani earned a Master of Science degree from the
University of Southern California in 1971. From 1973 to 1981, he served as a USC adjunct professor teaching systems management organization in theWashington, D.C. , area. He reached his "second retirement" in June 1981.Honors
[
Gathering of Eagles 1992 Lithograph. (USAF Image)] Ascani's military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal,Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster,Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters,Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, andCroix de Guerre with palm (France). [http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=4555 Ascani Biography] , Air Force Link, retrieved July 7, 2008.] He is anHonorary Fellow of theSociety of Experimental Test Pilots , [ [http://www.setp.org/HTML/Personnel/Fellows.htm List of Honorary Fellows] , SETP web site, retrieved July 7, 2008.] a member of the Military Aviation Hall of Fame, [http://www.aeromuseum.org/exhibitsHallofFame_Ascani.html Military Aviation Hall of Fame] , Chanute Air Museum web site. Retrieved July 13, 2008.] and an honoree in the city of Lancaster'sAerospace Walk of Honor . [http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/Index.aspx?page=201#ascani Aerospace Walk of Honor 1999] . Retrieved July 11, 2008.] In 1992, Ascani was honored as an Eagle in the Air University'sGathering of Eagles Program . [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/1992/ascani_1992.asp Eagle Biography] , GOE web site. Retrieved July 13, 2008.] Beloit College presented him with its Distinguished Service Citation/DSC Award. [http://www.beloit.edu/alumni/news/award_recipients.php Beloit Distinguished Service Citation] , Beloit College web site. Retrieved July 13, 2008.] In recognition of his absolute speed record in the F-86, he was awarded in 1951 theThompson Trophy , theMackay Trophy , and theDe la Vaulx Medal . [http://www.fai.org/awards/recipient.asp?id=1407 De la Vaulx Medal] , FAI web site. Retrieved July 12, 2008.]Dates of promotion
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