Fred Ascani

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Fred J. Ascani
Nickname(s)Fred
Born(1917-05-29)May 29, 1917
Beloit, Wisconsin
DiedMarch 28, 2010(2010-03-28) (aged 92)
Alexandria, Virginia
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1937–1973 (32 yrs)
Rank Major general
Commands held
Battles/warsWorld War II
Awards

Fred J. Ascani (born Alfredo John Ascani;[1] May 29, 1917 – March 28, 2010) was an American major general and test pilot of the United States Air Force. He was one of the "Men of Mach 1"[2] and was considered the father of systems engineering at Wright Field.[3]

Early years

Ascani was born on May 29, 1917, in

Foster Army Air Field for advanced flight training.[4]

World War II

After the U.S. entered

Ploieşti, Rumania, and one to Memmingen, Germany, where he lost his entire squadron flying at the rear on an unescorted mission after being attacked from behind by over 200 German fighters.[7]

Flight test

Members of the 50th Fighter Wing at Nellis in 1956. (left to right) Capt. Coleman Baker, Lt. Col. Chuck Yeager, Col. Fred Ascani, Maj. James Gasser and Capt. Robert Pasqualicchio

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

Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB.[6]

In 1953, Ascani left flight test for a time. He studied for a year at the

Air War College at Maxwell 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, and Toul-Rosières Air Base, France.[4]

Systems 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).

Bernard Schriever, to resolve this issue.[6] 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,[4] released in July 1959.[6] 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.[4]

In April 1961, Ascani was assigned as deputy commander and system program director of the

SR-71.[14] Ascani's organizational skills were put to the test once again when, in 1962, he was appointed chairman of a task force to realign the Air 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.[4] In 1964, Ascani was named commander of the Systems Engineering Group and deputy commander of the Research and Technology Division at Wright-Patterson AFB.[12]

In 1965, Major General Ascani became vice commander of

Air Force Logistics Command.[5] 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.[6]

Later years

Fred Ascani at the Old Bold Pilots Association luncheon in August 2009

Ascani earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California in 1971.[2] From 1973 to 1981, he served as a USC adjunct professor teaching systems management organization in the Washington, D.C., area. He reached his "second retirement" in June 1981.[6]

Ascani had lung cancer and died in his home in Alexandria, Virginia, on March 28, 2010. He is survived by his eight children: John Ascani, Bill Ascani, Carole Jo McDaniel, Susan Ascani, Stephen Ascani, Clare Ascani, Betsy Henderson and Dave Ascani.[15] A Requiem was held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria. Ascani was interred with full military honors on June 3, 2010, at Arlington National Cemetery with his wife of 61 years, Catherine Ascani (1918–2003).[16]

Honors

Gathering of Eagles
1992 Lithograph

Ascani's military decorations and awards include the

Honorary Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots,[17] a member of the Military Aviation Hall of Fame,[18] and an honoree in the city of Lancaster's Aerospace Walk of Honor.[2] In 1992, Ascani was honored as an Eagle in the Air Command and Staff College's Gathering of Eagles Program.[7] Beloit College presented him with its Distinguished Service Citation/DSC Award.[19] In recognition of his absolute speed record in the F-86, he was awarded in 1951 the Thompson Trophy,[12] the Mackay Trophy,[12] and the De la Vaulx Medal.[20]

In June 2012, a street at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was named after Ascani.[21]

Dates of promotion

The effective dates of Ascani's promotions are:[6]

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-4389-9973-9
    . Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Aerospace Walk of Honor 1999". City of Lancaster, California. July 13, 2006. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  3. ^ Aldridge, A General Remembers, Introduction.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Aldridge, A General Remembers, Narrative.
  5. ^ a b c d Ascani Biography, United States Air Force, retrieved January 4, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Aldridge, A General Remembers, Chronology.
  7. ^ a b "Ascani GOE Biography". Gathering of Eagles Foundation. 1992. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  8. ^ (1994) USAF Test Pilot School 50 Years and Beyond, p. 66.
  9. ^ Blackburn, Aces Wild, pgs. 173-75.
  10. ^ -, NASA Facts: X-4, p. 2.
  11. ^ Shaw, The Cold War and Beyond, p. 10.
  12. ^ a b c d e Ascani Fact Sheet, National Museum of the Air Force web site, retrieved February 26, 2017.
  13. ^ "Aeronautics: The Supersonic Cobra". Time. May 22, 1964.
  14. ^ NASA XB-70 Fact Sheet Archived June 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. NASA website. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
  15. ^ "Air Force test pilot Fred J. Ascani, 92, set airspeed record in 1951". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021.
  16. ^ Ascani Burial Information. Reader must search for "Ascani" Archived April 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ List of Honorary Fellows, SETP web site, retrieved January 4, 2015.
  18. ^ Military Aviation Hall of Fame, Chanute Air Museum web site. Retrieved July 13, 2008.
  19. ^ Beloit Distinguished Service Citation Archived January 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Beloit College web site. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  20. ^ De la Vaulx Medal Archived May 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, FAI web site. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  21. ^ Conklin, SSgt Steven (June 5, 2012). "Maj Gen Ascani honored". United States Air Force. Retrieved July 4, 2012.

Further reading

External links

External links

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