| Signatures for : Bearcat | | A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name. | | Name | Info |
Captain Robert M Elder USN
Click the name above to see prints signed by Captain Robert M Elder USN
 | Died : 12 / 9 / 2008 |
| Captain Robert M Elder USN
Robert M. Elder was born in Saskatchewan, Canada on December 5, 1918. He attended the University of Washington in Seattle as a Naval ROTC student, where he majored in Aero Engineering. Elder commenced his flight training at Pensacola, and was commissioned as an Ensign in the USNR in May of 1941. In June, Elder was assigned to Bombing Squadron 3, the Mlack Panthers, who were at that time were equipped with Douglas Dauntless S1313-3 bombers, and were assigned to the USS Saratoga (CV-3) based in San Diego. With the attack on Pearl Harbor, Elder and his squadron mates from V13-3 would be soon be involved in the heat of battle in the Pacific. Elder flew numerous bombing missions during the Battle of the Coral Sea. During the Battle of Midway, V13-3 flying off the USS Yorktown, along with bombers from the USS Enterprise, sunk three Japanese aircraft carriers in a matter of minutes. This would prove to be the turning point in the War in the Pacific. Elder would later fly in both the Guadacanal and Easter Solomons campaigns. He was awarded two Navy Crosses, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and received two Presidential Unit Citations. Following the War, Elder remained in the Navy. He was one of the first graduates from the Navy's test pilot training school in 1950. He was also one of the first Naval aviators to fly jet aircraft, and he participated in developmental flights on both the F8F Bearcat and the F7F Tigercat. On the former Elder carrier qualified the aircraft. In 1953 Elder returned to combat duty with VF-191 flying off the USS Orinskany. Subsequently he commanded Carrier Air Group 12, the USS Waccamaw, and the USS Coral Sea. Following the Korean War, Elder continued to fly. In 1957 Bob was assigned as Director of the Flight Test Division at the Navy's Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland. Here Bob personally conducted initial test flights on many of the Navy's new supersonic fighter aircraft including the F3 Demon, F-1 1 Tiger, the F-4 Phantom 11, the A-5 Vigilante, and the F8U-3 Crusader 11. Elder retired from the Navy in 1963. He then worked for the Northrop Corporation for 23 years, holding the positions of Chief Test Pilot, Director of Flight Operations, and Head of Flight Test and Evaluation. He was one of the driving forces behind the programs which evolved into the F/A- 18 Hornet. Bob also was founder of the Tailhook Association, and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1964. During his amazing flying career, Bob Elder has flown more than 8,000 flight hours in 142 different types of aircraft. He has become carrier qualified in 35 different aircraft, and has made almost 1,000 carrier landings. Bob s also served as President of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He died 12th September 2008.
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Capt E Royce Williams USN
Click the name above to see prints signed by Capt E Royce Williams USN | Capt E Royce Williams USN
Royce Williams was born in Wilmot, South Dakota in 1925. In 1936 his family moved to Clinton, Minnesota where a familyowned grocery business was established. Royee worked in the business, but preferred outside work including activities at his Uncle's farm and lakeside resort. He was active in the 411 club and the Boy Scouts, and became the first young man from Clinton to attain Eagle Scout status. In high school Royce played three sports, including quarterback on his school's football team. He graduated first in his class. Royce had boyhood dreams of becoming a military pilot. His older brother had Joined the Navy in 1942, becoming a Marine Corps aviator. In March of 1943 Royce Joined up, and he became a naval aviator. Royce became carrier qualified in the F6F Hellcat on the old USS Ranger (CV-4.) He flew the F6F, and later the F4U Corsair and the F8F Bearcat. Royce attended the University of Minnesota where he earned his Bachelors Degree. He later would attend the Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey. Royee eventually transitioned to jets, where his first operational deployment was on board the USSOriskany, flyingthe17917-5 Panther. While deployed in Korea with the VF-781 (later redesignated V17-121) Pacemakers, Royee engaged seven Soviet-piloted Mig-15s on November 18, 1952. The Oriskany was only 100 miles from V1adivostok. Shortly after take-off Williain's flight of four Panthers encountered the seven Migs. Royce was instructed to reverse course and hold a barrier between the Migs and the Task Force, but the Migs attacked. It is believed that Royce downed three of the bogies, although official reports credited him with only one. With his Panther badly shot-up R oyce limped back to the Oriskany and got his aircraft home with the help of the LSO and ship's Captain. The engagement was politically sensitive as the US Government feared escalating Soviet involvement in the War in Korea. Mig kills were rare for the Navy in Korea (only 55 aerial victories), and the Panther was generally outclassed by the Mig-15 in most dogfights. Royce remained in the Navy until his retirement in 1980. He served as an exchange pilot with the USAF flying the F-86 and F-100. He also served as CO, XO and of VF-33 on board the USS Enterprise flying the F8-E Crusader, and later on board the USS America flying the F-4 Phantom 11. He also served as an Air Wing Commander during the Vietnam War. He also served as CO of the USS Eldorado, with CINCPAC Staff as COS ConiFAITWestPac, and as ACOS OPS ComTracPac. Royee's decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Combat V, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star Medal. He married his hometown sweetheart, Cam, in 1947. They have three sons. Royce currently resides in Southern California.
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