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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

John William Knebel
Born Jan. 19, 1921 Pocahontas, Illinois
Received commercial pilot’s license in 1940 at age 19. BA degree in meteorology at San Diego State University in 1954. Graduated from U.S. Navy Test Pilot School class 17 at Patuxent River in 1957. Carrier qualified aboard U.S. Navy Carrier USS Saipan in 1957.
Commissioned 2nd. Lt. in U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942. Retired from U.S. Air Force as Lt. Colonel with 21 years of service.
Flew 15 years as engineering test pilot for Convair at San Diego; retired in 1965 as Chief Engineering Test Pilot. Flew experimental test flights on CV 240/340/440 and CV-XFY-l and VTOL "Pogo Stick" and F-102 and STOL "Charger" and PBY and R3Y Flying Boat programs.
Don Germerand and Knebel hold the transcontinental speed record of 6 hours for seaplanes set on Feb. 24, 1955 in a CV-R3Y Tradewind (8 engine flying boat). Was also the Project Pilot and FAA Designee Certification Pilot of CV 880 and 990 - first generation 4 engine jet transports.
Retired as Jet Airline Captain in 1981 at age 60 after 15 years with Trans International Airlines.