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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:

Lcdr. Zepp spent forty-three years in aviation starting in 1939 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served with Naval Air Transport Squadrons VR-3 and VR-ll as aircraft commander and check pilot along with temporary duty with VR-E and VR-J in the South Pacific area. After four years with reserve squadron VR-64, he was recalled to active duty to VR-8 during the Korean conflict. There he flew R5D and R7V aircraft and was navigation officer for the squadron and the 1500'h Air Transport Group. He assisted in the Sink Down system of cruise control and navigation for the R7V non-stop Tokyo to Honolulu flights. At the time this was the longest overwater flight flown with passengers.

In 1955, Lcdr. Zepp returned to General Motors and served as co-pilot, captain, supervisor pilot, Assistant Director and Director of the General Motors Air Transport Section. He was principal test and evaluation pilot and flew some twenty jet and turbo-prop type aircraft and accumulated some 18,000 plus hours.
He managed a transportation program dealing with a highly classified Navy submarine project. He also played a key role in obtaining certification of the Carousel Inertial Navigation System. He received the MATS and NBAA million miler Safety Awards.

In 1973, while flying an experimental Wittman Tailwind, the propeller left the aircraft at 900 feet over downtown Detroit. Lcdr. Zepp made an emergency landing in a high school baseball field with no damage to the aircraft. He then donated the aircraft to the Experimental Aircraft Association at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the aircraft is now in the EAA Museum.

Lcdr. Zepp was a member of the NBAA Board of Directors, Corporate Advisory Board of Flight Safety Foundation, Chairman of the NBAA Technical Committee, Michigan Airport Planning Committee, Michigan Aeronautics and Space Association, SEMCOG Task Force, Wings Club, American Preparedness Association, Government Industry Advisory Committee, Aviation Committee of Detroit Chamber of Commerce, President of Stonycroft and the Fairlane Association. He was elected to the Aviation Hall of Fame in 1965.

During his aviation career he flew thirty•seven different type aircraft accumulating over 18,000 flight hours. Twelve turbo•jet and five turbo•prop type aircraft. FAA license included single - multi•engine, land and sea, instrument, ATR ratings in Super Constellation, DC-3, Convair-580, Gulfstream II. Since retirement from General Motors, Lcdr. Zepp was elected in 1990 as a member of the "The Early and Pioneer Naval Aviators Association" The Golden Eagles.

Support for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum is hereby given in Honor and Remembrance to fellow Naval Aviator and Golden Eagle, Vice Admiral, Donald D. Engen.