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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Dr. Gina Lee-Glauser

Yong Ho Lee entered the Marine Corps after graduation from University at Buffalo with an Aerospace Engineering degree in 1981 and went through flight school at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL. He flew CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, starting in the Marine Corps.

He served as a captain in the Marines before transferring to the Navy in 1989, where he received the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He served in the Gulf War and later flew relief missions for Kurdish refugees. He was one of the most particular CH-53E pilots who knew the ins and outs of the helicopter. He authored several CH-53E maintenance manuals for military personnel.

LCDR Lee was stationed in Italy when Sikorsky identified him as the only candidate (# of flight hours, less than 40 years old, and speaks Korean) for the prestigious test pilot position in 1994. Yong joined Sikorsky to provide insight knowledge of military applications and to assist the CH-53E designers to make the aircraft safer and more efficient.

LCDR Lee was among 4 killed (2 pilots, a crew chief, and engineer) in a helicopter crash on May 9, 1996. This was the first flight test of the brand new CH-53E helicopter bound for the presidential (President Clinton's) fleet.