Forrest S. Petersen

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Captain Forrest S. Petersen (May 16, 1922 - October 8, 1990) was a United States aviator.

Born in Holdrege, Nebraska, he is the son of Mrs. Stella B. Petersen who lives in Gibbon, Nebraska. Prior to entering the Navy he attended the University of Nebraska.

He was commissioned an Ensign upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in June of 1944 and reported to the destroyer USS Caperton (DD-650) . While serving aboard Caperton he participated in campaigns in the Philippines, Formosa and Okinawa. After graduation from flight training in 1947, he was assigned to Fighting Squadron Twenty Able which was later redesignated Fighter Squadron 192.

He was selected for postgraduate training in Aeronautical Engineering in July 1950 and upon completion of two years of study at the Naval Postgraduate School was awarded a Bachelors Degree (AE). He continued studies for one year at Princeton University and received a Masters Degree in Engineering. From 1953 to 1956 he served with Fighter Squadron FIFTY ONE. In 1956 he was selected to attend the Naval Test Pilot School and remained as an instructor following graduation. in August 1958 he was assigned duties as Research Pilot in the X-15 Program and served with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Flight Research Center at Edwards, California until January 1962. During that time he made five free flights in the X-15 and achieved a speed of 3,600mph (Mach 5.3) and an altitude of about 102,000 feet. Captain Petersen was the only Navy pilot to fly the X-15. In July 1962 he was a joint recipient of the Collier Trophy which was presented by President John F. Kennedy and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal which was presented by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Captain Petersen served as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 154 prior to being assigned to the office of Director, Division of Naval Reactors, AEC for Nuclear Power Training. He reported to USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in January 1964 and served therein as Executive Officer until April 1966. He was awarded the Bronze Star for duty during Enterprise's first combat tour in Vietnam. He was then assigned duties as an Assistant to the Director of Naval Program Planning in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In November 1967 he assumed command of USS Bexar (APA 237) in the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Forces. Following an eight month deployment with the Seventh Fleet Amphibious Forces in the Western Pacific he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V.

Captain Petersen holds the following awards for service in World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, China Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (w/"Japan" clasp), Philippine Liberation Medal, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal,Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal (w/bronze service star), and the Korean War Service Medal (awarded posthumously).

He died on October 8, 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska.

NASA website source of text

[edit] References

• Thompson, Milton O. (1992) At The Edge Of Space: The X-15 Flight Program, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London. ISBN 1-56098-107-5

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