Posted by Clare Ascani, daughter on July 23, 2010:

My father will always be an American hero to me and to many others. Fred John Ascani was born in Beloit, WI, to Italian immigrants. Graduating from West Point Academy in 1941 in the top 1/5th of his class, Fred married the love of his life, Catherine Hanretta, and immediately began flight training in Victoria, TX. Fred had outstanding flying skills and management abilities which were regularly recognized by his superiors. Fred was a highly decorated war hero for his courageous efforts as a B-17 pilot and Squadron Commander, flying 53 bombing missions during WWII, with one secret mission into Czechoslovakia to rescue partisans and deliver supplies. His medals include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Unit Citation, Army Commendation Medal, Command Pilot, and the Croix de Guerre with Palm. Fred was a renowned test pilot and jet-powered aeronautics pioneer at Edwards AFB, CA, flying more than 50 different types of research planes. He was awarded the Thompson Trophy, MacKay Trophy, and the Vaulx Medal of the FAI for setting a new world speed record of 635.686MPH flying 50 feet above the ground around a 100-kilometer closed course in a Sabre F-86 jet at the National Air Show in Detroit, MI, October 1951. Fred was the first Director of Systems Engineering at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, and is still referred to as the "Father of Systems Engineering." As Program Director for the experimental XB-70 Valkyrie, he oversaw the $1.3 billion program and reported to the Department of Defense. Over the course of his career, he logged a total of 6,288 flight hours in an incredibly diverse number of aircraft. Fred was the only man to fly both the XR-12 and XF-11, as well as the X-1, X-4, X-5, XF-92A, XB-42, XB-45 Tornado, XB-46, XB-47, XB-48, YB-49 Flying Wing, XB-51, B-1, C-130, C-5 & C-141, A-20, B-29, F-89, B-24, B-36, H-21, B-52, B-58, KC-97, and TF-104, and many more. Fred John Ascani retired a Major General in 1973 after proudly serving his country for 33 years in the United States Air Force. Following his retirement, he taught for the University of Southern California for eleven years. He is enshrined in the Illinois Military Aviation Hall of Fame, is named an "Honorary Fellow" by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, is an honoree in Lancaster's Aerospace Walk of Honor, honored as an Eagle in the Air University's Gathering of Eagles Program, and Beloit College presented him with its Distinguished Service Citation/DSC Award. His life has been memorialized in his autobiography "Mentor Inbound" (www.Authorhouse.com) published in 2009. Fred John Ascani was a loyal son, brother, and very proud of his Italian heritage; was an exceptional pilot, instructor, commander, professor, mentor, loving and devoted husband to his wife, Kay, of 61 years, caring and generous father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Fred J. Ascani was passionately patriotic, and always, always wanted wings...and now he currently flies with angels.

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