NAME: Roy D. Bridges, Jr. (Colonel, USAF)
NASA Astronaut
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born July 19, 1943, in Atlanta, Georgia, but considers
Gainesville, Georgia, to be his hometown. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy D.
Bridges, Sr., reside in Gainesville.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Red hair; hazel eyes; height: 5 feet 8 inches; weight:
145 pounds.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Gainesville High School, Gainesville, Georgia, in
1961; received a bachelor of science degree in engineering science from the
United States
air Force Academy in 1965, and a master of science degree in
astronautics from Purdue University in 1966.
MARITAL STATUS: Married to the former Benita Louise Allbaugh of Tucson,
Arizona. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Allbaugh, reside in Tucson.
CHILDREN: Tanya M., March 12, 1970; and Brian N., May 23, 1974.
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: He enjoys jogging, camping, backpacking, and flying.
ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Society of Experimental
Test Pilots and life
member of the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates.
SPECIAL HONORS: 3 Air Force Distinguished Flying Crosses, 15 Air Medals, an
Air Force Commendation Medal, an Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, an Air
Force Systems Command Certificate of Merit (for selection as the AFSC nominee
for the Jabara Award for Airmanship in 1974), Distinguished Graduate of the
USAF Academy, Distinguished Graduate of USAF
Pilot Training, Top Graduate of
the USAF Test Pilot School, and a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Command and
Staff College. Recipient of NASA Certificate of Commendation.
EXPERIENCE: After graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1965,
Bridges attended Purdue University in residence to complete the requirements
for his master of science degree. He then entered and completed pilot training
at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. He was assigned to the 524th Tactical
Fighter Squadron at Clovis AFB, NM, in 1967, as an F-100 pilot. During 1968,
he flew 226 combat missions in the F-100 while a member of the 416th Tactical
Fighter Squadron and Commando Sabre Operation at Phu Cat Air Base in the
Republic of Vietnam. In 1969, Bridges returned to the United States as a pilot
instructor assigned to the 3575th Pilot
Training Squadron at Vance Air Force
Base, Oklahoma, and in 1970, attended the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air
Force Base, California. He remained at Edwards following graduation in 1971,
for an assignment as test pilot with the Air Force Flight Test Center. He was
involved in a number of
aircraft test projects, including the A-X flyoff and
subsequent test and evaluation of the A-10.
In 1975, he entered the Air Command and Staff College and subsequently went to
work for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development at Headquarters
USAF in Washington, D.C. While at the Pentagon, he participated in development
and acquisition programs for F-15 and A-10 aircraft and served as a special
assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development. He was
assigned to Detachment 3 of the Air Force Flight Test Center as a special
projects officer when informed of his selection by NASA.
He has logged more than 3,800 hours flying time in the following aircraft:
T-2, T-28, T-33, T-37, T-38, T-41, A-37, A-7, A-9, A-10, B-26, B-52, B-57,
F-100, F-104, NF-104, F-106, F-4, KC-135, and G-2 (Shuttle Training Aircraft).
NASA EXPERIENCE: Bridges was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in May
1980, and completed a 1-year training and evaluation period, inA
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