Robert J. Gilliland

1926 - 2019

Robert J. Gilliland obituary, 1926-2019, Rancho Mirage, CA

Robert J. Gilliland

1926 - 2019

BORN

1926

DIED

2019

Robert Gilliland Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Jul. 13 to Jul. 21, 2019.
Robert J. Gilliland

Rancho Mirage - Robert Jordan Gilliland, the first man to fly the world's fastest manned aircraft ever built, the SR-71 Blackbird, died on July 4, 2019 in Rancho Mirage, California at 93 years of age.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee on May 1, 1926, he made aviation his life, culminating during the Cold War as the Chief Test Pilot for the SR-71 Blackbird at Lockheed's "SkunkWorks," the ultra-secret aviation inter-sanctum in Burbank, California. The government, conscious that the U-2 was vulnerable to being shot down, charged Lockheed with the development— on an urgent, 24/7 basis— of a manned aircraft that could fly faster and higher than anything ever created. The SR-71 was America's answer. It's performance, even now, over 50 years later, has never been equaled. Bob led its test program and flew it on its maiden flight on December 22, 1964.

Beginning his schooling in Memphis and graduating from Webb School at Bell Buckle, Tennessee the same week in 1944 as the D-Day Landing in Normandy, he enlisted for the Navy but was soon appointed to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Upon graduation in 1949, he opted to take his commission in the newly separate United States Air Force, where he trained in America's early jets before being assigned to a veteran front line fighter squadron in a then very tense Germany.

While stationed there as only a Second Lieutenant, he won his Air Wing's Aerial Gunnery, or "Top Gun," competition, in Tripoli, which Second Lieutenants were not supposed to win. Then during the Korean War, he was reassigned to Taegu Air Base where he flew F-84's in nearly daily combat in the air war over North Korea.

After returning to America, he received a "plum assignment" to the USAF Research and Development group at Eglin Air Force base in Florida. Finding little excitement in the peacetime Air Force, he left the service to assist in his father's business. Upon his dad's death, he returned to his first love, aviation, as a part of Lockheed's F-104 Starfighter test flight group in Palmdale, California. In early 1962, while working as Lockheed's chief pilot for European production of the F-104 in Turin, Italy, he was recalled to Burbank by the chief of the Skunk Works, the legendary Kelly Johnson. Johnson asked him to lead the test flight program for the highly secret "article"— the future Blackbird.

Bob flight tested the "article" known as the A-12 Blackbird at Area 51, a secret facility in the Nevada desert, for later delivery and use by the CIA. Bob later flight tested the interceptor version of the Blackbird, the YF-12A. Subsequently, he was hand-picked by Kelly Johnson to fly the final and newest version of the Blackbird— the SR-71. Under the call sign "Dutch 51," Bob successfully piloted the SR-71 Blackbird on its maiden flight on December 22, 1962. His work there continued intensively through multiple modifications until the envelope of the plane was fully developed and a critical supply could be delivered to the USAF. During these development years, he accumulated more Mach 3 plus experimental flight test time than any other pilot in the world.

Even after President Johnson acknowledged that the Blackbird existed, little was released beyond what air controllers could see on their radar screens: that it was the fastest and highest flying aircraft ever created, rocketing at over three times the speed of sound on the edge of space at 80,000 feet. Long before Bob was allowed to comment on "what he did at work," his colleagues at the Society of Experimental Test Pilots recognized the magnitude of his achievements and honored him as the top test pilot/astronaut, the year after the Mercury 7 astronauts received the award.

The SR-71 changed the calculus of the Cold War. Although over the course of the development program several aircraft were lost, no Blackbird was ever shot down despite the thousands of surface-to-air missiles fired at it by hostile countries.

Since its declassification, Bob has been honored with virtually every significant aviation award in the western world, including the top award— enshrinement into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. His story as a test pilot was recently featured in an hour-long documentary on the Smithsonian Channel. Bob's life is the subject of a full-length book scheduled to release later next year with the foreword written by Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger ("Miracle on the Hudson").

He leaves two children, a daughter, Anne Gilliland Hayes, M.D. (spouse Richard Hayes, M.D.) of Reno, Nevada, and a son, Robert J. Gilliland, Jr., a lawyer (spouse Kim Gilliland) in Palm Desert, California, and five grandchildren: Laura Hayes, Nathaniel Hayes, Stuart Hayes, Scott Gilliland, and Heather Gilliland. He also leaves a brother, James S. Gilliland (spouse Lucia Gilliland), of Memphis.

A Celebration of Life will be held to honor Bob's extraordinary life with his family and friends in the future. Donations in Bob's name should be directed to either the Palm Springs Air Museum, March Field Air Museum, or to one of the U.S. military veteran organizations. Beyond that, Bob requested that his ashes be sprinkled in his favorite trout stream.

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November 9, 2019

Someone posted to the memorial.

October 22, 2019

Pete Gurzenski posted to the memorial.

September 28, 2019

David Clow posted to the memorial.

November 9, 2019

An aviator, a gentleman totally non assuming.
I had the great honor to meet and talk with Robert at The Royal Aeronautical Society London July 3rd 2007
Robert told me his family name being so long, it was reduced to my christian name of Gil to fit his flying suit name patch.

After Roberts excellent lecture, he declined to return to his hotel room "one of the loneliest places on earth" as he called it. I would prefer to sit here and talk aviation.
And so another hour with the great man.

Thank you for your service Sir.

Robert J Gilliland R.I.P

Pete Gurzenski

October 22, 2019

A truly great man, I'll miss him like all his other friends will. Met & worked with him while a docent at Blackbird Airpark, Palmdale, Ca. Spent time talking SR info, that I used to inform guests about the SR.

David Clow

September 28, 2019

He had a pilot's swagger and a warrior's courage. One of a kind. Fair winds.

Steve Barbee

September 14, 2019

I met Mr. Gilliland in the line for flight on Southwest Airlines in Baltimore in approximately 2000. He was wearing the best SR-71 ballcap I ever saw and I asked him where he got it. He told me that he was an SR-71 test pilot. I looked him in the eye and said questioningly, 'Lou Schalk?". He smiled and said his name and I said, "Oh, right. Lou Schalk was the test pilot for the A-12". Mr. Gilliland pretended he didn't know what I was talking about but was nice enough to sit down with me and let me play 20 questions with him. We were the last 2 people on the airplane and he ended up in a window seat on the last row. I remember thinking that here was a guy who flew Mach 3 in space suits sitting in the 'back of the bus' on an airliner. He was nice enough to give me his business card, which I think I still have. Thank you Mr. Gilliland.

"Touching Titanium" at March AFB Museum - A good friend. He explained technical theories to me as if I understood.

Giacinta Koontz

July 29, 2019

Capt. Wm. Wilkerson, Giacinta Bradley Koontz and Robert at the Tenn Aviation Hall of Fame - What delightful times we shared with mutual friends..

Giacinta Koontz

July 29, 2019

July 20, 2019

I am so sorry for your loss may you find comfort and hope through this difficult time

Wilson Sims, jr

July 17, 2019

My dad Woody Sims, Class of 42 at Webb School in Bell Buckle Tennessee and i (Webb School class of '72) send our sympathies to the Gilliland family. Mr. Gilliland, and his father who my dad says was chairman of the board at Webb, was a alum of highest distinction whose character and memory will continue. We send our deepest condolences for your loss.

Mimi Richards

July 16, 2019

What a remarkable life he had! I'm so sorry for the loss of your father, Dr. Hayes.

Mimi Richards

Robert Dracup

July 15, 2019

God bless. One of my life long hero's. I had the privilege to meet Mr Gilliland on a lecture tour at Duxford, England.

July 9, 2019

My deepest condolences to the family, may you find comfort and strength from the God of all comfort in this difficult time (Isiah 25:8)

Jeremy Newman

July 9, 2019

While we never met, I feel a close association with Bob. I wish I had tracked him down after he was Grand Marshall of a parade in Palm Desert several years ago. I tried but the traffic blocked us.
My "association" with Bob was through my intimate involvement with the manufacture of the titanium from which the SR-71 was made. In the mid 1950's through the 1960's I was a young titanium metallurgist with TIMET and was heavily involved in alloy composition development and mill processing procedures in the manufacture of titanium sheet , plate and billet products. The secret project at the time was always intriguing. Visits from the "customer" were special. I have always felt a close association with the "Blackbird" and would loved to have had the opportunity to shake Bob's hand and talk a little. I will always regret not following up to meet him personally.
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your great loss.
Jeremy Newman, Rancho Mirage, CA

Ernestine Smith

July 9, 2019

Bob Gilliland was a Memphis treasure. He grew up here but was destined for greatness in the Aviation World. He was interesting, brilliant, and always generated a lot attention whenever he visited his home town. I shall miss his wonderful stories and his kind spirit.

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