Kenneth O. Chilstrom

Kenneth O. "K.O." Chilstrom (born April 20, 1921) is a retired United States Air Force officer, combat veteran, test pilot, and author. He was the first USAF pilot to fly the XP-86 Sabre, chief of fighter test at Wright Field, commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, and program manager for the XF-108 Rapier.

Kenneth O. Chilstrom
Colonel Ken Chilstrom in 1961
Nickname	K.O.
Born	(1921-04-20) April 20, 1921 (age 103) Zumbrota, Minnesota
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1939–1964 (25 years)
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	Chief of Fighter Test, 1946–48 USAF Test Pilot School, 1949–50 F-108 Program Manager, 1958–59
Battles/wars	World War II Cold War
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal
Other work	Aerospace Industry Author

Chilstrom was a pilot in the first jet air race and delivered the first air mail by jet. He flew over eighty combat missions in the Italian Campaign of World War II.^[1]

References

1. "Kenneth O. Chilstrom". P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association. Yulee, Florida: Logic Mountain LLC. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2009.