He was born on April 18, 1939 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated with honors from the University of Cincinnati in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the honors engineering fraternity, Tau Beta Pi.
Colonel Thomas entered into active duty in 1962 and completed pilot training at Laredo AFB,Texas, receiving the Commanders Trophy. In 1967 he flew the A-1 Skyraider with the 602nd Fighter Squadron (Commando), Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. There he flew 168 combat missions, including search and rescue, interdiction, and close air support. In 1970 he received his Master of Science degree with Distinction in Aerospace Engineering at the Air Force Insutitute of Technology. In 1972 Colonel Thomas attended the USAF Test Pilot School Edwards AFB, graduating as a distinguished graduate.
After graduation he served at the AFFTC as project test pilot on the U-2 sensor development tests. Following, he was the project test pilot in the initial F15development tests and then instructed at the USAF Test Pilot School. After finishing a tour at Incirlik TurkeyAB as Chief of Operations he returned to Edwards as Director of the F15 Combined Test Force and later Director of Safety at the AFFTC. In 1983 he was assigned to the Ballistic Missile Office at Norton AFB as the Deputy of Acqusition Support and later served as Chief of Staff.
Upon retirement from the Air Force in 1987 he went to work for the Lockheed Skunkworks as a F117A Test Pilot. When physical problems forced him to stop flying he finished his Lockheed career as a Flight and Systems Safety Manager on several programs, including the Dark Star UAV. After his retirement from Lockheed in 1999 he did flight test and safety consulting on the X45A and X47B UAV programs.
Colonel Thomas was a command and pilot with over 4000 hours in more than 25 types of fighter and trainer aircraft. His decorations and awards include: The Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorius Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
He is survived by his wife Diane of 34 years, his 5 children: Edward, William, Stephen, Stacie, and Alena, and 13 grandchildren. Colonel Thomas was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and faithful servant to his church.
Services will be held Friday, October 26 at 10 am at Eternal Valley, Newhall CA.
In lieu of flowers the famliy requests donations to the American Cancer Society.
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