From http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/index.aspx?page=533
Colonel Emil “Ted” Sturmthal (1929-1982), B-1 Joint Test
Force Project Director, co-piloted the first flight of the B-1 on December 23,
1974. He went on to fly the B-1 on its initial six flights, taking it to
supersonic speeds for the first time and conducting many other flight tests
vital to the development of the aircraft.
Sturmthal flew the B-26 in Korea and was Commanding Officer
of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Vietnam (1969-1970) where he flew
196 combat missions.
He graduated from the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air
Force Base in 1959. At Edwards, he served as Chief of Flight Test of the Air
Force Logistics Command (AFLC) Project Group, Chief of the Bomber-Transport
Section and Assistant Chief of the Flight Test Operations Division. He also
flight tested the then-secret RB 57F reconnaissance aircraft from 1962-1966,
completing its first flight. He served as project pilot on the T-37B, Navy
C-130BL, B-52H, B-58 flight control modification program and was one of seven
pilots to fly the triple sonic XB-70. After retiring from the Air Force in 1978,
he joined Flight Systems, Inc. as Director of Commercial Aircraft Programs.
Sturmthal’s fascination with flight began in childhood. He
got his first plane at the age of 15 and learned to fly with the Civil Air
Patrol. He developed an interest in becoming a test pilot even before he earned
his Air Force wings, but the road wasn’t easy. Sturmthal wore thick glasses, an
almost insurmountable obstacle for a military pilot. Undaunted, he flew his own
airplane to DC and personally asked General Vandenberg for a waiver. His request
was granted and he became the first pilot to go through pilot training with
eyeglasses.
A Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots,
Sturmthal’s decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Distinguished
Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Octave Chanute and 11 Air Medals. By
1976 he had logged almost 8,000 hours of flying time in more than 50 kinds of
bombers, transports, trainers, fighters and reconnaissance aircraft including
the, B-52, British Vulcan, British SST Concorde, F-111, F-100, C-130, T-37B,
B-26 and B-57 as well as more than 4,000 hours in civilian aircraft.
Sunada, Nobuo R "Bob"
From: media.airspacemag.com/documents/Edwards+AFB+Casualties.doc
listing deaths from aircraft crashes at Edwards AFB
Sunada, Nobuo R., Civ, B-57B, 8 Feb 55