Walter J. Boyne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter J. Boyne
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Pilot Walter Boyne in the 1950s
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| Born | February 2, 1929 East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | January 9, 2020 (aged 90) Calverton, Maryland, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1951–1974 (23 years) |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held | 635th Services Squadron |
| Other work | Museum Director Author |
Walter J. Boyne (February 2, 1929 – January 9, 2020) was an important figure in American aviation. He was a United States Air Force officer and a highly skilled pilot. He also became a well-known aviation historian and author. Walter Boyne wrote more than 50 books and over 1,000 magazine articles about airplanes and flying. He even served as the director of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Contents
Early Life & Dream of Flight
Walter Boyne was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. He grew up during a tough time called the Great Depression, when many families struggled. From a young age, Walter loved to read. He especially enjoyed adventure stories about pilots, which made him dream of flying.
He decided early on that he wanted to become a pilot for the Air Force. Walter worked hard in school to reach this goal. He earned scholarships that helped him attend Washington University in St. Louis.
Military Career: Flying High
In 1951, Walter Boyne joined the U.S. Air Force's Aviation Cadet program. This program trained him to become a pilot. He quickly showed his talent, being the first in his class to fly solo. In December 1952, he officially earned his wings as an Air Force Pilot.
Walter flew many different types of planes during his career. He piloted the B-50 Superfortress and the B-47 Stratojet. Later, he became a nuclear test pilot, flying powerful aircraft like the B-52 Stratofortress.
During the Vietnam War, Walter served as a commander. He also flew 120 combat hours as an instructor pilot in the C-47 Skytrain. Colonel Boyne retired from the Air Force in 1974. He had spent 23 years serving his country and had flown for over 5,000 hours.
Author & Aviation Historian
Walter Boyne started writing in 1962, even while he was still in the Air Force. He wanted to write about less-known airplanes and the people who flew them. His first article was about the Curtiss P-36 Hawk. It was published in a British magazine, and he was very proud of it.
Walter became a very productive writer. He wrote more than 50 books and over a thousand articles for magazines. His books covered many topics, from the history of jet aviation to famous aircraft of World War II. He even wrote fiction novels about flying.
Non-Fiction Books
- The Jet Age: Forty Years of Jet Aviation (1979)
- Messerschmitt Me 262: Arrow to the Future (1980)
- Flying, an introduction to flight, airplanes, and aviation careers (1980)
- Boeing B-52: A Documentary History (1981)
- The Smithsonian Illustrated History of Flight (1987)
- The Smithsonian Book of Flight for Young People (1988)
- Weapons of Desert Storm (1991)
- Clash of Wings: World War II in the Air (1994)
- Beyond the Wild Blue, A History of the USAF, 1947–1997 (1997)
- Aces in Command: Fighter Pilots as Combat Leaders (2001)
- The Influence of Air Power on History (2003)
- Chronicle of Flight: A Year-By-Year History of Aviation (2003)
- The 25 Most Influential Aircraft of All Time (2018)
Fiction Books
- The Wild Blue: The Novel of the U.S. Air Force (1986)
- Trophy for Eagles (1989)
- Eagles at War (1991)
- Dawn Over Kitty Hawk: The Novel of the Wright Brothers (2003)
- Roaring Thunder: A Novel of the Jet Age (2006)
National Air and Space Museum Director
After leaving the Air Force in 1974, Walter Boyne joined the National Air and Space Museum. He helped prepare the museum for its grand opening in 1976. He also worked to improve the museum's restoration facility, where old aircraft are repaired and preserved.
In 1983, Walter Boyne became the director of the museum. During his time as director, he did many important things:
- He started the popular aviation magazine Air & Space.
- He helped arrange for an IMAX camera to fly on the Space Shuttle. This led to the creation of amazing IMAX movies like The Dream is Alive.
- He helped secure the land for the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a huge museum annex that houses many large aircraft.
He left his role as museum director in 1986.
Later Years & Legacy
In 1998, Walter Boyne helped create a cable television channel called Wingspan—the Air and Space Channel. It was later bought by the Discovery Channel. He also served as chairman of the National Aeronautic Association, which is the oldest aviation organization in the United States.
Walter Boyne passed away on January 9, 2020, at the age of 90. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Honors & Awards
Walter Boyne received many awards for his contributions to aviation:
- In 1984, he received an honorary doctorate degree.
- In 1987, he was given the Cliff Henderson Trophy for his lifetime achievements in aviation.
- In 1998, he was named a Distinguished Statesman of Aviation.
- Also in 1998, he received the Paul Tissandier Diploma for serving the cause of aviation.
- In 2007, he was honored by being added to the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
- In 2016, he received the Donald D. Engen Trophy for Aviation Excellence.
