Herbert O. Fisher

At 81 years old, Herbert O. Fisher physical status not available right now. We will update Herbert O. Fisher's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Fisher's aviation career began with his signing up with the United States Army Air Corps in 1927, becoming a member of the 309 Observation Reserve Squadron, Schoen Field, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He began flight training in 1928. In 1931, as the Secretary for the Aviation Committee of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Fisher was actively involved in the aviation interests in the area, including the operation of the municipal airport.

After leaving the military in 1933, Fisher joined Curtiss-Wright, and was assigned to test pilot duties. In checking out aircraft off the production lines at the Buffalo, New York plant, on his first day, he flew 10 aircraft. During his 15 years with Curtiss-Wright as Chief Production Test Pilot, Fisher recorded thousands of test flight hours in the Curtiss C-46 Commando, Curtiss P-36/Model 75 Hawk, Curtiss SB2C Helldivers, Curtiss P-40 Warhawks and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. He flew 2,498 P-40s in his role as a production test pilot.

In 1942, due to wartime priorities that prohibited the use of military aircraft for Hollywood productions, Republic Studios approached Curtiss-Wright in Buffalo to recreate the aerial battle sequences required for Flying Tigers, starring John Wayne. A number of P-40E fighter aircraft waiting for USAAC delivery were repainted in AVG markings, and with the aid of Curtiss test pilots, flew in the film. Fisher's screen role was in subbing for John Wayne.

At the request of the commander of the Flying Tigers, Claire Chennault, Chief Engineer Don R. Berlin sent Fisher abroad as the best way to have "imparted his experience on those courageous young fellows over there with knowledge they could not possibility have". During 13 months overseas from 1943 on, despite his being a civilian test pilot, while in the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater, Fisher flew as many as 50 missions to prove the P-40 under combat conditions. He also lectured and conducted P-40 flight demonstrations in almost every fighter base in the CBI, Middle East, North and Central Africa.

Fisher was also instrumental in supporting the introduction of the Curtiss C-46 at the Engineering and Operation section of the Air Transport Command. On August 6, 1942, first-hand experience with a faulty landing gear on an early production C-46, led to an example of his coolness in critical situations. While on an acceptance re-flight, the aircraft was loaded with Curtiss executives, and a special guest, fresh from combat in North Africa, Australian P-40 ace, Group Captain Clive "Killer" Caldwell. With the landing gear stuck in a three-quarters down position, and after an extended eight-hour attempt to release the gear, Fisher calmly belly-landed the C-46. With the weight of the aircraft gently pushing the gear back into the wheel wells, a minimum of damage resulted. Caldwell had taken over as the co-pilot on the eight hours of circling over Buffalo, receiving certification that he was checked out on the C-46, under the tutelage of Fisher. Recognizing that the new transport was subject to teething problems common to any new type, Fisher was able to assist operational units in the technique of flying and maintaining C-46 transports. He would eventually fly 96 "research missions" over "The Hump" as a means of testing all the critical systems and troubleshooting a dangerous tendency for the engine fires and explosions that had plagued the C-46. CBI C-46 pilot Don Downie recalled, "Herb Fisher's detailed reports were some of the best pilot briefings we had."

Through his hard work and persistence, Fisher also convinced American General Joseph Stilwell, the Vice Commander of the CBI theater, that the new operational procedures would save the lives of hundreds of pilots and passengers. In 1944, at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C., President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded the Air Medal to Fisher in recognition of his service; he was the first living civilian to receive the honor.

Later career and associations

After leaving Curtiss-Wright in 1952, Fisher worked for 23 years as a Special Assistant for Aviation to Executive Director Austin Joseph Tobin at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. As head of aviation-industry affairs, his work included evaluating requests for fixed-wing and rotary aircraft to use airports in the New York metropolitan region. The airports he supervised included John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark and Teterboro. During his tenure, Fisher checked out numerous aircraft from wide-body airliners to the executive jets. He retired in 1975, but continued to be active in aviation and other interests. Over the years, in his role as Special Assistant at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Fisher had gained a reputation as a knowledgeable and skilled pilot, as well as being friendly and affable. Likewise, his dapper figure, often in well-cut clothes, led to a painting given to him on retirement, titled, "The man in the flying tuxedo," that highlighted his many connections to aviation.

Other positions Fisher filled included Director of Aeronautics for the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and instructor at the Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University where he held a Doctorate of Aeronautical Science (honoris causa) and was a member of their International Advisory Council. The university also has an endowment fund in his name, the Herbert O. Fisher Scholarship.

In later years, Fisher was founder and first President of the P-40 Warhawk Association, a charter member and Past President of the P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association, Past President of the CBI Hump Pilots Association, and Past President of the Yankee Air Force, Northeast Division. Among the many other associations in which he took an active role was as a charter member of the International Fighter Pilots Fellowship, member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Wings Club of New York and the China-Burma-India Veterans Association. In Caldwell, New Jersey, Fisher was on the New Jersey Civil Air Defense Advisory Council and also served as a councilman and police commissioner.

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