By Andy Patton, The Register-Herald
BECKLEY, W.Va. – West Virginia’s first astronaut and Beckley native, Jon A. McBride, died on Wednesday, Aug. 7, after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer. He was 80 years old.
McBride was born in Charleston on Aug. 14, 1943 and grew up in Beckley where he attended Woodrow Wilson High School, according to the obituary published by Island Cremations and Funeral Home of Merritt Island, Florida.
McBride graduated from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1971 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
McBride flew in 64 combat missions for the Navy, served as a maintenance officer and Sidewinder project officer, and piloted more than 40 different military and civilian aircrafts.
“After flying 64 combat missions, Big Jon attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and served as maintenance officer and Sidewinder project officer. Throughout his aviation career, he piloted over 40 different types of military and civilian aircraft, including the Navy “Spirit of ‘76” bicentennial-painted F-4J Phantom from 1976-1978,” the obituary read.
McBride piloted the Space Shuttle Challenger during the STS-41G mission from October 5 to 13 in 1984 “rounding out the first crew of seven and the first flight with two women astronauts.”
