Robert E. Thacker

Robert E. Thacker
Robert E. Thacker
	Col. Robert Thacker with the F-82 Twin Mustang
Birth name	Robert Eli Thacker
Born	February 21, 1918; El Centro, California
Died	November 25, 2020 (aged 102); San Clemente, California
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force;
Years of service	1939–1970;
Rank	Colonel
Unit	384th Bombardment Group, 547th Bombardment Squadron
Known for	Longest nonstop flight by a propeller-driven fighter (5,051 miles flown in a F-82 in February 1947); 80 missions flown in World War 2;
Awards	Silver Star (2); Distinguished Flying Cross (3); Air Medal (10);
Other work	Test pilot; Aviation industry advisor;

Robert E. Thacker (February 21, 1918 – November 25, 2020) was an American test pilot, aeromodeling enthusiast and designer, one of the few pilots in history to do tours of duty in two different theaters of operation (Europe and the Pacific) in World War II and the holder of a number of aviation records.