Charles Terhune Jr.

Charles Houston Terhune Jr. (7 May 1916 – 30 August 2006) was a United States Air Force (USAF) lieutenant general who played an important role in the development of the American jet aircraft, guided missiles and ballistic missiles.

A 1938 graduate of Purdue University, Terhune enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps as a flying cadet, earned his wings, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. During World War II he served at Wright Field, where he participated in the development of the Bell P-59 Airacomet and Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, the first American jet fighters, and in 1943 he became one of the first pilots to fly a jet aircraft. In 1945 he went to the Pacific, where he flew combat missions over China and Japan from bases in the Philippines and Okinawa.

After the war Terhune worked on guided missiles at USAF Headquarters and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the USAF assistant to the director of guided missiles. In 1953 he became the director of development at the Air Force Special Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, where he was involved with the development of nuclear warheads for them. In 1954 he was assigned to the Air Force Ballistic Missile Program, and participated in the development of the Atlas, Thor, Titan and Minuteman missiles.

Terhune retired from the USAF in 1969 with the rank of lieutenant general. He worked for National Cash Register and was the deputy director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 1971 to 1983.

Early life

Charles Houston (Terry) Terhune Jr. was born in Dayton, Ohio, on May 7, 1916, the oldest of three children. When he was a child, the family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he attended elementary school and graduated from Broad Ripple High School. He entered Purdue University, where was on the track team, running the quarter-mile race, and was co-captain of the team in his senior year. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) (aeronautical) in 1938.

World War II Terhune enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps as a flying cadet. He earned his wings at Kelly Field, Texas, in May 1939, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was then posted to the 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan, where he flew the Seversky P-35 and Curtiss P-36 Hawk. That year he married Beatrice Holcombe. They had two daughters, Donna and Terry Lea, and a son, Charles (Chuck) Terhune III.

In May 1945 Terhune went to the Southwest Pacific Area as the executive officer of the 58th Fighter Group. He flew the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in combat missions over China and Japan from bases in the Philippines and Okinawa, where he was stationed when the war ended in August 1945. He then participated in the occupation of Japan as commander of the 3rd Air Commando Group and the 49th Fighter Group. He then served as the chief of maintenance for the Far East Air Forces.

Later life After retiring from the USAF, Terhune became the manager of administration at National Cash Register's Data Processing Division in San Diego, California. In July 1971, he became deputy director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), serving as acting director from July to October 1982. He retired in December 1983, but continued to advise JPL as a consultant. He helped create the Arroyo Center for the Army, which subsequently became part of RAND Corporation.

Terhune's first wife died in 1990. He married the Reverend Gloryanna Hees in July 1992. They had no children, but he acquired a stepson, Rob McLinn. His awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Medal with an oak leaf cluster.