Donald Eugene Madonna

COLONEL DONALD EUGENE MADONNA
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959

Donald Eugene Madonna was born in Denver, Colorado, to Quirino Madonna and Jean Virginia Carlino. Raised in Colorado, Don carried a lifelong passion for aviation that led him to join the pioneer Class of 1959 at the newly established United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Assigned to Cadet Squadron 03, Don was known among his classmates for his quick wit, drive, and aviation focus. Upon graduation on June 3, 1959, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, launching a distinguished 27-year military and aerospace career.

TACTICAL FIGHTER & COMBAT OPERATIONS

Don completed primary flight training at Moore Air Base, Texas, earning his pilot wings in 1960. His early assignments took him overseas to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, flying with the 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron from 1961 to 1964. Returning stateside to the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron at George Air Force Base, California, Don deployed to Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, in 1965 to fly combat missions in the escalating conflict.

In 1968, Don returned to Southeast Asia as an F-4E Phantom II Fast Forward Air Controller (Fast FAC) with the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, flying under the callsign "Tiger 02". During this tour, Don demonstrated extraordinary heroism under fire:

• Distinguished Flying Cross (May 1, 1969): Don led a strike against a heavily defended hostile convoy operating along a major supply route under fading light and over rugged terrain, repeatedly exposing his aircraft to ground fire until the convoy was destroyed.
• Silver Star (July 11, 1969): Flying as "Tiger 02," Captain Madonna pressed multiple aggressive marking passes directly into the lethal envelope of heavily fortified enemy anti-aircraft gun batteries defending a vital supply depot, neutralizing four batteries and enabling friendly strike aircraft to destroy the target area.
Over the course of his combat tours, Don flew over 100 combat missions and was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, and 12 Air Medals.

EXPERIMENTAL TEST PILOT & TEST PILOT SCHOOL COMMANDANT

Selected for elite flight test training, Don attended the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS Class 66A) at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where he qualified as an experimental test pilot and spaceflight-candidate pilot. Following flight test tours at Eglin Air Force Base and program management leadership at Nellis Air Force Base and Air Force Systems Command (AFSC), Don achieved a career pinnacle in June 1980 when he was appointed Commandant of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School (USAF TPS) at Edwards AFB—a prestigious post previously held by aviation legends such as Chuck Yeager.

As Commandant from June 1980 through March 1982, Colonel Madonna directed all experimental flight test curriculum, managed complex flight test operations encompassing over 30 aircraft types, introduced modern test beds including the UV-18, U-6, and Calspan Learjet 24, and spearheaded modernized flight test techniques for the next generation of Air Force test pilots.

CIVILIAN AVIATION LEADERSHIP & LEGACY

Following his retirement from active duty in March 1982 in the rank of Colonel, Don continued to advance aviation technology in the private sector. He served as Director of Flight Test and Chief Test Pilot for Lear Fan Ltd. in Reno, Nevada, pushing the envelope on innovative composite aircraft designs. He later joined Northrop Corporation in Newbury Park, California, as Program Manager for Advanced Programs, before accepting the role of Director of the Santa Monica Museum of Flying in 1988.

Tragically, on January 10, 1991, at the age of 53, Colonel Madonna was killed in an aircraft accident near Shreveport, Louisiana, while ferrying a civil-registered Folland Gnat jet trainer from Panama City, Florida. He was laid to rest with full military honors at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, returning to the grounds where his military journey began.

EDUCATION

Institution / Program Degree / Qualification Year
United States Air Force Academy BS, Military History / General Engineering (CS-03) 1959
USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) Experimental Test Pilot / Spaceflight Qualified (Class 66A) 1966
Air Command and Staff College Professional Military Education 1971
University of Southern California (USC) MS, Management 1971
University of Southern California (USC) MS, Systems Management 1976
Air War College Senior Service School 1977

MEDALS AND AWARDS

Award Count / Notes
Silver Star 1 (Gallantry in Action, Korat RTAFB, July 11, 1969)
Legion of Merit 1 (Meritorious Leadership as Commandant, USAF TPS)
Distinguished Flying Cross 1 (Extraordinary Achievement, Southeast Asia, May 1, 1969)
Bronze Star Medal 1
Meritorious Service Medal 2
Air Medal 12 (Combat aerial flight achievements)
Air Force Commendation Medal 3

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS

Years Duty / Role Location / Unit
1959–1960 Student, Primary & Basic Pilot Training Moore Air Base, TX / Vance AFB, OK
1961–1964 Fighter Pilot (F-100 Super Sabre) 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, UK
1964–1965 Fighter Pilot 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron, George AFB, CA
1965 Combat Fighter Pilot 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Da Nang AB, South Vietnam
1966 Student Pilot (Class 66A) Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA
1967–1968 Experimental Test Pilot Test Operations, Eglin AFB, FL
1968–1969 F-4E Fast FAC Aircraft Commander ("Tiger 02") 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat RTAFB, Thailand
1969–1971 Air Operations Staff Officer HQ USAFE, Lindsey Air Station, West Germany
1971–1972 Executive Officer to the Commander Air Training Command (ATC), Randolph AFB, TX
1972–1977 F-4 Fighter Weapons Program Officer 422nd Fighter Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
1977 Student Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
1978–1980 Chief, Aircraft Division (DCS Plans & Programs) HQ Air Force Systems Command (AFSC), Andrews AFB, MD
1980–1982 Commandant USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA
1982–1985 Director of Flight Test / Chief Test Pilot Lear Fan Ltd., Reno, NV
1985–1988 Program Manager, Advanced Programs Northrop Corporation, Newbury Park, CA
1988–1991 Director Santa Monica Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, CA