Jerauld R. Gentry

Jerauld R. Gentry
Jerry Gentry in front of the Northrop M2-F3 lifting body
Nickname(s)	Jerry
Born	(1935-05-16)May 16, 1935 Enid, Oklahoma
Died	March 3, 2003(2003-03-03) (aged 67) Alexandria, Virginia
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1957–1985 (28 years)
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	388th TFW
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Cold War
Awards	Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Vietnam Service Medal Air Force Longevity Service Award Vietnam Campaign Medal Harmon Trophy Iven C. Kincheloe Award Octave Chanute Award Aerospace Walk of Honor
Other work	Aerospace Executive

Jerauld Richard "Jerry" Gentry (May 16, 1935 – March 3, 2003) was a United States Air Force (USAF) test pilot and Vietnam combat veteran. As chief USAF pilot of the Lifting Body Research Program, he helped validate the concept of flying a wingless vehicle back to Earth from space and landing it like an aircraft—an approach used by the Space Shuttle and to a greater degree by vehicles such as the Lockheed Martin X-33 and NASA X-38. Gentry completed thirty lifting body flights including the first flight of the Martin-Marietta X-24A and the second flight of the Northrop HL-10.

Gentry was born in Enid, Oklahoma to Louise (née Hoyt) Gentry and Richard "Dick" Gentry. He attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1957 and accepted his commission with the U.S. Air Force.

Gentry received pilot training in 1958 and flew the F-100 Super Sabre. He attended the Aerospace Research Pilot School (now the USAF Test Pilot School) at Edwards Air Force Base in California and graduated with class 63A. He spent the next seven years at the Air Force Flight Test Center flying tests on the F-104 Starfighter, Northrop F-5, General Dynamics F-111, and the F-4 Phantom II.