John Gregorius served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a Captain in the Korean War. A Jet Test Pilot, he was on a test flight from Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona to Edwards Air Force Base in Muroc, California in the Republic F84F Special Thunderstreak on July 14, 1953 when the plane failed and lost engine power. On a forced landing at Wickenburg, Arizona, Captain Gregorius was thrown from the plane and killed instantly. He was awarded a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters and many others. He had earned his Senior Pilot Wings.
