Operation Firewall

On a chilly day in Georgia on October 8, 1920, farmer John R. Drew and his wife Ada Elma Eason Drew welcomed the first of six children into the family.

His name was Adrian Eason Drew, and he grew up to set a world record as a pilot in the USAF.

Drew's Military Career

Upon completing one year of college, Adrian Drew enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Air Corps on March 31, 1942. He enlisted at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
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He was 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighed 143 pounds, and soon became a combat pilot during World War II.

On 14 November 1942, Drew married Miss Sarah B. Kaylor in Pinellas County, Florida. They went on to have three daughters, Nancy, Bonnie, and Jo Anne.

Jo Anne must have been a popular name in those days, because my older sister was named Jo Ann back in 1936.

After World War II ended America found itself back in another war, this time it was the Korean War.

Adrian Drew found himself continuing to fly combat missions in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In the Korean Air War he flew the Republic F-84 Thunderjet.

A photo of a Republic F-84 Thunderjet in flight above the clouds.

F-84 Specifications:

Wingspan: 36 feet 5 inches;
Length: 38 feet 6 inches
Height: 12 feet 7 inches
Maximum Speed: 620 mph
Range: 1,485 miles
Ceiling: 43,240 feet
Engine: One Allison J35 with 4,900 pounds of thrust
Armament: Six .50 caliber machine guns and Eight 5 inch rockets. Alternatively, the airplane could carry 2,000 pound bombs or napalm tanks

Post-War Military Service

In August of 1957, he became the first commanding officer of the 481st Fighter Bomber Squadron at Bergstom Air Force Base, Austin, Texas.

Lieutenant Colonel Drew commanded the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron at George Air Force Base, California, from 1962 to 1964, flying the Republic F-105D Thunderchief, and briefly commanded the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing.

An image of a Republic F-105D Thunderchief showing it's serious capabilities.

F-105D Specifications:

Wingspan: 34 feet 11 inches
Length: 64 feet 5 inches
Height: 19 feet 8 inches
Maximum Speed: 1,390 mph
Cruising Speed: 778 mph
Range: 2,206 miles
Ceiling: 51,000 feet
Maximum Weight: 52,838 pounds
Engine: One Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W with 24,500 pounds of thrust
Arnament: One M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon and more than 12,000 pounds of deadly orgnance

The Need For Speed

In 1957 a decision was made by the USAF to test a new J57-P-55 afterburning turbojet engine intended for the update McDonnell F-101B Voodoo.

The Air Force chose the ninth production Voodoo F101A to test the new engine and it's performance.

The McDonnell F-101A Voodoo:

RF-101C of the 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron undergoing inflight refuelling. This aircraft later served with the 15th TRS in Viet Nam, and crash landed at Da Nang AFB due to battle damage on October 5th, 1965.

Specifications:

Crew: 2
Wingspan: 39 feet 8 inches
Length: 71 feet 1 inch
Height: 18 feet
Cruising Speed: 545 mph
Maximum Speed: 1,095 mph
Ceiling: 52,100 feet
Max Weight: 52,400 pounds
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55s with 16,900 pounds of thrust each with afterburners lit
Armament: Two AIR-2A rockets plus two AIM-4 guided missiles

Serial number 53-2426, the ninth production Voodoo, was fitted with the new J57-P-55 afterburning engine and while testing the engine they would attempt the absolute speed record over the 15/25 kilometer course at Edwards AFB in California.

Now Major Adrian E. Drew, the commanding officer of the 481st Fighter Bombing Squadron, 27th Fighter Bomber Wing, Tactical Air Command, was chosen to test fly Voodoo 53-2426.

The Air Force decided to use this opportunity to set an absolute speed record as a bonus to these test flights.

Fast forward to December 12, 1957 when Major Drew set a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) absolute speed record over the 15/25 kilometer course at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

McDonnell JF-101A Voodoo 53-2426, takes off at Edwards Air Force Base on Operation Fire Wall.

Maj Adrian E. Drew, U.S.A.F. at Edwards AFB with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation test pilot William S. Ross on the right.

Maj. Drew climbed his aircraft quickly to 39,000 feet, accelerated for the next 65 miles prior to entering the 10.1 statute mile course.

He made one pass in each direction where his time was 29.8 seconds. This made the official average speed for the two passes 1,207.64 miles per hour.

The outside air temperature was -79 degrees fahrenheit and the frictional heating at that speed increased the aircraft's skin temperature to 190 degrees fahrenheit, enough to blister the aircraft's paint!

For this accomplishement Major Drew was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Thompson Trophy for 1957.

The Thompson race proved to be one of the most popular contests of its time.

A Sad Ending

Two weeks before a scheduled promotion to Brigadier General, Colonel Drew suffered a major heart attack and was forced to retire from the Air Force.

He died 27 July 1985 at the age of 64 years.

He is buried at Shawnee View Gardens Cemetery, Cumming, Georgia.

Below is a short video of other Voodoo record shattering transcontinental speed records:

I hope you enjoyed this trip through some of the history of aviation. If you enjoyed this trip, and if you are new to this newsletter, sign up to receive your own weekly newsletter here: Subscribe here!

Until next time, keep your eyes safe and focused on what's ahead of you, Hersch!