Col. Charles C. "Charlie" Bock, Jr., USAF (BSAE’49), and Mrs. Joyce Bock recently returned to campus to visit with friends in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Col. Bock received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue in 1949. He is also a graduate of the USAF Test Pilot School, the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, the Air Command and Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

A veteran of Korea with the 3rd Bomb Wing and Vietnam with the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Charlie Bock flew 103 combat missions. During his military career he was trained as a test pilot and later as a military astronaut-designee. He was twice assigned to Flight Test Operations at Edwards AFB.

After his distinguished career as an Air Force test pilot, including piloting the first flight of the B-1 bomber, Col. Bock worked with Rockwell. Additionally, he served as a consultant to Northrop Corp. on the B-2 Stealth Bomber.

Photo caption: from left, Dr. Tom I-P. Shih, Professor and Head of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Col. Charles C. "Charlie" Bock, Jr., USAF (BSAE’49); and Mrs. Joyce Bock.