Ross E. Diehl

Profile Updated: July 9, 2026

Class of	1952

Currently residing In	Chino, CA USA

My Website & Facebook/Media	rossdiehl@hotmail.com

Spouse/Partner	Marsha Yvette Diehl

Children, Grandchildren	Geraldine A. Diehl(brown), Captain, American Airlines, born 1965, lives in Riverside, Calif. Theodore More…

Occupation Title	fighter Pilot, Test pilot, Airline pilot, Warbird pilot, Aeronautical Engineerutical Engineer. Retired.

Military Service	USAF, Florida, Texas, Nevada. Van Nuys, Calif.

SPHSAA Membership Status:

Paid through 2026

Occupation(s), Career Details

USAF pilot training 1954 to 1956
USC, Aeronautical engineering, Graduate 1960
TVA, Knoxville, Tenn. 5 long months. 1960
Lockheed production test pilot, April, 1961, 1400 mph F-104 Starfighter.
Ground and flight instruction of military pilots from Germany, Japan, belgium, canada, holland, norway, Italy and USAF. 1961- 1964.
Japan, 1962, Fly, test and demonstrate the F-104 for the Japanese public. Train Mitsubishi WW2 pilots to fly and test the licensebuilt F-104's. Western, Delta airlines 1964 to 1997
Turkey, help move A/C and train Turks.
Norway, test and train the pilots at Bodo.
Western/ Delta airlines 1964 to 1997.
Chino, Old warbird flying and restoration
Build my own airplane (Smith miniplane), licensed as SYI-! (Ex-wife named it, seven year itch)

Further education, training, certification(s) since High School

Top-gun Trophy, !!5th Sq., 1957, 1958. F-86F, Summer camp, Boise, Idaho

Other South Pasadena schools I also attended

Holy Family School
South Pasadena Junior High

Different places I have lived

Pasadena, Highland Park, L.A.,San Gabriel,military(Texas, Florida, Nevada),Tennessee, Palmdale, So. Pas.,Palmdale, Pasadena, L.A. Malibu Beach, Chino(1973 to Present), Honolulu(condo in the Illikai hotel #508)

Other SPHS graduates I keep in touch with are:

Diane Hart Thurman, Jerry Vessey, Al Weil,Patsy Etchebarne, George Minard, Bill peters, Jon Hanson, Dan Jansky family. Lajuana Weilein as of June, 2025, at least5 are still kicking Wonderful, Wonderful

School Memories

Football, Steimle, Steele, Raberding, Minard
C. Garland Lewis, Williamson, Tupica, La Juana, Suzie, Marilyn A, Ben Crocker, Mooney, Knerr and of course, John Howie, riding mower driver.

Milestones & Epiphanies

Qualify in gunnery in the USAF F-86 sabrejet,1956
Topgun trophies, 1957 and, 1958
Graduate USC, Aero engineering, 1960
Lockheed test pilot, F-104 Starfighter, 1961-1964
Western Airlines, Delta Airlines, 1964 to 1997 Involved with Chino warbird air museum, 1966 to 1994, Fly P-26, P-40, P-47, P-51, F-6F,F-7F, and the mighty Martin B-26 Marauder. At Age 84, Fly a REAL Jap ZERO. Complete homebuilt Miniplane,1968, aptly named "7 year itch"
Get rid of wife and her family, 1969, Keep baby Jerry
Sit down next to the Widow Marsha and Ecstasy. 1980
Baby Boy Ted born finally. Invited to Bodo, Norway in August 2013 to celebrate the very successful introduction of the F-104 starfighter into the Norwegian Air Force 50 years ago.

Pastimes & Hobbies

tinkering, adjusting, fiddling,constructing, challenging gripeing, moaning, relearning and thankful Marsha looked up as Lane Leonard asked "Which Side Do you want Chief? Lane and Kenny Heintz sat down next to a grouch, I got to sit next to the widder Gates, year 1980 but that is another story!

Favorite Music, Songs, Bands

Spanish eyes, Hey good looking, Lucille, Tennessee waltz. El Paso, Moonglow,

Music that tickles my fancy and if i'm lucky, HERS.

Favorite Books, Magazines, Movies, TV, Websites, YouTubes, etc,

Fighter pilot,by Robin Olds.

Right stuff, by Tom Wolfe
Sandy Koufax, by Jane leavy Roman Holiday, Dances with wolves, A Guy named Joe, American graffiti, 12 O'clock high, comedy(How to murder your wife), Summer 42,
BLUE BLOODS

[Date] What's happening in my life now

Trying to keep promise to lovely wife that she gets Me for 50 years. Come out from under 70+ year collection of books, magazines and goodies. sell 2 big airplanes, keep homebuilt airplane. 2022, 2 big A/C long gone but sorely missed. bought B-35 Bonanza. Help Wife get used to her 2 new knees.

One last comment...

We own and rent a superb Condo in waikiki. dialup
Ilikai 508 and see for yourselves!

MILITARY dates of service

2JUL1954. to ?1963?

MILITARY Rank

CAPT USAF, 17OCT1955. CAPT Calif ANG. CAPT Western Airlines, CAPT Delta airlines

MILITARY special schools or training I attended:

USAF Gunnery School, Las Vegas,1956
F-86F, ANG short course,

MILITARY medals, commendations, or service awards I received:

Top Gun trophy 1957
Top Gun trophy 1958

MILITARY duties were:

Air Defense alert, So.Calif, 1956
Air Defense alert.Oak Ridge, TN 1960

MILITARY locations I was stationed:

San Antonio, TX.
Marianne, FL.
Bryan, TX.
Del Rio,TX.
Las Vegas, NV.
Van Nuys, CA
Knoxville, TN.
For/with Lockheed.
Palmdale, CA, Nagoya. Japan, Ishmir, Turkey,
BODO, Norway

MILITARY memories or Veteran Stories I’d like to share:

To be sent to Japan to train, test,
demonstrate and flight train the 3 WW2
Mitsubishi test pilots for their upcoming
2 Billion dollar program with Lockheed to
I sent to Japan to train, test, , demonstrate, and flight
Train 3 WW2 combat pilots in the 1400mph F-104J jet fighter that Mitsubishi was building (200) under license
From Lockheed in a 2 Billion dollar program for the Japanese self defense Forces. A ROARING SUCSESS
I might add.
HOW DID THOSE WONDERFUL
PEOPLE EVER GET CONNED INTO WW2???

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