Robert West:  

After leaving school, I joined the Navy. I was attached to a fighter squadron at NAS Miramar, San Diego. There I worked on the F-4 Phantom and deployed on the USS Kittyhawk. Since I enjoyed flying, I decided to return to school so I could apply for a commission, then to flight school. It was very difficult, working all day, then attending night classes both San Diego State and UCSD. I was also able to take classes while deployed overseas. In my second year of college, I discovered that since my uncle had been the Chancellor of USC, I was automatically accepted and could go there for free. Guess where I went... Upon completing college and getting a degree in aviation, I applied for a commission and flight school. On August 2, 1976, I got my commission and off to Pensacola, Florida for flight School. After flight school, I returned to NAS Miramar, attached to Fighter Squadron 21 flying the F-4 Phantom, then the F-14 Tomcat. My next duty assignment took me to NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, California, where I flew the P-3 Orion submarine hunter. I stayed here until 1980, and was transferred to NWC China Lake, Ridgecrest, California. Here I worked on and tested the modifications made on several different weapons systems. I also flew the chase missions that were conducted on NASA's space shuttle. In fact, I was flying the chase plane on the very first detachment of the shuttle form the 747 that was carrying it. My next assignment took me back to San Diego for seven months, then I was transferred to run the Reserve Center, Coconut Grove. That was a great assignment, being back home, but it only lasted 18 months. Next was ships company on the USS Forrestal, Jacksonville. I was assigned as the weapons officer, G-3...Expand for more