James Lore Murray
Encyclopedia
Major General
James L. Murray (January 4, 1919 – May 9, 2004) was a United States Air Force
officer and Engineering Project Manager for the XB-52 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
.
.
Notable amongst his students were members of the Tuskeegee Airmen 332d Fighter Group(99th Pursuit Group) and aviation author Ernest K. Gann, who referred to him as "a most skillful young Army pilot" in Fate Is the Hunter
(page 213.)
From 1945-1948 he flew a Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando flying laboratory on 122 missions to gather icing data as part of the NASA Ames Research Center's effort to develop modern anti-ice systems.
As Chief of the Special Projects Branch of the Aircraft Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from 1948–1950, then-Major Murray led the effort to persuade aircraft manufacturers and operational Air Force units to accept the ejection seat as a safe and effective means of escape at high speed. The seat testing took place at Edwards Air Force Base located in Palmdale, California. The seat was attached to a sled that was connected to a stretch of rail road tracks. It was propelled by rockets at a high rate of speed which at the end launched a dummy from the seat with a parachute. When it came time to actually attempt an ejection from an aircraft in flight, Major Murray discovered the seat didn't fit properly in the cockpit of the aircraft that it was designed for, so ultimately the seat chassis was sent to Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles for modifications. Upon the corrections to the seat it was a "Go". Major Murray was flying in an aircraft next to the test plane. The test plane was flown by a close friend and test pilot. The test pilot began to steer the plane towards the ground and Major Murray witnessed the first ejection from the air. The test rail road tracks are still in existence today at Edwards A.F.B. as a reminder of the profound safety achievement and life saver for pilots.
General Murray survived two plane crashes in his lifetime. The first was before the ejection seat and took place when he was instructing a student that was one of The Tuskeegee Airmen. They were flying in a single-engine, two-seater trainer with a slide-back canopy over Florida. An oil hose broke and they lost engine power. Murray was able to take control of the plane and land it in a swampy field, causing severe damage to the engine and belly of the plane. They were not injured. The second plane crash was when General Murray was an executive for an aerospace company and was aboard the company's business jet as a passenger. The plane began its descent for landing on a very cold winter day in Michigan. General Murray, concerned about an ice buildup, looked out the window over the wing and noticed large sheets of ice on the wings. He quickly notified the pilots, but it was too late. General Murray then observed the ice breaking off of the wings and being sucked into the jet engine intakes. The engines shut down, and the plane had to make an emergency landing on a partially iced-over lake. Upon the plane crashing, it immediately burst into flames. General Murray quickly opened the door and ushered out the pilots and the other executives he was traveling with. The water was now covered in aircraft fuel. The fuel ignited, leaving General Murray no escape. His only option was to dive into the flames that were on top of the water. He suffered burns that were, fortunately, not serious. He said that swimming in the icy waters was the worst of it!
While he was the Engineering Project Manager for the XB-52 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from 1951–1952, Lt. Col. Murray worked with future Boeing chairman "T" A. Wilson and many others overseeing the development of the aircraft.
General Murray also worked for a division of Lockheed Skunk Works. He was assigned to the project development of "The Black Missile". This was the first missile that was undetectable by radar. It was being built in a large tan-colored hangar located on the north corner of The Burbank Airport, located in Burbank, California. The hangar was owned by Lockheed Skunk Works Division. It was accessed via San Fernando Rd. This hangar was not the typical hangar. It was larger than normal and heavily guarded. There were no signs of what was really going on there. General Murray worked there daily, entering the door on the west side of the hangar. He explained, upon entering the hangar there was an enormous black curtain that was drawn across the center of the hangar, splitting the work space. He stayed on his side and the other workers stayed on their side. They never saw each other or looked beyond the curtain. General Murray was advised that the other side of the curtain contained a highly classified development, as his project wasn't classified enough. Years later, General Murray discovered what was going on behind the curtain. He was told the first stealth aircraft was in its early stages of development and testing. Murray declined to speak about which aircraft. The hangar was torn down in the year 2002, closing another door to an amazing piece of history.
After being commissioned in the active Air Force Reserve in 1955, Murray eventually retired as a Major General in 1975 with what was known as a "Cosmic Secret" security clearance. He received the high honor of The Distinguished Service Medal
. General Murray held several executive positions in the aerospace industry, among them as Vice-President of the C-5 division at the Douglas Aircraft Company
, and a 20-year career as President/CEO of Teledyne/CAE, makers of the Boeing Harpoon
and Tomahawk missile engine.
September 11, 2001, General Murray was 82 years of age. General Murray, a true patriot watching the aftermath of the attacks unfold on the television, told his youngest son, "If I weren't 82 years old, I would re-enlist and go fight!
General Murray died on May 9, 2004 at the age of 85. His dream was to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery
amongst friends and heroes. He was interred in Section 54 of Arlington Cemetery.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
James L. Murray (January 4, 1919 – May 9, 2004) was a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
officer and Engineering Project Manager for the XB-52 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
.
Biography
General Murray started his Air Force career as an instructor; his 5,500 hours aloft spanned the era from Stearman PT-13 biplane trainers to the North American F-86 SabreF-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
.
Notable amongst his students were members of the Tuskeegee Airmen 332d Fighter Group(99th Pursuit Group) and aviation author Ernest K. Gann, who referred to him as "a most skillful young Army pilot" in Fate Is the Hunter
Fate Is the Hunter
Fate Is the Hunter , ISBN 0-671-63603-0, was a 1961 bestseller by aviation author Ernest K. Gann. Autobiographical, though reading at times like an adventure novel, it describes his years working as a pilot at American Airlines starting in DC-2s and DC-3s when civilian air transport was in its...
(page 213.)
As Chief of the Special Projects Branch of the Aircraft Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from 1948–1950, then-Major Murray led the effort to persuade aircraft manufacturers and operational Air Force units to accept the ejection seat as a safe and effective means of escape at high speed. The seat testing took place at Edwards Air Force Base located in Palmdale, California. The seat was attached to a sled that was connected to a stretch of rail road tracks. It was propelled by rockets at a high rate of speed which at the end launched a dummy from the seat with a parachute. When it came time to actually attempt an ejection from an aircraft in flight, Major Murray discovered the seat didn't fit properly in the cockpit of the aircraft that it was designed for, so ultimately the seat chassis was sent to Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles for modifications. Upon the corrections to the seat it was a "Go". Major Murray was flying in an aircraft next to the test plane. The test plane was flown by a close friend and test pilot. The test pilot began to steer the plane towards the ground and Major Murray witnessed the first ejection from the air. The test rail road tracks are still in existence today at Edwards A.F.B. as a reminder of the profound safety achievement and life saver for pilots.
General Murray survived two plane crashes in his lifetime. The first was before the ejection seat and took place when he was instructing a student that was one of The Tuskeegee Airmen. They were flying in a single-engine, two-seater trainer with a slide-back canopy over Florida. An oil hose broke and they lost engine power. Murray was able to take control of the plane and land it in a swampy field, causing severe damage to the engine and belly of the plane. They were not injured. The second plane crash was when General Murray was an executive for an aerospace company and was aboard the company's business jet as a passenger. The plane began its descent for landing on a very cold winter day in Michigan. General Murray, concerned about an ice buildup, looked out the window over the wing and noticed large sheets of ice on the wings. He quickly notified the pilots, but it was too late. General Murray then observed the ice breaking off of the wings and being sucked into the jet engine intakes. The engines shut down, and the plane had to make an emergency landing on a partially iced-over lake. Upon the plane crashing, it immediately burst into flames. General Murray quickly opened the door and ushered out the pilots and the other executives he was traveling with. The water was now covered in aircraft fuel. The fuel ignited, leaving General Murray no escape. His only option was to dive into the flames that were on top of the water. He suffered burns that were, fortunately, not serious. He said that swimming in the icy waters was the worst of it!
While he was the Engineering Project Manager for the XB-52 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from 1951–1952, Lt. Col. Murray worked with future Boeing chairman "T" A. Wilson and many others overseeing the development of the aircraft.
General Murray also worked for a division of Lockheed Skunk Works. He was assigned to the project development of "The Black Missile". This was the first missile that was undetectable by radar. It was being built in a large tan-colored hangar located on the north corner of The Burbank Airport, located in Burbank, California. The hangar was owned by Lockheed Skunk Works Division. It was accessed via San Fernando Rd. This hangar was not the typical hangar. It was larger than normal and heavily guarded. There were no signs of what was really going on there. General Murray worked there daily, entering the door on the west side of the hangar. He explained, upon entering the hangar there was an enormous black curtain that was drawn across the center of the hangar, splitting the work space. He stayed on his side and the other workers stayed on their side. They never saw each other or looked beyond the curtain. General Murray was advised that the other side of the curtain contained a highly classified development, as his project wasn't classified enough. Years later, General Murray discovered what was going on behind the curtain. He was told the first stealth aircraft was in its early stages of development and testing. Murray declined to speak about which aircraft. The hangar was torn down in the year 2002, closing another door to an amazing piece of history.
After being commissioned in the active Air Force Reserve in 1955, Murray eventually retired as a Major General in 1975 with what was known as a "Cosmic Secret" security clearance. He received the high honor of The Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
. General Murray held several executive positions in the aerospace industry, among them as Vice-President of the C-5 division at the Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
, and a 20-year career as President/CEO of Teledyne/CAE, makers of the Boeing Harpoon
Boeing Harpoon
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
and Tomahawk missile engine.
September 11, 2001, General Murray was 82 years of age. General Murray, a true patriot watching the aftermath of the attacks unfold on the television, told his youngest son, "If I weren't 82 years old, I would re-enlist and go fight!
General Murray died on May 9, 2004 at the age of 85. His dream was to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
amongst friends and heroes. He was interred in Section 54 of Arlington Cemetery.