DEDICATION CEREMONY |
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BRIG. GEN. ROBERT L. CARDENAS, USAF |
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BRIG. GEN. ROBERT L. CARDENAS, USAF Stainless Steel on Granite 1.5X Life-Size Bust, 72" Height |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT L. CARDENAS, USAF In a life that spanned more than nine decades of war and peace, Brig. Gen. Robert L. Cardenas was a key figure in some of our nation’s greatest endeavors. He was at the forefront of aviation during a time of rapid technological advancement. He was an innovative military leader who could be trusted with any complex or hazardous mission. Cardenas served his country with great distinction, inspiring all who have known him with his personal courage, honor and conduct. In retirement, his most lasting achievement was leading the effort to establish San Diego’s Miramar National Cemetery, which opened in 2010. Born in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, on March 10, 1920, Cardenas and his family moved to San Diego when he was 5 years old. In 1939, he joined the California National Guard. In July 1941, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He spent the next two years as a flight instructor and test pilot, including starting the first military glider school in Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif., and flight-testing invasion gliders and tow planes in Wilmington, Ohio, for use during the D-Day landings. On March 18, 1944, Capt. Cardenas was leading his 20th bombing mission over southern Germany. Attacking an armaments factory, his bomber was hit repeatedly by anti- aircraft fire. Cardenas suffered a head wound from shrapnel. The aircraft was so severely crippled after a second bombing run, the pilot turned toward neutral Switzerland. Cardenas bailed out of the burning plane, landing on the German side of Lake Constance. Despite his injury, he attempted to escape capture by swimming the lake. A passing boatman landed him safely in Switzerland, where authorities interned him. During this period, he trained Swiss pilots to fly interned American bombers. He also visited several internment camps, and reported to the U.S. Consulate on the deplorable conditions he found there. After six months, and with the help of the Swiss underground and French Resistance, he escaped through France and was able to rejoin U.S. forces. In 1947, Maj. Cardenas led a pioneering project to break the “sound barrier.” He was command pilot of the aircraft that launched Capt. Chuck Yeager’s rocket plane into supersonic flight, marking one of the major aviation achievements of the 20th century. The next year, he risked his life on several occasions while testing the revolutionary YB- 49 “Flying Wing” – a predecessor of the B-2 Stealth Bomber. He also flew the XB45, first jet bomber, and the XP59, first jet fighter. A true aviation hero, Cardenas flew over 80 different aircraft during his career. During the Korean War, Lt. Col. Cardenas commanded the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing on Okinawa. During the Vietnam War, Col. Cardenas commanded the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing and flew combat missions over North Vietnam. He then commanded the 835th Air Division, training jet fighter crews for combat. In 1962, during the China-India war as Director of Special Operations for Strike Command he led the 1050th Special Activity Group to the Himalayas with the task of preventing the Chinese coming from Tibet to invade India by breaking their way through Nathu-La pass in the Eastern Himalayas. The defense activities were successful. In 1968, Brig. Gen. Cardenas founded a commando group, the Air Force Special Operations Force. He later served as Vice Commander of the 16th Air Force in Spain, and helped negotiate with Muammar al- Qaddafi for the withdrawal of U.S. air forces from Libya. His final assignments during the Cold War were as U.S. Deputy Chief of Staff for “LIVE OAK,” a secret NATO group charged with maintaining Allied access to the divided city of Berlin and as Chief of the National Strategic Target List for the U.S. nuclear war plan. Brig. Gen. Cardenas retired from the Air Force in 1973 with 34 years’ service. General Cardenas lives at home with his wife Gladys and their children and grandchildren in San Diego, California.
DECORATIONS Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster Presidential Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters Spanish Grand Legion of Aeronautical Merit with Sash & Dagger
HONORS Outstanding Professional Contributions and Leadership, University of New Mexico, College of Engineering, 1993 Distinguished Alumnus, USAF Test Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, 1994 Inductee, International Aerospace “Walk of Honor” Monolith, Landcaster, CA 1995 San Diego Veteran of the Year, 2002 Inductee, Air Commando Hall of Fame, 2002 “Significant Sig” Hall of Fame, Sigma Chi Fraternity, 2005 Inductee, Air & Space Museum, Hall of Fame, San Diego, 2008 Air University Gathering of Eagles Honoree, Maxwell AFB, 2012 NEW: Inductee, US National Aviation Hall of Fame, 2015
Captions for images on pedestal (not shown): Cardenas’ B-29 bomber, with Chuck Yeager’s X-1 rocket plane attached, stands ready for takeoff at Muroc AFB in 1947. Flown by Cardenas, the YB-49 “Flying Wing” angles into a turn over Muroc AFB in 1948. Flew more than 80 different types of aircraft: A-20, A-26, AC-47, AT-6, AT-12, BC-1, B-17, B-24, B-25, B-26, B-29, B-34, B-47, B- 50, C-46, C-47, C-54 C-73, C-97, C118, C-119, C-123, C-130, C-133, CG-4A, F-80, F-86, F-84, F-100, F-1 05, F-4, Horsa, Laister-Kauffman, LB-30, Me-262, O-1, O-2, OV-10, P-26, P-35, P-36, P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-70, Polish Orlic, PT-17, PT-19, PT-22, RF-101, Schweizer TG-3, Stinson SR Reliant, T-28, T-33, U-43, XB- 42, XB-43, XB-45, XB-46, XB-51, XP-59, YB-49, YB-60, Arado 234. |
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