John R. Costello Hollywood High, Class of Summer ‘49 MEMBER SUBMITTED BIO

[SUSAN J. SILVESTRI]

John R. Costello

Hollywood High, Class of Summer ‘49

 

I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in December of 1930.  After a somewhat spoiled early childhood, I progressed through the Minneapolis school system into the 9^th grade. I was not the best of students in the 9^th grade and had problems with algebra and had to repeat Grade 9A. Early in 1945 my parents divorced and, in October of that year, well into my repeat semester, my mother and grandmother brought me to California to “start a new life.”  I finally finished junior high school at Le Conte Jr. High in January of 1946 and in February I started at Hollywood High School.

I truly enjoyed my 3 ½ years at Hollywood High, even though my study habits hadn’t improved and I had to repeat my last semester to get through Physics.  Some of the best memories of Hollywood were my detours from the academic world, those hours I spent in ROTC and playing trumpet in the orchestra. In the world of math, I owe a lot to Mrs. Nash, for finally drumming algebra into my head and to Mr. Overfield, who showed me the usefulness and practicality of trigonometry. There was a time though, when Mrs Nash even suggested that I think about a career in music rather than in some technical field. I guess I took her comment as a challenge.

While still in the 11^th Grade at Hollywood, I enlisted in the Air National Guard at Van Nuys Airport. My ROTC training came in handy because I was able to skip basic training. During the next three years I trained weekends and during summer camp as a radio operator and aircraft armorer. Early on I was able to check out as an acting crew chief on B-26 and C-47 aircraft and consequently made numerous flights in those aircraft to places like Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and even as far as New York and Miami. Those longer weekend trips stretched over into Monday and, although explanations were provided for my absences, they didn’t help my grades.

After graduation in June of 1949 I took a semester off and then I spent a year at Los Angeles City College taking remedial courses in math and physics, plus a few additional courses that I thought might help me pursue a career in flying.

In May of 1951 my ANG unit was called to active duty with the Air Force and I spent 15 months at Langley AFB, Virginia. While I was at Langley the Air Force dropped its two years of college requirement for Aviation Cadets and I immediately applied for Pilot Training I was tentatively accepted, however, before I could be assigned to a class, I was released from active duty and returned home to California, where I took a temporary job as a Master Layout draftsman at the Douglas Aircraft co. in Santa Monica.

My Aviation Cadet class assignment finally arrived and on January 2, 1953, I started training with ten weeks of Preflight at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas. Next came 6 months of Primary Flight Training in the PA-18 (Piper Cub) and T-6G at Bartow Air Base, Winter Haven, Fl.

After Primary, I traveled to Bryan AFB, Texas for 6 months of Basic Flight Training in the T-28A and the T-33A Jet Trainer. I received my commission and graduated from pilot training on March 31, 1954. I was then sent to Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada for three months of Advanced Training in the F-85F “Sabre Jet.” After Nellis, I was assigned to my former ANG Squadron as a fighter pilot and, for the next three years I had to fly the same number of hours each year as a Regular Air Force pilot is required to fly to maintain proficiency.

When I returned home from Nellis, I had to find a regular job so I went to work as a Junior Research Analyst at North American’s Propulsion Field Laboratory in the mountains west of the San Fernando Valley. This facility later became a part of the new Rocketdyne Division of North American. When I was hired, I agreed to continue my college education on a part time basis. Assigned to the Large Engine Systems Development Group, I gradually worked my way up the ladder to Research Analysist, Junior Research Engineer, Research Engineer and then to Senior Research Engineer. Along the way I continued to take classes at Los Angeles City College, Valley Junior College, Pierce Junior College, UCLA and San Fernando Valley State College (later CSUN). Only a few months after being classified a Senior Engineer at Rocketdyne, I finally received my BS Degree in Engineering from SF Valley State College (in June of 1966).

Engine projects I worked on at North American included the Atlas ICBM and the J-2, the latter being the main propulsion for the 2^nd and 3^rd stages of the Saturn/Apollo missions to the moon. It was while working on the J-2 that I met and married my wife, Christina, who was also working at North American. By the time the J-2 program was concluded (following the Alollo-Soyus Test Project), the North American company had merged with Rockwell and was renamed Rockwell International. It was while looking for a new interesting position that I was “drafted” by a former supervisor into the Turbomachinery Engineering Group of the Space Shuttle Project. With little to no experience in the specialized field of rotating machinery, I had a lot to learn. It was a challenge, but I stuck with it for another 13 years and finally retired from Rockwell in January of 1988. At that time I was Manager of Engineering Support for the High Pressure Fuel Pump (liquid hydrogen).

Over the years, since I was already in the habit of attending night school, I took several courses in writing and a very interesting two-year course in National Security Management (offered by the Industrial College of the Armed Forces).

All in all I had a very satisfying, 34 year career at Rocketdyne. I truly enjoyed working with a wonderful bunch of people on several exciting programs.

Following retirement, my wife and I have had more time to travel, which we always enjoyed doing, and we’ve had time to become involved with alumni associations for my Air Force Pilot Class and the 146^th Air National Guard Wing. I am also a Life Member of the Air Force Association. My wife and I are also involved with various projects at our church and in September of 2012 we will celebrate our 50^th wedding anniversary.

 

J.R. Costello

April 29, 2010