Posted on 02/09/2018
MAJOR GENERAL PETER W. ODGERS USAF (RET)
Peter W.Odgers, Major General, USAF (ret) Age 85. "Peet" was born September 10, 1932 and raised in New Jersey. He attended Admiral Farragut Academy then entered the US Naval Academy to graduate with an engineering degree in the class of 1955. He accepted a commission in the US Air Force and after flight training, received his wings and began flying transport missions around the globe. He was assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB where he met and married Carol Knupp of Dayton. They moved to Edwards AFB, California where he attended test pilot school and upon completion was assigned to contractor facilities in Texas where he performed test pilot duties on highly modified USAF aircraft. It was here that his son Brett was born in Greenville and his daughter Laura was born in Ft Worth. He then attended SMU where he was awarded a Masters degree from the institute of technology and was off to fly combat missions in Vietnam. He flew an RB57 out of Saigon during 1967-68 and for his service was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, nine Air Medals and The Bronze Star. He returned to Dayton where he was part of the A-10 program, Deputy Director of the F-15 program then Program Director of the B-1. He attended Air War College in Alabama then took over as Commander of the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Pat where he was promoted to Brigadier General. As a General Officer he commanded the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB where he directed the B-1 to combat readiness and hosted the early space shuttle landings. "Peet" retired from active duty as a Major General in 1987. He then joined the Northrop Corp. Aircraft Division as Manager of Test and Evaluation where he later retired in 2000. He was an active member and former Flight Captain of the Order of Dadelians, served as the president of the Dayton chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and held the rank of Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He also served on the boards of the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Flight Test Historical Foundation. General Peter Odgers lost his last battle with cancer at his home on January 20th . He was preceded by his beloved wife Carol in August of 2017. He left behind his son, Brett, of Dayton, OH, daughter Laura and husband Ron Chanslor, of Albuquerque, NM, sister Deborah of northern Ohio, brother Bob in Stewart Beach, FL and a myriad of friends and extended family across the country. He will be sorely missed by all. "Peet" was a great man and a true American hero. He will find his final resting place at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Services pending in Dayton and Annapolis.
Published in Dayton Daily News on Jan. 28, 2018