Michael Vickers Love - Air Force Lieutenant Colonel
Page by Bob Leathers with contributions from Captain Jon H. Bora
Let Us Remember Michael Vickers Love, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Killed In The Line of Duty
Michael Love perished in the line of duty while attempting an emergency landing in an RF-4C similar to the one pictured above on Rogers dry lake bed on March 1, 1976.
(Image by Bob Leathers)
Picture from NASA Images: The photo shows Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael V. Love in front of the X-24B research aircraft at Edwards Air Base in 1976. The X-24B was a wingless aircraft designed to test theories for development of spaceships that could be flown into outer space and then land back on Earth. His efforts helped the development of the Space Shuttle program. Michael was a combat veteran of Vietnam and was awarded the distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He perished in the line of duty while attempting an emergency landing in an RF-4C on Rogers dry lakebed on March 1, 1976.
The images and links below were graciously provided by Captain Jon H. Bora, a 2010 graduate of Hanna Elk Mountain High School and a 2014 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. Thank you, Captain Bora, for helping us honor the life of Michael Love.
Air Force Academy Obituary and Cemetery Information for Michael Love may be found at:
Air Force Academy Cemetery Records for Michael Love
(Image from Captain Jon H. Borah, Hanna Elk Mountain 2010, United States Air Force Academy, 2014)
(Image from Captain Jon H. Borah, Hanna Elk Mountain 2010, United States Air Force Academy, 2014)
(Image from Captain Jon H. Borah, Hanna Elk Mountain 2010, United States Air Force Academy, 2014)
(Image from Captain Jon H. Borah, Hanna Elk Mountain 2010, United States Air Force Academy, 2014)
(Image from Captain Jon H. Borah, Hanna Elk Mountain 2010, United States Air Force Academy, 2014)
(Image from Captain Jon H. Borah, Hanna Elk Mountain 2010, United States Air Force Academy, 2014)
Love, Michael Vickers
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: "Sept. 26, 1938 - Mar. 1, 1976; LT COL US AIR FORCE"
Plot: 448
Age: 38
Note: Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Love was born September 26, 1938. He perished March 1, 1976, when his aircraft crashed on Rogers dry lakebed in California. He was a test pilot for a joint NASA-USAF flight test program at the NASA Flight Research Center and test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He was 37 years, 5 months, and 5 days old at the time of his death. He was the son of Lionel and Myra Love of Hanna, Wyoming. Michael was buried at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A memorial stone is in the Hanna, Wyoming Cemetery.
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: "Sept. 26, 1938 - Mar. 1, 1976; LT COL US AIR FORCE"
Plot: 448
Age: 38
Note: Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Love was born September 26, 1938. He perished March 1, 1976, when his aircraft crashed on Rogers dry lakebed in California. He was a test pilot for a joint NASA-USAF flight test program at the NASA Flight Research Center and test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He was 37 years, 5 months, and 5 days old at the time of his death. He was the son of Lionel and Myra Love of Hanna, Wyoming. Michael was buried at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A memorial stone is in the Hanna, Wyoming Cemetery.
(Image by Bob Leathers)