Carroll R. Beeler

Beeler was released during Operation Homecoming on March 28, 1973. Captain Beeler went into the Naval Reserve in 1978 to pursue a career in civilian aviation. He joined McDonnell Douglas in 1983, serving in their flight test program as a senior engineer, lead system safety engineer, flight test engineer, and lead production test pilot. Carroll joined General Electric Aircraft Engines in 1989 as an engineering test pilot. He then joined Sino Swearingen Aircraft Company in 1997, and later became the chief test pilot for the SJ30 aircraft. Beeler retired from the Navy Reserve as a Captain on October 6, 1993. Carroll was flying as a test pilot for Sino Swearingen when he was killed testing the company's SJ30-2 business jet on April 26, 2003. He had over 11,000 hours flying time in military and civilian aircraft, including the SJ30, Boeing 707 and 747, AirBus A300, Cessna 152 and 172, Stearman 220, AgCat G-164, Thrush 600, F-4B/J/N Phantom II, F-8J/K/L Crusader, TA-3 and EKA-3 Skywarrior, A-1E/F/H/J Skyraider, A-4B/C/E/F/T Skyhawk, T-34B Mentor, T-28B/C Trojan, S-2 Tracker, and C-1 Trader. Carroll was survived by his wife Scottie, daughter Lee, and his mother Pauline. Carroll Beeler was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.