Vic Bilek Aviation Research Collection

Vic Bilek (b. 1918) was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, where he attended the University of Washington. He came to “old” Wright Field in September 1941 as a 2nd Lt. and was assigned to Armament laboratory Bombing Branch, Engineering Division. Vic worked on Norden bombsight and its installation in several bombers including the prototype B-36. He was transferred to Fire Control as Unit Chief and worked on installation of remote control gun turret systems for B-29s, A-26s, and P-61s, including the first electro-mechanical integrated fire control systems. He ended his Research & Development work in the Lab as Chief of the Aircraft Gun Unit in June 1946 and separated from active duty as a Major.

Vic came back to Wright Field as a civilian in the Air Technical Intelligence Organization, then known as T-2, now known as the National Aerospace Intelligence Center. He started working with the German scientists and the captured German Luftwaffe equipment along with scientific and engineering documents. He authored a study of the V-2 missile production in the underground factory, which is still used as a reference today. He became Chief of the Armament Branch and continued after being recalled to active duty in 1951, for the Korean conflict. Then he returned to his civilian position in 1953. Vic transferred to the Staff in 1958 as Deputy for Production Control, then Chief of the Program Office and then Assistant for Limited War under the Commander, Foreign Technology Division, and Air Force Systems Command. He was appointed as Chairman of the joint Services Battle Damage Assessment and Reporting program in Vietnam and Thailand and led a joint service team in theater in 1969 and retired in June 1973.

In May 2006, Vic was placed on the National Air and Space Intelligence Center Wall of Honor, the greatest honor that NASIC can bestow on one of its alumni for diligent efforts that have truly made NASIC a “Center of Excellence” within the Air Force and the Intelligence community.

In retirement, Vic Bilek served for 32 years in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, particularly in the Boating Safety education program, and was Division Captain in the 2nd CG District. He has also put in 15 years of voluntary service in the Service Corps of Retired Executive (SCORE) program in the U.S. Small Business Administration. He has previously served as President of the Kettering-Oakwood-Centerville Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Vic is also a member of the American Aviation Historical Society, Huffman Prairie Chapter, and the Hithergreen Aviation Club.

Mr. Bilek has appeared in the TV Cable History Chanel production on the “Spoils of War” segment of the often-shown Last Days of WWII and the Speedvision Channel’s Project ZETA- The Exploitation of the Russian Yak 23 Soviet Jet Fighter.

Vic and his wife have traveled extensively in Europe, North Africa, and Hawaii, and have enjoyed motor homing through 46 states and extensive boating in several states as avid fisherman, hunter, photographer, flea marketer, etc.

This biographical sketch comes from MS-431: Cold War Oral History Project, Box 2, File 1.