B. J. Dvorscak, native of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the US Navy in 1946.
After two years at Penn State Center in Hazleton, he reported for flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and received US Navy wings in January 1950, qualifying aboard the USS Cabot in the F4U-4.
He was assigned to VF-171 to fly the F2H-1 Banshee after a thirty day course in the F-80 at NAS Whiting Field, Florida. In the next three years he deployed with VF-171 aboard the USS Coral Sea, the USS Midway, the USS FD Roosevelt and the USS Leyte.
Dvorscak accepted inactive duty orders, returned to Georgia Tech, completed requirements for a degree
in aeronautical engineering September 1955. The same month, he joined the Lockheed Georgia Company as a production pilot, and one year later, transferred to the engineering flight test organization. In March 1958, he graduated from the US Navy Test Pilot School, Class XXI.
Flight testing at GELAC provided opportunities to test C-130 Hercules models, the C-141-A Starlifter, the Jetstar, the XV-4A and B Hummingbirds and the C-5A and C-5B.
Bernie retired from the Lockheed-Georgia Company March 1990. He retired from the US Naval Reserve in
July 1976 as Captain USNR.
