Robert L. Rasmussen

Infobox Military Person
name= Bob Rasmussen
placeofbirth= Sacramento, California


allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
rank= Captain
commands=VF-111 USS Mount Hood (AE-29) Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico Aviation Schools Command
battles= Korean War Viet Nam War
awards= Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross R. L. “Bob” Rasmussen (born May 26, 1930 in Rio Vista, California), is a noted artist, former career naval aviator, member of the Blue Angels, and Director of the National Museum of Naval Aviation ["Combat in the Sky: The Art of Air Warfare", by Philip Handleman, Zenith Press Published 2003, ISBN 0760314683] . His Vietnam war experiences, including surviving the fire aboard "USS Oriskany", have been documented in several books ["Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam" (Paperback), by Zalin Grant (Author), W. W. Norton & Company; New Ed edition (April 2005) ISBN-10: 0393327272, ISBN-13: 978-0393327274] ["F-8 Crusader Units of the Vietnam War" by Peter B. Mersky, 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1855327244] . A prolific artist, Rasmussen has created hundreds of Naval Aviation paintings in watercolor, oil and acrylic. His bronze sculptures include the design of the Spirit of Naval Aviation, displayed at the front entrance of the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida, the Alan Shepard memorial heroic figure ["'Spirit' of First American In Space Remembered" By Todd Halvorson, Cape Canaveral Bureau Chief, 21 March 2000] at the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and the World War II [ [http://www.cityofpensacola.com/live/art.asp?pageID=6560 City of Pensacola - Official Website ] ] and Korean War [ [http://www.cityofpensacola.com/live/art.asp?pageid=6573 City of Pensacola - Official Website ] ] memorials in Pensacola, Florida. His works have been displayed around the country, including the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, and the NASA Museum at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Rasmussen is the recipient of the R.G. Smith Award for Excellence in Naval Aviation Art ["Naval Aviation News, July-August 1998, pg 43." http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1998/ja98/ppp.pdf] , and was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor in 2008. ["Virginian Pilot, June 20, 2008 pg B4." http://epilot.hamptonroads.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=VirginianPilotA&BaseHref=VirginianPilot/2008/06/20&PageLabelPrint=B4&EntityId=Ar01601&ViewMode=GIF]

References

*"'Spirit' of First American In Space Remembered" By Todd Halvorson, Cape Canaveral Bureau Chief, 21 March 2000
*"Naval Aviation News, July-August 1998, pg 43." http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1990s/1998/ja98/ppp.pdf
*"Combat in the Sky: The Art of Air Warfare", by Philip Handleman, Zenith Press Published 2003, ISBN 0760314683
*"Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam" (Paperback), by Zalin Grant (Author), W. W. Norton & Company; New Ed edition (April 2005) ISBN-10: 0393327272, ISBN-13: 978-0393327274
*"F-8 Crusader Units of the Vietnam War" by Peter B. Mersky, 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1855327244
*http://www.cityofpensacola.com/live/art.asp?pageID=6560
*http://www.cityofpensacola.com/live/art.asp?pageid=6573