American Astronaut. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in systems engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1975. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, Thorne entered flight training and received his wings in December 1976. Following training in the F-4 Phantom, he joined Fighter Squadron 21 and deployed to the Western Pacific aboard the USS Ranger. After training at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1981, Thorne spent the next two years at Strike Aircraft Test at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, flying mostly ordnance and weapons systems tests in the F-4 and A-7 Corsair II. He completed F-18 Hornet transition training in October 1984 and joined Strike Fighter Squadron 132 aboard USS Coral Sea until he was selected as an astronaut by NASA in June 1985. In August he started a one-year training and evaluation program to qualify him for subsequent assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flight crews. In January 1986 he received a Navy Commendation Medal. Lieutenant Commander Thorne was killed in an aircraft crash in which he was a passenger on May 24, 1986. (bio by: Iola) Cause of death: Private plane crash