Skip to content

This Day in History – June 10, 1969 – The X-15 gets a place in history

10 June 1969: The U.S. Air Force donated the first North American Aviation X-15, serial number 56-6670, to the Smithsonian Institution for display at the National Air and Space Museum. The first of three X-15A hypersonic research rocketplanes built by North American for the Air Force and the National Advisory Committee (NACA, the predecessor of NASA), 56-6670 made the first glide flight and

Read More »
Main Menu
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact

Mahon, Alexander T.

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Mahon, Alexander T.

Alexander Thomas Mahon

Preferred Name: Alex
Nickname/Call Sign: Diablo
Date of Birth: September 17, 1944
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

After 34 years of military service, Alex Mahon retired as Colonel. His civilian career included:

  • Apr 1966-Jan 1971: Various positions in corporate finance, insurance, banking, and real estate;
  • Jan 1971-May 1972: Special Agent/Criminal Investigator, Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (DOJ; Detroit, MI);
  • May 1972-Dec 1973: Special Agent, IRS Criminal Investigations Division (DOT; Detroit, MI; traditional Guardsman);
  • Dec 1973-Aug 1978: Special Agent, Drug Enforcement Administration (DOJ; Detroit, MI; traditional Guardsman);
  • Sep 1978-May 1982: Student; University of Detroit School of Law (AGR;  127TFW, Selfridge ANGB, MI);
  • May 1982-Oct 1982: AGR (162TFG, Tucson IAP, AZ);
  • Oct 1982-Aug 1986: Private law practice (Tucson, AZ; traditional Guardsman, 162TFG);
  • Aug 1986-Apr 2000: ANG AGR and USAF active duty; limited law practice;
  • May 2000 – Mar 2001: Director, DoD-funded National Counterdrug Center (Hanford Site, Richland, WA);
  • Mar 2001-Oct 2004: Private law practice/contract IG (Scottsdale, AZ);
  • Oct 2004-Dec 2013: Arizona Assistant Attorney General (Phoenix, AZ; RICO  prosecutions);
  • Jan 2010-Dec 2013: Deputy Director, Southwest Border Anti-Money Laundering Alliance (Phoenix, AZ);
  • Dec 2013-Aug 2017: Deputy County Attorney, Pinal County (Florence, AZ; RICO prosecutions);
  • Aug 2017-Present: Retired, with limited law practice focused on helping fellow Geezers deal with our age-unique legal issues.

Units Assigned

  • 6/1962-4/1966 USAF enlisted (E-4; Mandarin Linguist)
  • 4/1966-6/1968 AFRES enlisted (E-4; inactive)
  • 10/1972-5/1974 180th Tactical Fighter Group, Toledo, OH; Management Analysis Officer (E-5; O-1)
  • 5/1974-5/1975 UPT, Williams AFB, AZ (O-1; turned 30 years old in T-37s; Gary Silence was my T-38 Flight Commander)
  • 5/1975-2/1976 F-100 RTU B-course, 162nd Tactical Fighter Training Group, Tucson, AZ (O-2). This entry requires an extensive digression. The 162nd Tactical Fighter Training Group was then populated by the most extraordinary group of F-100 IPs imaginable. Most, if not all, were Vietnam F-100 vets, including several Misty’s, who possessed flying skills and combat experience beyond comparison. They wore the F-100 like a beloved and comfortable suit, and could without much forethought or preparation teach fledgling fighter pilots what they needed to know and do to survive and thrive in the quirky F-100, most of whom later went on to distinguished careers flying A-7, F-16, and other fighters. The IPs names are known and legend in the tight F-100 fraternity: Bill Barnitz; Al Bartels; Kirk Brimmer; Tony Bulat; Bob Cassaro; Vince Catolica; Hal Cochran; Harv Damschen; Noel Duncan; Jim Fiorelli; Bob Fosnot; Lee Graves; Jack Hartman; Ron Kurth; Bob Lewis; Al Mosher; Pete Noebel; Don Shepperd; Ed Skowran; Willie Wilson; and others. Thank you all.
  • 2/1976-4/1978 107th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Selfridge ANBG, MI (F-100, O-3)
  • 4/1978-8/197 F-4C RTU T-course, Luke AFB, AZ (O-3)
  • 8/1978-8/1979 171st Fighter Intercept Squadron (F-4C ADC Alert Detachment Pilot), Selfridge ANGB, MI (O-3)
  • 8/1979-10/1979 A-7D RTU T-course, 162nd Tactical Fighter Training Group, Tucson, AZ (O-3)
  • 10/1979-5/1982 127th Tactical Fighter Wing (IP and FWS Weaponeering Courses at 162TFG; A-7D IP and Chief, Weapons & Tactics), Selfridge ANBG, MI (O-4)
  • 5/1982-2/1995 162nd Fighter Wing (A-7/F-16 RTU IP; 195th Fighter Squadron/DO and CC; 162nd Fighter Wing/XO, Tucson IAP, AZ (O-5)
  • 2/1995-10/1999 HQ AZANG; Commander, Joint Counter Narcotics Task Force, Phoenix, AZ (O-6)
  • 10/1999-4/2000 HQ MIANG, Director of Operations (Lansing, MI); ANGB/CD Special Projects, Counterdrug Technology and Counterdrug Aviation Operations (Washington, D.C.) (O-6)
  • 5/2000 Retired USAF with 33½ years military service (25 years USAF and ANG active duty)

Awards & Decorations

Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal (2)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (2)
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal (9)
AF Good Conduct Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal (2)
Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (8)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFResM)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (30+ years; Gold Hourglass)
Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (2)
Air Force Training Ribbon (AFTR)
Air Force Training Ribbon (2)
Michigan National Guard Legion Of Merit Medal Ribbon
Michigan Legion of Merit
Michigan National Guard Broadsword Service Medal Ribbon
MIchigan Broad Sword (Longevity)
Arizona National Guard Meritorious Service Medal Ribbon
Arizona Meritorious Service Medal
Arizona National Guard Long Service Medal Ribbon
Arizona Long Service Medal
Arizona National Guard Service Ribbon
Arizona Service Ribbon (3)
Arizona National Guard Community Service Ribbon
Arizona Community Service Ribbon
Arizona National Guard Overseas Training Ribbon
Arizona Overseas Training Ribbon
Arizona National Guard Southwest Asia Service Ribbon
Arizona Southwest Asia Service Ribbon

Flight Info

T-37/T-38 – 234 hrs.
F-100D/F – 563 hrs.
F-4C – 162 hrs.
A-7D/K – 1,936 hrs.
F-16A/B – 696 hrs.

Total Flight Hours = 3,591 hrs.
IP Hours = 1,512 hrs.

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • SOS
  • ACSC
  • ICAF

Civilian Education:

  • 1970 BA Economics, Wayne State University
  • 1978-1982 Juris Doctorate, University of Detroit
  • 1992 MA Financial Management

Mahon, Alex F4C Alert Photo Fall 1978
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
Click To View

Wall of Honor Location

Our Mission

The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2025 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top