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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

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Barrineau, William E., Jr.

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  • Barrineau, William E., Jr.

William E. Barrineau, Jr.

Preferred Name: Barry
Date of Birth: July 17, 1942
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Lake City, SC
Biography
Pilot Information

In early 1964, Jean and I headed to UPT at Del Rio, TX.  We stopped in San Antonio to honor my Uncle Edwin R. Barrineau (1918-1954); the man who motivated our journey.  He was a pilot and served with two of his six brothers in WWII.

After UPT and F-100 training, we arrived at Myrtle Beach AFB in late 1965 and received the following greeting: “…you are a South Carolina boy so your family will be taken care of while you depart immediately for Incirlik AB, Turkey.”  Six months into that TDY, I was assigned to the 353rd TFS at Torrejon AB, Spain.  I was the most junior member of that unit and remained so when in 1969, I departed TDY to the F-100 FWS en route to Phang Rang.  That culminated in nearly 1300 hours in the F-100.

I was able to keep my single seat status in the A-7 at Myrtle Beach and Korat, Thailand.  I met Bobby Bond during A-7 training in 1971 and in 1974 he took me into the Research, Development, and Acquisition process at the Pentagon.  For 4 years I took part in the fielding of an entirely new fighter force (F-15, F-16, A-10, and the then-secret F-117); the latter being spearheaded by Joe Ralston.

After serving as DO in the F-4 at Spangdahlem and Vice at George AFB, I moved to TAC HQ in 1983 as Director of Fighter Requirements.  The DRF crew advocated for the fielding of many versions of the F-16 and the introduction of the F-15E.  Most importantly, the DRF crew wrote the requirements document for the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) which is now the F-22.

A footnote to the ATF: Colonel Mike Loh was Deputy Director of Requirements and his ability to reach deep into the aero engineering minds at Wright Patterson made a significant impact on the design requirements for the F-22.

My best flying experience: the F-100.  My best memories; all the great people I got to know, respect, and appreciate.

Units Assigned

  • 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC
  • 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Torrejon AB, Spain
  • FWIC Nellis
  • 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron/35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Phan Rang AB, Vietnam

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
Air Medal with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Flight Info

T-37
T-33
F-100
F-4

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • Squadron Officers School
  • Air Command and Staff College
  • National War College

Civilian Education:

  • BS, Clemson University
  • MBA, Auburn University

Wall of Honor Location

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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.

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