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
1LT Warren Keith Brown was from Sioux City, Iowa, and enlisted in the USAF through the National Guard. His tour in Vietnam began on May 14, 1968. Brown was assigned to the 174th Tactical Fighter Squadron/27th Tactical Fighter Wing/7th Air Force. His aircraft F-100 #54-2004 was shot down on July 14, 1968, over Quang Tri 34 miles West-Southwest of Hue.
“Warnie” Brown was married with two sons at the time of his death.
Warren’s body was recovered and he is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, IA and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 52w, Line 26.
