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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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Shaheen, Charles A., Jr.

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  • Shaheen, Charles A., Jr.

Charles A. Shaheen, Jr.

Preferred Name: Chuck
Nickname/Call Sign: Arab/MIsty 52
Date of Birth: July 17, 1940
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Orange Grove, CA
Charles A. Shaheen, Jr. - now
Biography
Pilot Information
Caterpillar Club
Album

Misty 52
Chuck Shaheen was born on July 17, 1940, in Reedley, California. He was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at Reedley College on June 10, 1962, and went on active duty to begin pilot training on September 28, 1962. Lt Shaheen was awarded his pilot wings at Reese AFB, Texas, on October 22, 1963, and then attended F-100 Super Sabre Combat Crew Training at Luke AFB, Arizona.

His first assignment was as an F-100 pilot with the 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England, from September 1964 to September 1967, followed by service as an F-100 pilot at Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, and then as an F-100 Misty Fast FAC pilot at Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam, from October 1967 to October 1968. Capt Shaheen left active duty on October 20, 1968, and flew for Continental Airlines from 1969 to 1985. Chuck Shaheen was Misty 52.

His Silver Star Citation reads:
Captain Charles A. Shaheen, Jr., distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-100F Forward Air Controller over North Vietnam on 8 and 9 June 1968. On those dates, by skillfully controlling armed flights, Captain Shaheen made it possible for the slow-moving rescue helicopter to traverse over six miles of the most heavily defended area of the southern panhandle and to extract a downed aircrew member. He repeatedly made low altitude passes over the area, drawing fire and locating gun sites. After locating their positions, he marked the sites for the strike flights. At all times during the five hours he was in the target area, he was subjected to intense ground fire. The silencing of these sites sterilized the area and made the ensuing rescue possible. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Shaheen has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

“Left the service in 1968 and went to work for Continental Airlines until they went BK in 1984.

I have had several businesses, including construction, farming, and financing. Returned to the Fresno area in 1977 with my wife to plant 30 acres of watermelons for our honeymoon!! The only way to test a marriage! Still with her!

The greatest fun in life was flying the Hun, living at North Court, dropping ordinance and flying Misty!”

Units Assigned

  • 9/1962-9/1963 Pilot Training, Reese AFB, Lubbock, Texas
  • 11/1963-11/1963 Winter Survival, Stead AFB, Reno, Nevada
  • 12/1963-8/1964 F-100 Fighter Training, Luke AFB, Phoenix, Arizona
  • 9/1964-9/1967 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron/48th Tactical Fighter Wing, USAFE, RAF Lakenheath, UK
  • 10/1967-4/1968 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron/35th TFW. PACAF, Phan Rang AB, Vietnam
  • 4/1968-8/1968 Commando Saber Squadron “Misty 52”, Phu Cat AB, Vietnam
  • 8/1968-10/1968 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron/35th Tactical Fighter Wing, PACAF, Phan Rang AB, Vietnam

Awards & Decorations

Silver Star
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (4)
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Air Medal (16)
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Bronze Valor Device
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA)
Air Force Longevity Service Award with Oak Leaf Cluster
Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
RVN Gallantry Cross With Palm
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Armed Forces Honor Medal Vietnam Ribbon 2
Vietnamese Medal of Honor
PACAF Flight Safety Able Aeronaut Award
PACAF Flight Safety Able Aeronaut Award

Flight Info

T-37
T-38
F-100 “Misty 52”

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • USAF ROTC

Civilian Education:

  • University of Oregon

Chuck Shaheen – Caterpillar Club Story

Chuck ShaheenOn August 17th, 1968, I launched on my last Misty (Super FACs) Mission with Dick Rutan in the back seat of the ol’ F-100F into Route Pac 1. Dick was on his 105th mission which was a record number of Misty missions up to that time.

We found a truck park about 20 miles inland near the Quan Qui River and were directing some F-100s into the park. They were not hitting the targets. I was in a hurry to destroy the trucks and return to searching for two Mistys that had disappeared the day before (coincidentally the front seater was on his last mission as well), so I rolled in to strafe the trucks. I was pretty low and slow, but we hadn’t received any significant ground fire, so I lit the burner and pressed in to finish the job. As we pulled off, Bam!

We were hit underneath the aircraft! There wasn’t any thought in my mind except to head for the sea. With the fuel tank leaking like a sieve, we finally had to bail out bout 20 miles out, over the Gulf.

We were picked up separately about an hour later without any significant problems other than abrasions, contusions, and bailout traumas. The Jollys returned us to Da Nang and later that night we were returned to Phu Cat!

~ Chuck Shaheen

Chuck Shaheen
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