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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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Winters, Charles P.

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  • Winters, Charles P.

Charles P. Winters

Preferred Name: Pete
Date of Birth: June 7, 1937
Highest Military Grade: 0-7 – Brigadier General
Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Charles P. Winters - before
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

Brigadier General Pete Winters has flown 4500 hrs total in 40 types and models of aircraft with 2000 hours in the F-100; 500 hours each in the F-4, T- 33 and T-38; 200 hours each in the F-104, F-111, T/A-37, F-15; a few hours in the BD5J, Draken, SNJ, Pitts and Texan II JPATS.

Pete Winters flew 298 combat missions in the F-100. The highest altitude he’s flown is 104,250ft in the NF-104 and his highest speed was 2.5 Mach in F-111F and F-15. The highest dynamic pressure was 1.3 Mach@ 1000 ft MSL in F-111C

He’d tell you his favorite airplane is the F-15 with the F-100 a close second. He grew up in St. Paul, MN but now lives happily in Myrtle Beach, SC.

“As a civilian, Mr. Winters worked as a Management Consultant and Vice President for Air Force programs for Cypress International. He then moved on to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, managing multiple overseas operations. Pete also served on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board studying the future of classified test resources.

From 1994 to 1997, Pete served as the Horry County, SC Director of Airports, responsible for operations and maintenance of the county’s four airports. During his tenure, the Myrtle Beach International Airport became the third fastest growing airport in the nation.

In 2001, Mr. Winters became the founding President of JT3 LLC, leading a team of companies in integrating multiple range operations and maintenance contracts in support of government testing.”(1)

Source: (1) https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/bg-charles-pete-winters-usaf

Units Assigned

  • 7/1959-12/1959 Primary Marianna FL (T-34, T -37)
  • 1/1960-7/1960 Basic Laredo, TX (T-33)
  • 7/1960- 1/1961 Luke, AFB, NV (F-100)
  • 2/1961-5/1961 Nellis AFB,  (F-100);
  • 6/1961-6/1963 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan (F-100)
  • 7/1963-6/1966 352nd Tactical Fighter Squadron/354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach, SC,  (F-100)
  • 7/1966 -3/1968 AFIT (T-33)
  • 5/1968 Luke AFB, AZ (F-100)
  • 6/1968- 6/1969 352nd Tactical Fighter Squadron/35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Phan Rang AB, Vietnam,  (F-100 -298 combat missions)
  • 7/1969- 7/1970 Edwards USAF TPS ARPS (T-38, F-104 (center stick and side stick), NF-104 (top altitude 104, 250 ft.), B-26 (variable stability, F-102, F-106 (variable stability); T-33, A-4)
  • 7/1970-6/1975 Edwards Air Force Flight Test Center (F-104D, F-4C&D, F-111A,C,FB (ejection on high AOA test), F-15A (handling qualities, ACM and high AOA), A-37, SAAB Draken, T-38, A-7, B-52, C-130, YF-110 (classified,) YF-113 (classified), BQM-34 (classified)
  • 7/1975-6/1976 ICAF, Ft McNair, DC
  • 7/1976-7/1977 USAFE staff, Ramstein, Germany
  • 7/1977-12/1978 23 Tactical Fighter Squadron, CC Spangdahlem, Germany, (F-4D)
  • 12/1978- 6/1979 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing, ADO, Spangdahlem, Germany, (F4D)
  • 7/1979-6/1983 Classified AFFTC Det 3 CV & CC, (F-4, T-38, C-12, Beech KingAir)
  • 7/1983-6/1985 AFSC Inspector General, Andrews AFB, MD, (C-12)
  • 6/1985-11/1987 AFSC/ESC, Deputy for Tactical Systems, JTIDS and AWACS, Hanscom AFB, MA (C-12)
  • 11/1987- 6/1988 AFSC Deputy Chief of Staff for Test and Resources (Deputy for Ops), Andrews AFB, MD

Awards & Decorations

Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
Air Medal with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
RVN Gallantry Cross With Palm
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

Flight Info

T-34
T-37
F-100
T-33
T-38
F-104 D
B-26
NF-104
F-102
F-106
F-4 C/D
A-4
F-111A
F-15A
A-37
A-7
B-52
C-130
YF-110
YF-113
BQM-34
C-12
Beech King Air

4,500 flying hours in 37 types of aircraft
F-100 478 combat hours

Wall  of Honor: Foil: 43 Panel: 3 Column: 1 Line: 11

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1959 USAF Academy
  • 1968 USAF Inst of Tech (Aero 68)
  • 1969 USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School (Test Pilot School)
  • 1976 ICAF

Civilian Education:

  • Pillsbury Military Academy, Owatonna, MN
  • 1968 Masters Degree, Air Force Institute of Technology
  • 1976 Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Brigadier General Charles P. Winters, USAF (uncovered)
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Wall of Honor Location

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