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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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Conn, Donald N.

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  • Conn, Donald N.

Donald Neilson Conn

Preferred Name: Don
Date of Birth: March 9, 1935
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Headed West Date: May 3, 2016
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
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Don “graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburg with a BS in Aerospace Engineering, received his Masters from USC in Aerospace Engineering (4.0 GPA), and was a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (1969). Served in the USAF from 1954

After retiring from USAF, worked as an engineer at Hughes Missile Aircraft Company, working on IR Maverick and AMRAAM programs. Volunteered with the Daedalians, classic car club, scientific trials to advance science, and was a lifelong blood donor” (1)

Source: (1) https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/tucson-az/donald-conn-6918123

Units Assigned

  • 1954 Entered USAF
  • Vietnam, Laos (OV-10, T-39)
  • Hahn, Germany (F-4 highest number of sorties with 72 F-4s)
  • 1982 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

T-33
T-34
T-39
F-4
F-84F
F-100A/D/F
OV-10
C-47
L-20 Beaver
B-47
H-19

Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster/3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Presidential Unit Citation
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
AF Good Conduct Medal

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1969 Industrial College of the Armed Forces

Civilian Education:

  • BS/Aerospace Engineering, University of Pittsburgh (cum laude)
  • MS,  Aerospace Engineering, USC

Donald N. Conn, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on May 3, 2016.

Colonel (Ret) Donald Neilson Conn, born in Los Angeles, CA on March 9, 1935, died peacefully on May 3, 2016. Don will be greatly missed by his wife, Margot (born in Vieritz, East Germany), after celebrating more than 54 years of marriage, son, Marcus (53), born in Pittsburgh PA, daughter, Deanna (51),born in Albuquerque, NM, grandchildren, Sedona (17) and Logan (14), born in Tucson, AZ.

In addition to Margot, the loves of his life included flying fighter jets in the USAF, his 1955 convertible T-bird, playing piano on his baby grand Steinway, watering his rescue trees, painting, skiing and golf, winning football pools, martinis at sunset, classical music, art, red wine and philosophy.

He graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburg with a BS in Aerospace Engineering, received his Masters from USC in Aerospace Engineering (4.0 GPA), and was a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (1969). Served in the USAF from 1954 – 1982. Flew OV-10 and T-39 in combat in Vietnam and Laos, and flew F-4A, F-84F, F-100A, F-100D & F-100F, C-47, L-20 Beaver, B-47, H-19, T-33 and T-34. Directed highest number of sorties with 72 F-4s ever done while stationed at Hahn, Germany. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), Meritorious Service Medal with 2 OLC, Air Medal with 1 Silver OLC and 3 Bronze OLC, AF Commendation Medal with 1 OLC, AF Presidential Unit Citation, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 1 Silver OLC, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, AF Good Conduct Medal. After retiring from USAF, worked as an engineer at Hughes Missile Aircraft Company, working on IR Maverick and AMRAAM programs. Volunteered with the Daedalians, classic car club, scientific trials to advance science, and was a lifelong blood donor. Private family memorial service.

Conn, Donald N
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