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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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Coward, William E.

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  • Coward, William E.

William Everett Coward

Preferred Name: Bill
Nickname/Call Sign: Frosty
Date of Birth: November 21, 1931
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Erwin, TN
Headed West Date: February 5, 2012
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

Bill “Frosty” Coward “attended Emory & Henry College in Virginia, earned his Masters Degree from Auburn University, and proudly served in the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer for 32 years. He spent the majority of his career doing what he loved the most, flying, and flew the T-38, B-52, B-47, F-100 and F-4.

Col. Coward and his wife Peggy have resided in Sumter, S.C., since 1977, where he ended his career as the 9th Air Force Headquarters Inspector General at Shaw Air Force Base. Among his many decorations are the Legion of Merit for distinguished valor, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with distinguished valor and the Vietnam Service Medal with distinguished valor.” (1)

Source: (1) https://www.theitem.com/stories/col-william-e-frosty-coward,10412

Units Assigned

  • Vietnam (F-100)
  • HQ 9th Air Force, Inspector General, Shaw AFB, SC
  • USAF – 32 years

Awards & Decorations

Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Air Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal

Flight Info

T-38
B-52
B-47
F-100
F-4

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • Emory & Henry College, VA
  • Masters Degree, Auburn University

William E. Coward, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on February 5, 2012.

Col. William Everett “Frosty” Coward, USAF (Ret.), age 80, beloved husband of Peggy Love Coward died on Feb. 5, 2012, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center after a year-and-a-half-long battle with prostate cancer.

He was born in Erwin, Tenn., on Nov. 21, 1931, a son of the late John Edsell and Lydia Rowe Coward. He attended Emory & Henry College in Virginia, earned his Masters Degree from Auburn University, and proudly served in the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned officer for 32 years. He spent the majority of his career doing what he loved the most, flying, and flew the T-38, B-52, B-47, F-100 and F-4.

Col. Coward and his wife Peggy have resided in Sumter, S.C., since 1977, where he ended his career as the 9th Air Force Headquarters Inspector General at Shaw Air Force Base. Among his many decorations are the Legion of Merit for distinguished valor, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with distinguished valor and the Vietnam Service Medal with distinguished valor.

After retiring, his new passion became the South Carolina Gamecocks. He enthusiastically supported his team and attended every Gamecock football game, home and away for 25 years. Go Cocks!

Surviving in addition to his wife are: Three daughters, Cristie Blake of Raleigh, N.C., Lisa Coward Sandoval of Albuquerque, N.M., and Melinda C. Fairchild and her husband David of McLean, Va.; and three grandchildren, Brock Sandoval, Danielle Fairchild and Halie Fairchild. (1)

Source: (1) https://www.theitem.com/stories/col-william-e-frosty-coward,10412

Wall of Honor Location

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