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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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Custer, Robert H.

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  • Custer, Robert H.

Robert H. Custer

Preferred Name: Bob
Date of Birth: May 15, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Headed West Date: May 7, 2023
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Album

Bob flew the F-100 with the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing out of Incirlik, Turkey.

Bob had previously served in the Korean War. An article in the REDLANDS DAILY FACTS | redlands@dfmdev.com  on December 6, 2011, tells his story:

“Bob Custer, living in Pasadena in 1949, was called up from the National Guard, sent to Camp Cook (Vandenburg), and then to Japan for 10 months “out in the field.” He said that that was the time of arguing about the size and shape of the negotiating table at Panmunjom and “the big war stopped.”

But bunkers were lined up on both sides of the demilitarized zone where National Guard members were sent in 1952. “The action was minor for our regiment in patrol skirmishes and we were not first line in combat,” he said.

For Custer, the biggest hardship was the cold. As a Southern California boy, he had been to Big Bear, but was unprepared for “40 degrees below” on night picket duty, standing out in the wind, “even with full arctic clothing issue.”

A second remembrance was “ten thousands of mines.” He described Chinese mines cased in wood to avoid metal detectors and mines designed to explode only after being repeatedly triggered. One time they sent a tank repeatedly over one road to detect any mines. When the area was declared safe, the first truck sent out set off a mine.

Custer’s Guard unit was then replaced and sent home after five months. He later qualified for pilot training, served two tours in Vietnam, and completed 200 missions.”

Units Assigned

  • 1952 Joined US Army
  • 1955-1961 Arizona Air National Guard from
  • 1982 Joined USAF
  • 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, Incirlik, Turkey (F-100)
  • 1982-1984 Base Commander, Norton AFB, CA
  • 1984 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

BS, Troy State University

Robert H. Custer, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on May 7, 2023.

Colonel Robert H. Custer, USAF Retired, was born on May 15, 1933 in Pasadena, California to Ruth (Weesner) and Harold Custer, both of Indiana. He passed away with his family by his side on May 7, 2023 in Redlands, California.

Robert joined the US Army in 1952, was in the Arizona Air National Guard from 1955-1961 and the US Air Force from 1963 to 1984, from which he retired and he also served as Base Commander of Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino from 1982-1984. He graduated Troy State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He was a well decorated Army soldier and Air Force Officer.

He was a member of the Redlands Elks, F86 Pilots Association and MOAA Daedalians.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Carol and his daughter Michelle. He will be forever missed by his wife Kay; surviving children: Bradley Custer and his spouse Mary, Mary Webb, Rhea Caldwell and spouse WIllie and Rick Pence and spouse Vida; brother Don Custer and his spouse Jenny of Utah; 8 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

A service with military honors was held at Riverside National Cemetery on May 16, 2023.

Source: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/robert-custer-obituary?id=51841921 

Custer, Robert
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