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
Joe Dinkel Biography
“I was born on 30 November 1931, in the middle of the Great Depression and dirt storms in Western Kansas, graduating from Ness City High School in 1949. I continued farming for 2 years, then moved to Colorado, working at the Rocky Mt. Arsenal, earning a WB-21 journeyman’s rating in Industrial Instrumentation.
After taking and passing a 3-day Equivalency Testing, I was inducted on 23 December 1955 into the USAF as an Aviation Cadet completing Pre-Flight School at Lackland AFB; Primary Flight Training at Stallings AB in Kingston, NC, flying the PA-18 and T-28; then Basic Flight Training in the T-33 at Del Rio, TX. I received Silver Wings and commission in Class 57-K on 30 March 1957. Advanced Flight Training was at Perrin AFB, TX, in 1957, flying the F-86 D&L.
Because of receiving Instrument Flight Training at Perrin, I was hand-picked for a TAC Force assignment at Misawa AB, Japan to fly RF-84Fs. In my second year there, I checked out in the RF-101C.
In 1960 I was assigned to Luke AFB, AZ, with the 4512th Combat Crew Training Squadron, flying as an IP in the AT-33 and F-84F, training German pilots in weapons deployment and tactics. I had married on January 30, 1960, and 2 of my children were born at Luke.
My next assignment was in a Field Grad skit as TAC Recce and Fighter Pilot Advisor in the RF-84F and F-84FQ at Ankara AB, Turkey flying with Turkish pilots at five different bases from September 1963 through September of 1965.
I then went to England AFB, LA, in September of 1965, where I volunteered for Vietnam fighter pilot duty. I deployed with the 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron to Phan Rang AB, RVN in September of 1966, flying the F-100 D. After seven months, I was assigned to the 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Phu Cat AB, RVN, for the remainder of the year, where I accomplished 281 combat missions, receiving 2 DFCs, 15 Air Medals, and numerous RVN medals.
After Vietnam, I was assigned to the 4527th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Nellis AFB, NV, as an IP flying the F-111 A&E in September of 1967. My final assignment was to RAF Upper Heyford as an F-111 squadron flight commander/IP with the 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
I competed in the USAFE Bombing/EW competition in 1973, winning the Top Gun award.
My total flying time in the USAF was just under 4900 hours after 20 years, and I retired from the USAF on 20 November 1975.
I’m an active member of a Pool and Billiard Club, the Daedalians; the 62nd Fighters, Fighter Pilots Club; The Super Sabre Society, and the American Legions Post 40.”
