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Today in History – April 5, 1962 – 1962 Neil Armstrong takes X-15 to 54,600m

Neil Armstrong and the X-15 by Bob van der Linden, Posted on Tue, July 23, 2019, Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “Released from duty in mid-1952, Armstrong returned to Purdue where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. His love of flight and engineering drew him to the National Advisory

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Dwelle, Stephen B.

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  • Dwelle, Stephen B.

Stephen B. Dwelle

Preferred Name: Steve
Nickname/Call Sign: Thunderbird 5
Date of Birth: July 1, 1940
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Visalia, CA
Biography
Pilot Information
Album
Video

In His Words…

“A wonderful flying career in the Air Force, by accident.  Enlisted to 0-6 in 20 years, 11 months, 11 days and out the door! What a hoot.” Steve Dwelle’s career highlights include 198 combat missions in Vietnam in the F-100 and two years with the “Thunderbirds” jet aerobatic team. In 1971 then Capt. Steve Dwelle took over as the Thunderbird’s solo pilot.”

In a European tour that same year, attendance at a one-day Paris airshow exceeded the attendance of all shows in 1967. His team performed 114 shows. Steve also served two years in the US Senate as a liaison officer and several years as commanding officer of a fighter squadron in the Air Forces TOP GUN program called Red Flag.

Upon retiring in 1984 as a Colonel, he began an active role in Flyers Energy, LLC where he serves as Co-Founder and Partner. Flyers Energy, LLC provides fueling and information management solutions to commercial, industrial, and government fleets.

Units Assigned

  • 1963 Enlisted USAF
  • 12/1963 Received commission
  • 1965 Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, OK
  • 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron, RAF Wethersfield, England – 198 Combat missions
  • Thunderbird Aerial Demonstration Team – 144 Shows
  • 1978 Commander of the Aggressor Squadron, Red Flag, Nellis AFB, NV
  • Fighter Division at the Pentagon
  • U. S. Senate as Liaison Officer
  • Director of Fighter Plans, Fighter Command Headquarters, Langley, VA
  • 1984 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-100
F-104
F-4
F-5
F-15

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1963 Officer’s Training School
  • Armed Forces Staff College

Civilian Education:

  • 1962 BA/World Business, San Francisco State College

Dwelle Steve Tbirds 1972 2
Album Slideshow
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