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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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Bracken, Edward R.

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  • Bracken, Edward R.

Edward R. Bracken

Preferred Name: Eddie
Date of Birth: July 29, 1937
Highest Military Grade: 0-8 – Major General
Hometown: Troy, NY
Headed West Date: October 14, 2024
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Album

Eddie Bracken retired from the Air Force in 1992 after 33 years and 4,129 flying hours, primarily in fighters. In his first 25 years of military service, he held a number of positions in fighter aircraft operations which culminated with his role as Commander of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing in the United Kingdom, operating the F-111F.

His career in Fighter aviation started off in the F-100 and included tours with the 615th TFS at England AFB and the 35th TFS at Itazuke AFB, Japan.  While at Itazuke he transitioned to the F-105 and moved to Yokota AB Japan. His time in Japan was marked by numerous TDY’s (Temporary Duty) to Korea and Thailand in both the Hun (F-100) and the Thud (Republic F-105 Thunderchief).

In 1966 Eddie returned to the United States and was assigned to Nellis AFB, NV as an instructor in the F-105 and on the initial cadre of the F-111A.  The tour at Nellis was short-lived and he was reassigned to the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards AFB, CA. Upon graduation, he went on to Test OPS at Eglin AFB, FL where he was involved in testing the F-100, F-105, and F-111.  Then, in December 1969 he was assigned to Takhli AB Thailand in the F-105.

Upon returning to the states in August of 1970 he attended Air Command and Staff College (Maxwell AFB, AL) and later on to the Pentagon where he served a four-year tour in Fighter Requirements and a fifth year at the National War College.  Moving to Mountain Home AFB, ID in 1976 he served as Chief of Weapon and Tactics and Commander of the 391st TFS.  In the summer of 1977, the entire wing of F-111Fs moved to RAF Lakenheath where he was stationed for seven years first as Commander of the 493rd TFS and finally as the Commander of the 48th TFW.  He was promoted to Brigadier General when he left Lakenheath.

The last eight years of his service was focused on Logistics operations.  Eddie Bracken was the Vice Commander of an Air Logistics center that had over 25,000 civilian and military personnel assigned.  He served a three-year tour in the Pentagon where he was the Director of Air Force Logistics Plans and Programs.  In this capacity, he was responsible for the formulation, advocacy, and execution of a $50 billion yearly budget for Air Force Logistics Operations.  His last assignment was at Wright Patterson AFB, OH as the Chief of Staff for Air Force Logistics Command.  In that time frame, Air Force Logistics Command had close to 90,000 military and civilian personnel assigned.

The general is a command pilot with 4,000 flying hours and 130 combat missions
Since his retirement from the Air Force Eddie has worked as a consultant to numerous aviation and space companies primarily advising them on long-range plans, financial strategies and business process re-engineering practices.  He has also worked on various studies for the Air Force and the Department of Defense.

Volunteering is important to Eddie Bracken. In the last 16 years, he has given his time and talent to numerous activities in the Colorado Pikes Peak region such as the El Paso County Planning Commission, the Colorado Springs Airport Advisory Commission, the Pikes Peak Combined Federal Campaign Board of Directors (as Vice Chairman and Chairman), the Chamber of Commerce’s Eliminating Barriers to Business Working Group, the El Paso County Highway Advisory Committee, Falcon Foundation Board of Trustee,  and the Black Forest Fire and Rescue Department where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

He and his wife Nancy founded Black Forest Together, Inc. a nonprofit 501 ( C ) 3 charitable organization in response to the most devastating wildfire in Colorado’s history. (488 homes were destroyed). Black Forest Together, Inc. is in its 4th year of operation and its work is expected to continue for a very long time as they undertake the formidable task of restoring the Forest to its prior splendor. Read about this extraordinary endeavor at Https://www.blackforesttogether.org/

Major General Edward R. Bracken is currently the Vice President of the Super Sabre Society.

Units Assigned

  • 1961 Tactical Fighter Squadron, England Air Force Base, LA
  • 1963-1966 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Itazuke Air Base, Japan/Yokota Air Base, Japan./Takhli Royal Thai Air Force bases, Thailand
  • 1966 Nellis Air Force Base, NV/F-105 instructor pilot/Category III F-111 testing.
  • 1967 Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School, Edwards Air Force Base, CA
  • 1968 Armament Development Test Center, Eglin Air Force Base, FL/Flight-testing of F-100, F-105 and F-111
  • 1969-1970 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base/ F-105s.
  • 1971 Headquarters USAF, Washington, DC/F-111 Requirements and Fighter Avionics Development Project Officer
  • 1976 Mountain Home AFB, ID
  • 1977 391st Tactical Fighter Squadron/Commander
  • 1977 RAF Station Lakenheath, England, 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron
  • 1978 48th Tactical Fighter Wing/Asst. Deputy. Commander/Deputy Commander for Maintenance
  • 1980 Vice Wing Commander
  • 1981 Wing Commander
  • 1984 Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, OK/Vice Commander
  • 1985-1986 Deputy Chief of Staff/Maintenance
  • 1986-1987 Deputy Chief of Staff/Plans and Programs
  • 1987 AFLC Headquarters/Director Logistics Plans and Programs

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Flight Info

F-100
F-105 D/F
F-111
F-16
F-4

Flight Hours: 4000+

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1959 Reserve Officer Training Corps
  • 1961 Pilot Training
  • 1965 Squadron Officer School
  • 1971 Air Command and Staff College
  • 1976 National War College

Civilian Education:

  • 1959 BS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • 1971 MBA, Auburn University

Edward R. Bracken, MGen USAF, SSS Vice President, “Headed West” on October 14, 2024.

The SSS Board of Directors is sad to report that MGen Eddie Bracken fell and succumbed to his injuries on October 14th, one day after the loss of his beloved wife Nancy.

Eddie Bracken retired from the Air Force in 1992 after 33 years and 4,129 flying hours, primarily in fighters. In his 25 years of military service, he held several positions in fighter aircraft operations, culminating with his role as Commander of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing in the United Kingdom, operating the F-111F.

His career in Fighter aviation began in the F-100 and included tours with the 615th TFS at England AFB and the 35th TFS at Itazuke AFB, Japan. While at Itazuke he transitioned to the F-105 and moved to Yokota AB Japan. His time in Japan was marked by numerous TDY’s (Temporary Duty) to Korea and Thailand in both the Hun (F-100) and the Thud (Republic F-105 Thunderchief).

The last eight years of his service were focused on Logistics operations. Eddie Bracken was the Vice Commander of an Air Logistics center that had over 25,000 civilian and military personnel assigned. He served a three-year tour in the Pentagon as the Director of Air Force Logistics Plans and Programs. In this capacity, he was responsible for the formulation, advocacy, and execution of a $50 billion yearly budget for Air Force Logistics Operations. His last assignment was at Wright Patterson AFB, OH, as the Air Force Logistics Command Chief of Staff. In that time frame, Air Force Logistics Command had close to 90,000 military and civilian personnel assigned. The general is a command pilot with 4,000 flying hours and 130 combat missions.

Volunteering was important to Eddie and Nancy Bracken. In the last 16 years, Ed has given his time and talent to numerous activities in the Colorado Pikes Peak region such as the El Paso County Planning Commission, the Colorado Springs Airport Advisory Commission, the Pikes Peak Combined Federal Campaign Board of Directors (as Vice Chairman and Chairman), the Chamber of Commerce’s Eliminating Barriers to Business Working Group, the El Paso County Highway Advisory Committee, Falcon Foundation Board of Trustee.

Ed and Nancy founded Black Forest Together, Inc. a nonprofit 501.c3 charitable organization in response to the most devastating wildfire in Colorado’s history. (488 homes were destroyed). Black Forest Together, Inc. is in its 4th year of operation and its work is expected to continue for a very long time as they undertake the formidable task of restoring the Forest to its prior splendor. Read about this extraordinary endeavor at https://www.blackforesttogether.org/

We thank both Ed and Nancy for their dedication to the SSS.

F-100 Combat Crew Training Luke AFB 1961				Back Row Standing
Ralph Cunningham, Ed Bracken, Bobbie Oaks, Bo Bobko, Gene Armistead, Mike Nelson; Middle Row Standing
Jim Miholick, Dick Mason, Larry Fortner, Bob Gobble. Bish Parrish, L/Col Bryant, Monk Neilson; Kneeling IPs
Jim Simms, Del Smith, Ron Johnson (Knocker), Mittemdorf
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
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Wall of Honor Location

Foil: 1
Panel: 10
Column: 5
Line: 22

Super Sabre Society interview with Eddie Bracken

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