Skip to content

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

Read More »
Join The SSS
Update My Bio
Main Menu
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact

Gibler, James C.

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Gibler, James C.

James Carter Gibler

Preferred Name: Jim
Date of Birth: September 11, 1932
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Mattoon, IL
Headed West Date: December 26, 2021
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

Jim served in the U.S. Air Force enlisting on March 14, 1955, and retiring with the rank of Colonel on May 20, 1975. Jim continued his career and love of flying as a pilot for McDonnell Douglas. He moved to Lubbock in 2001.

Units Assigned

  • 3/14/1955 Enlisted USAF
  • 5/20/1975 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

James Carter “Jim” Gibler, 89, of Lubbock, Texas passed away December 26, 2021.

Jim is a former SSS member  He was a 2005 Stooler, and a stalwart in Lubbock’s Dust Bowl Chapter of the CBSA. He was also a very good friend of Mac Staples who Headed West 11 days earlier.

Dewey received the news from Ace Carlton who forwarded an email from John Sims.

Official Obituary:

James was born September 11, 1932, in Mattoon, IL to John Walker and Jennie Amira Gibler. He married Betty Ann Harcarik on January 15, 1954.

Jim served in the U.S. Air Force enlisting on March 14, 1955, and retiring with the rank of Colonel on May 20, 1975. Jim continued his career and love of flying as a pilot for McDonnell Douglas. He moved to Lubbock in 2001.

The love of his life, Betty Gibler passed away on October 10, 1999.

Loved ones include children, Valerie Gibler Ray and husband, Lance Ray; Steve Gibler and wife, Lori Gibler, Angela Gibler, Mike Gibler and wife, Sheila Gibler; grandchildren, Jordan Ray, Sean Collin Ray, Caroline Sibley and Andrew Lochman; great-grandchildren, Becca and Gemma.

Preceded in death by his parents, wife, Betty Gibler, brother, John Gibler; sister, Jane Allen.

Memorials are suggested to Veterans of Foreign Wars.

A viewing will be held on December 30, 2021, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. A mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Friday, December 31, 2021, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Graveside services will follow at a later date in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Please celebrate the life of James by visiting www.sandersfuneralhome.com

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Carter “Jim” Gibler please visit our Sympathy Store.

Wall of Honor Location

Our Mission

The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2025 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top