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
Capt. Clarence Joseph was a 1963 graduate of the USAFA. During his time there he participated in Football, Lacrosse, Boxing, Soccer, Pistol and was a Squadron Commander
In October of 1967, Hemmel was serving with the 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force out of Phu Cat AB, Vietnam.
October 21, 1967, he was the pilot of a North American Super Sabre Fighter (F-100D) on a mission near the coastline of South Vietnam east of Tam Ky, where his aircraft was shot down. It was concluded that he was probably hit by ground fire in Quang Tin Province. His aircraft flew over water, and a fireball was reported on water surface by FAC. His remains were not recovered.
At the time of his death Clarence was married with two sons.
Clarence has a military stone in his honor at Resurrection Cemetery, Jefferson City, Mo. Capt. Hemmel is also memorialized at Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Panel 28e, Line 48.
Sources: Honorstates.org; USAFA Memorial Wall; WallofFaces;.org
