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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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Higginbotham, William G.

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  • Higginbotham, William G.

William Gordon Higginbotham

Preferred Name: Higgy
Date of Birth: February 12, 1931
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Patterson, LA
Headed West Date: February 18, 2015
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

“Higgy answered the call and was commissioned in the USAF through the Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) on June 8, 1954. Higgy had an exemplary career as a fighter pilot, flying T-6, T-33, T-28, F-86, F-100, F-105, L-19 and F-4 aircraft, and was stationed around the world. While serving as an instructor pilot at the “Home of the Fighter Pilot,” Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nev., Higgy was selected to be the Right Wingman for the Thunderbirds, the prestigious USAF aerial demonstration team. During the 1963 and 1964 air show seasons, he flew air shows in all 50 states, Canada, The Caribbean Islands North Africa, and 12 European countries.

In 1966 Higgy volunteered for combat duty and was assigned to Udorn, Thailand as a Flight Commander, flying the mighty F-4 Phantom II. He flew 240 combat missions, including 100 missions over heavily defended North Vietnam. Higgy’s citations include five Distinguished Flying Crosses and 19 Air Medals, among numerous others. Other assignments include a tour in the United Kingdom (RAF Bentwaters) as the F-4 squadron Operations Officer and later, commander; director of operations at Aviano Air Base, Italy; and assistant director of operations of the Tactical Air Warfare Center (TAWC) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Col. Higginbotham retired from the USAF in 1978 then served 24 years on the Lafayette, La., Airport Commission.” (1)

Source: (1) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143217769/william-gordon-higginbotham

Units Assigned

  • 6/8/1954 Commissioned USAF through (ROTC)
  • 6/1954 Flying training program, Bartow AFB, FL
  • 6/1955 Received wings, Webb AFB, TX
  • Advanced Gunnery Training, Laughlin AFB, TX
  • 72nd Fighter Bomber/21st Fighter Bomber Wing, Chambley AB, France (F-86)
  • 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Special Weapons Officer/Flight Commander, Ramstein AB, Germany (F-100)
  • 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Select Crew
  • 8/1960 IP, Nellis AFB, NV
  • 10/1962-1964 Thunderbirds Aerial Demonstration Team (Right Wing)
  • 1966 Flight Commander, Udorn, Thailand (F-4 – 240 combat mission)
  • F-4 Squadron Operations Officer, RAF Bentwaters, England (F-4)
  • Commander, Director of Operations, Aviano AB, Italy
  • Assistant director of operations of the Tactical Air Warfare Center (TAWC) at Eglin Air Force Base, FL

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (5)
Air Medal
Air Medal (19)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal

Flight Info

T-6
T-33
T-28
F-86
F-100
F-105
L-19
F-4

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • ROTC

Civilian Education:

  • 1951 Baton Rouge High School (Hall of Fame member for football, baseball, swimming and track)
  • 1954 BA/Physical Education and Social Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL, currently known as University of Louisiana- Lafayette)

William G. “Higgy” Higginbotham, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on February 18, 2015.

Retired USAF Col. William Gordon Higginbotham, Jr., flew West on Feb. 18, 2015. Known as “Higgy” to everybody who knew him and for as long as anybody can remember, he was born Feb. 12, 1931, in Patterson, La., to Coach “Hickey” and Mayme Higginbotham. He graduated from Baton Rouge High School where he was a Hall of Fame member for football, baseball, swimming and track. He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL, currently known as University of Louisiana- Lafayette) where he played football and ran track.

Higgy answered the call and was commissioned in the USAF through the Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) on June 8, 1954. Higgy had an exemplary career as a fighter pilot, flying T-6, T-33, T-28, F-86, F-100, F-105, L-19 and F-4 aircraft, and was stationed around the world. While serving as an instructor pilot at the “Home of the Fighter Pilot,” Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nev., Higgy was selected to be the Right Wingman for the Thunderbirds, the prestigious USAF aerial demonstration team. During the 1963 and 1964 air show seasons, he flew air shows in all 50 states, Canada, The Caribbean Islands North Africa, and 12 European countries.

In 1966 Higgy volunteered for combat duty and was assigned to Udorn, Thailand as a Flight Commander, flying the mighty F-4 Phantom II. He flew 240 combat missions, including 100 missions over heavily defended North Vietnam. Higgy’s citations include five Distinguished Flying Crosses and 19 Air Medals, among numerous others. Other assignments include a tour in the United Kingdom (RAF Bentwaters) as the F-4 squadron Operations Officer and later, commander; director of operations at Aviano Air Base, Italy; and assistant director of operations of the Tactical Air Warfare Center (TAWC) at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Col. Higginbotham retired from the USAF in 1978 then served 24 years on the Lafayette, La., Airport Commission. He is survived by his sister, Ann Macfee, and a very close family of friends and fighter pilots.

Higgy was a longtime and proud member of the Command Bar Stool Association (CBSA), the Ft. Walton Beach (VPS) QB hangar, and the Super Sabre Society. Although he had no time for political correctness, he was always quick with a smile and a tasteless joke. Higgy was a true friend, a brother, and Good Fellow to all those around him. We will miss him, but our lives were enriched because we knew him!

At his request, in lieu of flowers he said to buy a pretty girl a drink. Because that’s what Higgy would do! Higgy had a tremendous respect for his brethren who could tap dance!

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