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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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Holt, Leigh M.

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  • Holt, Leigh M.

Leigh Myers Holt

Preferred Name: Leigh
Nickname/Call Sign: McDuff 96
Date of Birth: July 3, 1934
Highest Military Grade: 0-4 – Major
Hometown: Shenandoah Heights, PA
Headed West Date: January 23, 2024
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

I grew up in Girardville, PA, a little coal mining town in eastern PA. I attended Lehigh University, graduated as a Metallurgical Engineer and was commissioned a 2Lt in the Air Force reserve upon graduation in February 1957. I then went to work for General Electric as an engineer, was called up and reported to Lackland AFB in August 1957.

My flight training was at Bainbridge AFB, GA in T-34 and T-28 aircraft. Upon completion, I was sent to Greenville AFB, MS for the transition to the T-33. I received my wings in October 1958 and was assigned to Luke AFB for F-100 training in F-100C, then to Nellis AFB, NV and the F-100D.

In October of 1959, I returned to Greenville to get married and then headed off to the 44th TFS on Okinawa. From 1959-1961 I served with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan. From 1961-1966 I flew with the 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Myrtle Beach AFB, SC. My Vietnam tour from 1966-1967 was with the 352nd Tactical Fighter Squadron/612th Tactical Fighter Squadron with their base in Phan Rang, where I received the Distinguished Flying Cross. 1967-1971 found me serving with 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Lakenheath RAFB, England, and in 1971 I returned from England to the States.

I attended Officers Training School in San Antonio, TX, and in 1974 I was assigned to the ABCCC at Clark AB in the Philippines. In the ABCCC I was in the fighter control chair and was overhead for the Mayaguez Incident off Cambodia and overhead for the evacuation of Saigon. In 1975 I returned to Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX and retired in February 1978.
After retiring from the USAF I went to work for the Texas Education Agency and retired in 1995.

My F-100 Flying Story
I was lead in a flight off the alert pad at Phan Rang. We were in the delta on a banana grove and had rockets and 500s. After the rocket pass, we made a pass to drop the pods. My wingman hit the wrong button and dropped his wing tanks instead. After another pass to drop his pods, we dropped the bombs.

I made a few strafing passes and my Christmas tree lit up. I had taken some hits but was lucky, and we pulled out and headed home. My Wingman informed me that I was bleeding under the right side of the aircraft. I checked the gauges and discovered that the only hydraulic system I had operating was my #2 high-pressure flight controls.

I should have landed at Bien Hoa but decided to take it back to Phan Rang since I had taken off with no wallet, etc. I managed to get the gear down and landed safely. But because I had overflown Bien Hoa with a wounded airplane and my wingman had his own problems, we were both taken off test orders, flight lead orders and grounded for a week. Fortunately, our services were desperately needed so we were reinstated within a couple of days. Intelligence got word that ARVN moved in after our strike and found 40 kba so both my Wingman and I were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.

Units Assigned

  • 2/1957 Commissioned 2Lt
  • 8/1957 Flight training, Lackland AFB, TX
  • 1957-1958 Flight training, Bainbridge AFB, GA (T-34, T-28)
  • 1958 Flight training, Received Wings, Greenville AFB, MS (T-33)
  • 8/1958-1959 Pilot training, Luke AFB, AZ/Nellis AFB, NV (F-100 C/D)
  • 1959-1962 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan (F-100)
  • 1962-1966 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC
  • 1966-1967  352nd Tactical Fighter Squadron/612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phan Rang AB, Vietnam
  • 1967-1971 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Lakenheath RAFB, England
  • 1971  Officers Training School, Chief of Academics, San Antonio, TX
  • 1974 ABCCC, Clark AB in the Philippines.
    (I was in the fighter control chair and was overhead for the Mayaguez Incident off Cambodia and overhead for the evacuation of Saigon)
  • 1975-1978 Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX
  • 2/1978 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal

Flight Info

T-34
T-28
T-33
F-100 C/D

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1963 Instrument Pilot Instructor School, Randolph AFB, TX
  • 1973 Air Command & Staff (non-resident)

Civilian Education:

  • 1957 MS/Metallurgical Engineering, Lehigh University (Advanced ROTC)
  • MA/Psychology, University of Northern Colorado.

Leigh M. Holt, Maj USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on January 23, 2024.

Leigh Myers Holt, 89, of Round Rock, Texas, died on January 23, 2024. He was born on July 3, 1934, in Shenandoah Heights, PA, to the late Leigh Miller Holt and Greta Alma Myers. Leigh served in the United States Air Force for 21 1/2 years, achieving the rank of Major. He flew F-100s, the first US supersonic fighter jet. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving at Phan Rang AFB, Vietnam. He was a dedicated pilot who proudly served his country.

Leigh attended Lehigh University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He completed Advanced ROTC at Lehigh and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation. Later he earned a Master of Arts in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. He was a highly educated individual who valued knowledge and continuous learning.

Prior to being called into active duty in the Air Force, Leigh worked for General Electric Corporation. Following his retirement from the military, he had a second career as an analyst at Texas Education Agency in the Proprietary and Veterans Affairs division.

Leigh is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Betty Jane Holt. He will be deeply missed by his children: Leigh Mark Holt of Ninety-Six, SC, Craig Alan Holt of Westminster, MD, and Scott David Holt of Oersdorf, Germany. He was a cherished grandfather to Kristin Holt, Samantha Holt, Amanda Giersbrook, Courtlin Barata, Brandon Holt and Katie Johnson. Leigh also had the joy of being a great-grandfather to Avery Giersbrook.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Marilyn Ruth Heine Saul and Susan Ellen Dircks.

Leigh, a lifelong Methodist, was a member of Round Rock First United Methodist Church. He served as a Stephen Minister, sang in the Chancel Choir, served as a trustee and was a member of the Journey in Faith Sunday School class.

A memorial service to honor and celebrate Leigh’s life will be held at First United Methodist Church, Round Rock on Monday, February 5th at 11 am. Interment with military honors will follow that afternoon at 3 pm in the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, Texas.

Leigh will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted family man, decorated fighter pilot, and a man of integrity who enjoyed having family and friends surrounding him. His legacy will live on through the love and memories shared by his family and friends.

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