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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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Homan, Harold A.

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  • Homan, Harold A.

Harold A. Homan

Preferred Name: Bud
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Waverly, IA
Headed West Date: January 28, 2022
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Caterpillar Club
Album

Bud was born in 1930 in Waverly, Iowa, the third child of Harold W. Homan and May Boeyer Homan.

After graduating from Berlin (Wisconsin) High School in 1947, he worked as a test driver for Chevrolet. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950. Bud completed Aviation Cadets, earned his pilot “wings” and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1953. He was then stationed at Chaumont Air Base in France, where he flew F-84, F-86 and F-100 fighters, and also flew with the Skyblazers, the USAF aerobatic team for Europe.

Bud then flew the F-105, first as an operational test pilot, then as a flight instructor and then in completing 100 combat missions as a “Wild Weasel” in the Vietnam War. He later graduated from the Air War College, served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and commanded the 25th Air Division, before retiring from the Air Force in 1981 after 31 years of service. Bud’s decorations include the Silver Star, earned for valor in combat, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit Medals, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Meritorious Service Medal, eleven Air Medals and two Air Force Commendation Medals. He also earned “Caterpillar” pins for surviving three ejections from military aircraft.

After retiring from the Air Force, he served as Director of Airports for the City of Redding, California.

Units Assigned

  • 1950 Enlisted in USAF
  • 1953 Aviation Cadets,  commissioned 2Lt
  • Chaumont AB, France (F-84, F-86, F-100)
  • Skyblazers USAF aerobatic team for Europe
  • Operational Test Pilot (F-105)
  • Wild Weasel (F-105 – 100 missions), Vietnam
  • Air War College
  • Joint Chiefs of Staff,  Pentagon
  • 25th Air Division, Commander
  • 1981 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Silver Star
Silver Star for Valor
Defense Super Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air Medal (11)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (2)

Flight Info

F-84
F-86
F-100
F-105

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • Air War College

Civilian Education:

  • 1947 Berlin High School, WI

Harold “Bud” Homan, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on September 28, 2022.

Colonel Harold A. (“Bud”) Homan, U.S. Air Force (Retired), died on January 28, 2022 in Redding, California, at the age of 91. In military aviation parlance, he flew west for the last time. A fitting description, as there was nothing in the world he loved as much as looping through the skies in US fighter jets.

Bud was born in 1930 in Waverly, Iowa, the third child of Harold W. Homan and May Boeyer Homan. After graduating from Berlin (Wisconsin) High School in 1947, he worked as a test driver for Chevrolet. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950. Bud completed Aviation Cadets, earned his pilot “wings” and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1953. He was then stationed at Chaumont Air Base in France, where he flew F-84, F-86 and F-100 fighters, and also flew with the Skyblazers, the USAF aerobatic team for Europe. Bud then flew the F-105, first as an operational test pilot, then as a flight instructor and then in completing 100 combat missions as a “Wild Weasel” in the Vietnam War. He later graduated from the Air War College, served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and commanded the 25th Air Division, before retiring from the Air Force in 1981 after 31 years of service. Bud’s decorations include the Silver Star, earned for valor in combat, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit Medals, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Meritorious Service Medal, eleven Air Medals and two Air Force Commendation Medals. He also earned “Caterpillar” pins for surviving three ejections from military aircraft.

After retiring from the Air Force, he served as Director of Airports for the City of Redding, California for six years. Bud loved Redding and Shasta Lake and enjoyed fishing, gardening and playing with his dogs. Bud’s wife of 23 years, Eileen, died in 2011. Bud was also preceded in death by his best friend and brother Alan Homan and sister Elaine Doubleday. Bud is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Gabbe of Maine; his three sons, Hal of Colorado, Bill and Tim of California; step-daughter, Kathi Reneer of California; six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

Published by MilitaryTimes.com on Feb. 8, 2022.

Bud Homan survived 3 ejections from military aircraft, received Caterpillar pins.

Homan, Harold With F 100
Album Slideshow
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