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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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Nophsker, Howard G.

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  • Nophsker, Howard G.

Howard G. Nophsker

Preferred Name: Gary
Nickname/Call Sign: Trapper, Trap, Misty 128
Date of Birth: March 19, 1938
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Sharon, PA
Headed West Date: June 24, 2020
Howard G. Nophsker - before
Howard G. Nophsker - now
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Howard “Gary” Nophsker’s spent his time in Morgantown, WV, from 1956-1989. In 1959 he began his military training through ROTC while attending West Virginia University. Gary flew the F-100 from 1962-1969. In 1969, he served as “Misty 128” from 26 August to 21 November with the 416TFS Det 1 out Tuy Hoa AB, RVN.

In 1989, after retiring reluctantly from the USAF, he and Kim moved to Texas making Austin their home.

Gary had said, “I am extremely fortunate to have flown the Hun and the SLUF – it resulted in many, many good friends and memories. Those memories were fading, but squadron reunions, the Super Sabre Society, and the PIF are now helping to keep them alive. THANKS!

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.”

Units Assigned

  • 1959 WVU ROTC, Morgantown, WV (PA-18)
  • 1961-1962 Class 63C, 3575 Pilot Training Squadron, Vance AFB, OK (T-37B, T-33A)
  • 1962 4515/4511/4517th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Luke AFB (F-100C/D/F)
  • 1963 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron,  England AFB, LA (Phalsbourg, Cigli, DaNang -“Big Lift”, “Indian River”, “Night Owl”, “Desert Strike”, “Deep Furrow”, “Silver Hand”, (F-100D/F)
  • 1965 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron, DaNang AB, Vietnam (F-100D/F)
  • 1966 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Torrejon AB, Spain/Aviano/Incirlik/Wheelus AFB’s  (F-100D/F)
  • 1968 16th Air Force aide/exec (LeBailey), Torrejon AB, Spain (F-100D/F, T-39)
  • 1969 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam (F-100D/F)
  • 1969 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Det 1 (Misty 128), Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam (F-100F)
  • 1970 4430th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Instructor, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC (AT-33)
  • 1971 Combat Crew Training Upgrade Course, Luke AFB, NV (A-7D)
  • 1971 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron/356th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC (A-7D)
  • 1972 Student, Command & General Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
  • 1973 Instructor at US Army CG & SC, Ft. Leavenworth, KS (T-39)
    Highlight: delivery of a T-39 to Germany and return with another + cases of wine
  • 1976 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/354th Tactical Fighter Wing/DOX/DOT, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC (A-7D)
  • 1978 USAF liaison to FROKA, Wonju, Korea
  • 1979 9th Air Force A-7/A-10 Desk,(three months only), Shaw AFB, NC
  • 1979 Aide/Exec to USAFK/7th Air Force CCs (Rosencrans, Scott, & Pickitt), Seoul, Korea
  • 1985 314th AD, Det 1 CC, Seoul, Korea
  • 1987 602nd DASC DO, Bergstrom AFB, TX
  • 1989 Reluctant retirement to Civilian 1st Class

Awards & Decorations

Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
Air Medal with 1 Silver/3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
AF Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
AF Outstanding Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars

Flight Info

PA-18
T-37 B
T-33 A
F-100 C/D/F
T-39
AT-33
A-7 D
Cessna 172

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1963 Survival Training, Nellis AFB, NV
  • 1963 Jungle Survival, Clark AB, PI
  • 1965 SOS by correspondence
  • 1968 T-39 Fam. Course, Wiesbaden, Ger
  • 1968 Sea Survival School, McDill AFB, FL
  • 1969 TAC Life Support Systems School
  • 1973 CoIN School, Eglin AFB, FL
  • 1973 CGSC, Maxwell AFB, AL
  • 1976 USA CG&SC, Ft. Leavenworth, KS
  • 1976 Master of Military Arts and Science, CG&SC
  • 1983 AWC by Seminar, Seoul, Korea

Civilian Education:

  • 1956 Graduated from Shinnston High School Spartans
  • 1961 BSEE, West Virginia University
  • 1973 MBA, Auburn University at Montgomery

Howard “Gary” Nophsker (LtCol USAF, Ret) “Headed West” June 24, 2020.

Howard “Gary” Nophsker, age 82, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at The Christopher House in Austin, TX after a long-time battle with metastatic prostate cancer.

He was born on March 19, 1938, in New Bethlehem, PA to Howard Nophsker and Dorothy Nophsker (later Roberson). In 1959, he began his military training through ROTC while he attended West Virginia University. He obtained his BS in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia University in 1961 and his MBA from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1973.

Gary joined the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1961. He became a fighter pilot and served tours in the United States, Europe, Vietnam, and Korea. He obtained countless hours of training and flew hundreds of combat missions with the USAF. He flew the F-100 from 1962 to 1969. He served 3 tours in the Vietnam War. He was greatly devoted to serving our country and, if it were up to him, would have spent the rest of his life flying “into the wild blue yonder.” However, in 1989 after 28 years of service, Gary reluctantly retired with honors from the USAF as Lieutenant Colonel at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, TX.

After his retirement from the USAF, Gary went on to work for the Texas Education Agency in Austin, TX for 17 years. This career was not nearly as exciting for him as his service with the USAF. But then again, he was stuck in Austin traffic for the majority of the day. Supersonic speed in a fighter jet was not an option.

Gary was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a selfless and caring man who always put his family first. He enjoyed road trips with his wife, Kim, and spending time outdoors in their Hill Country home. He was a great problem-solver and enjoyed the challenge of any and all projects around the house. His friends meant a lot to him and he enjoyed keeping in touch with them through reunions and chats with his Misty, Super Sabre Society, QBs, and 613TFS.

He bravely and courageously fought for his life until the very end. Despite his pain and suffering, no one would have been able to tell what he was going through. He had a great poker face. He won his battle and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” and returned to dancing “the skies on laughter-silvered wings” (excerpt taken from “High Flight” by Pilot Officer Fillespie Magee.) Gary was guided to his Heavenly home with God as his co-pilot.

He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Kim Nophsker of Driftwood, TX; daughters Linda Canales (Angel Canales) of Connecticut, Debbie Burkholder (Tim Burkholder) of Georgia, Terri Kinsel of Florida, Dawn Nophsker Chen (Thomas Chen) of Texas, Vicki Holcombe (Blair Holcombe) of Texas, and sons Mike Nophsker of South Carolina and Tom Nophsker of South Carolina. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Gary was buried at Ft. Sam on July 14, 2020. Click here for a video of the service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL-imJEObqU&feature=youtu.be Donations are gratefully accepted and can be made in Gary’s memory to “The American Cancer Society.”

Source: https://www.harrellfuneralhomes.com/obituary/466515/Howard-%22Gary%22-Nophsker/obituary-services/

Nophsker, Gary Service Era Photo
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