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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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Huffman, Dale B.

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  • Huffman, Dale B.

Dale B. Huffman

Preferred Name: Dale
Nickname/Call Sign: Huff
Date of Birth: December 8, 1939
Highest Military Grade: 0-4 – Major
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Headed West Date: September 16, 2021
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Album

In 1961, Dale graduated as an aviation cadet and served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, flying F-100 and A-7 fighter planes. He served in Vietnam in 1966. In 1968, he graduated from Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB. During his military career, Dale reached the rank of Major. His awards and citations include Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Viet Nam Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Combat Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. He was a long-time member of the Order of Daedalians and the Super Sabre Society.

Following his retirement from the USAF, after 22 years of distinguished service, Dale worked at Kisatchie-Delta Regional Planning and Development District for about 15 years.

He was a long-time member of the Order of Daedalians and the Super Sabre Society.

 

Source: www.rushfh.com

Units Assigned

  • 1961 RTU Luke AFB, AZ/Nellis AFB, NV
  • 1961-1963 481st, 522nd Tactical Fighter Squadrons, Cannon AFB, NM
  • 1963-1965 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan/England AFB, LA
  • 1965-1966 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam
  • 1967-1971 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Lakenheath RAFB, England
  • 1968 Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
  • 1971-1972 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England AFB, LA
  • 112 Filo, Eskisehir AB, Turkey

Awards & Decorations

Bronze Star
Bronze Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Air Force Combat Medal
AF Good Conduct Medal
Good Conduct Medal

Flight Info

F-100
A-7

Military & Civilian Education

 Military Education:

  • 1961 Aviation Cadet
  • 1968 Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB

Civilian Education:

  • 1957 Red Jacket High School
  • 1976 Bachelors Degree, Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA
  • 1978 Master’s degree, Webster University

Dale B. Huffman (Major USAF, Retired) “Headed West” on September 16, 2021.

Dale B. Huffman, age 81, passed away Thursday, September 16, 2021, at Rapides Regional Hospital, Alexandria, LA. The youngest of 14 children, he was born in Rochester, NY, December 8, 1939, to Frank Huffman and Nellie (Rodney Messersmith) Huffman. Dale grew up in Manchester, NY, and graduated from Red Jacket High School in 1957.

In 1961, Dale graduated as an aviation cadet and served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, flying F-100 and A-7 fighter planes. He served in Vietnam in 1966. In 1968, he graduated from Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB. During his military career, Dale reached the rank of Major. His awards and citations include Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Viet Nam Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Combat Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. He was a long-time member of the Order of Daedalians and the Super Sabre Society.

Following his retirement from the USAF, after 22 years of distinguished service, Dale worked at Kisatchie-Delta Regional Planning and Development District for about 15 years.

A life-long learner, Dale earned a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA in 1976 and a Master’s degree from Webster University in 1978. He enjoyed golf, computers, photography, navigating, and any television show that took place in Alaska. He also devoted many hours of his time as a volunteer tax preparer.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara (Sawyer) Huffman, the woman he knew he would marry the first time he saw her. Also, surviving are their two children, Diane Lanier (Brad), Bloomington, IL, and Mark Huffman (Yvette), West Fork, AR; grandson, Joshua Huffman, West Monroe, LA; and granddaughter, Hailey Lanier, Denver, CO.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his 13 siblings (Messersmiths and Huffmans), his granddaughter, Stacey Gentry Morrison, and her husband, Joshua Morrison.

Dale was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and patriot who loved this country. He will be dearly missed by many.

Services will be held Thursday, September 23, 2021, at Rush Funeral Home, US Hwy 165, Pineville, LA. Visitation will be 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., followed by services in the Chapel officiated by Reverend Carolyn Fletcher. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Ball.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Alzheimer’s Association.

Friends may post online messages of condolence for the Huffman family by visiting www.rushfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Major Dale B. Huffman, USAF (Retired) please visit our Tribute Store.

 

Source: www.rushfh.com

Huffman, Dale Wedding
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