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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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Hughes, Dale L.

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  • Hughes, Dale L.

Dale L. Hughes

Preferred Name: Dale
Date of Birth: August 8, 1934
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Monticello, AR
Headed West Date: May 28, 2013
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

Dale was commissioned through the Aviation Cadet Program in December 1956, after completing pilot training at Bainbridge AFB in Georgia and Bryan AFB in Texas.

As a combat-ready F-100 fighter pilot and later as a forward air controller, he flew 296 combat missions in Southeast Asia. In addition to stateside assignments, he served tours of duty in Turkey, England, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and the Panama Canal Zone.
His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Vietnamese Civic Action Honor Medal, First Class.

Source:http://www.stephensondearman.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=793&locid=1

Units Assigned

  • 1957-1960 429th Fighter-Bomber Squadron/Tactical Fighter Squadron, Clovis AFB, TX/Cannon AFB, NM (F-100)
  • 1960-1964 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron/20th Tactical Fighter Wing, Wethersfield AB, England
  • 1964-1968 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron/27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, NM
  • 1965 TDY Vietnam
  • 1966 TDY Misawa AB, Japan

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal
Vietnam_Civil_Actions_Medal_ribbon-First_Class
Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class

Flight Info

F-100

Wall of Honor Location: Foil: 10 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 50
Dedicated Panel: F100 Super Sabre Society

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • 1952 Monticello High School, AR
  • 2 years Florida State University
  • 1974 BGS/History University of Nebraska at Omaha

Lt. Col. Dale L. Hughes (Retired) Headed West, May 28, 2013

Dale was born on August 8, 1934, in Monticello, AR. He attended school in Monticello and graduated from Monticello High School in 1952. He attended Monticello A&M for two years, Florida State for two years, and graduated with a BGS in History from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1974.

He was a retired Lt. Col. of the U.S. Air Force, following 22 years of active service.

The 3 years immediately preceding his retirement from the military in May 1977, he served as executive officer for the commander of the 832nd Air Division and as deputy base commander at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, NM.

He was commissioned through the Aviation Cadet Program in December 1956, after completing pilot training at Bainbridge AFB in Georgia and Bryan AFB in Texas.

As a combat-ready F-100 fighter pilot and later as a forward air controller, he flew 296 combat missions in Southeast Asia. In addition to stateside assignments, he served tours of duty in Turkey, England, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and the Panama Canal Zone.
His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Vietnamese Civic Action Honor Medal, First Class.

When he returned to Monticello in 1977, he served as manager of the Monticello Pink Tomato Growers Association. He also served as Drew County Judge for 9 1/2 years. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasanton Campground United Methodist Church. Lt. Col. Hughes loved God, his family and country.

He is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, Betty Allison Hughes of Monticello; three children, Robert D. Hughes of Georgetown, TX, Jay L. Hughes and R. Chris Hughes Pace, both of Monticello; one sister, Barbara Fleming of Pine Bluff, AR; six grandsons, two granddaughters, one step-grandson, six great-grandchildren, two nephews, four nieces, and many more extended relatives and friends.

Source: http://www.stephensondearman.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=793&locid=1

Wall of Honor Location

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