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
“I learned to fly in 1946 while in high school and reported to Randolph AFB in 1950 with 1000 hrs.
I opted for Mustangs and flew them in Korea along with F-80s and F-86s, then spent 4 years instructing with IPIS in T-33s and B-25s, then on to SAC in Lincoln, Nebraska in KC97s. In 1967, I joined the KANG and flew the F-100, recalled in 1968, and went to Kunsan Korea. I got bored and transferred to the NYANG flying in Tuy Hoa Vietnam.
In 1975, I spent time with Beech and Piper aircraft, and in 1991, I retired from the USAF, moved to Naples FL, and then moved to Warrenton VA in 1993.”
