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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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Nuss, James R.

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  • Nuss, James R.

James R. Nuss

Preferred Name: Ron
Date of Birth: January 29, 1934
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Lehman, PA
Headed West Date: February 16, 2023
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

James says he “Entered Primary pilot training Moore AB, TX, Jan 1956, Class 57J; then Greenville AFB, Miss. for T-33 and was awarded wings March 1957. Then to Luke AFB for gunnery school-F84F; Assigned to 461st FDS at Hahn on F-100C, July 1957; Squadron disbanded Feb. 1959; Reassigned to 53rd TFS at Ramstein until mustering out Sept 1960; Joined104th TFS MDANG Feb. 1962-May 1964;

Hired on Pan Amerian World Airways for 27 years and then 3 years Delta Airlines. Retired 1994 to Seattle, WA.”

Units Assigned

  • 1/1956 Pilot training, Class 57J, Moore AB, TX
  • 3/1957 Awarded Wings, Greenville AFB, MS (T-33)
  • 3/1957 Gunnery School, Luke AFB, AZ (F-84F)
  • 7/1957-2/1959 461st Fighter Day Squadron, Hahn AB, Germany (F-100C)
  • 2/1959-9/1960 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ramstein AB
  • 2/1962-5/1964 104th Tactical Fighter Squadron, MDANG

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

T-33
F-84F
F-100C

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • 1951 Lehman HS, PA
  • 1955 BS/Geology, Franklin & Marshall College

James “Ron” Nuss, F-100 Pilot, “Headed West” on February 16, 2023.

James “Ron” Nuss, dear husband, father and grandfather, passed away of covid and other complications on February 16, 2023, age 89. Ron was born on January 29, 1934 to Naomi and Charles Nuss in Lehman, PA. Ron graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1955. Being. in ROTC in college, he joined the Air Force to become a fighter pilot stationed in Germany. Ron had 5 wonderful years in the Air Force and made some great life long friends. Imagine a 23 year old being trained and ready to carry a nuclear bomb during the Cold War!

In 1964, Ron joined Pan Am Airways as an engineer and then had a long, great career with Pan Am working up to Captain of the 747 and Airbus 320, enjoying the world. His favorite assignments with Pan Am were twice in Berlin. Once with his first wife, Judi Greenwald, married in 1964, where they became the parents of James and Heidi. Judi sadly died in 1977.

Ron married his second wife of 44 years, Jan Switzer in 1979. From 1985-1990, Ron and Jan, too, had 5 wonderful years in Berlin. Ron retired in 1994 as a Delta pilot after flying 26 years with Pan Am and 4 years with Delta. During his wonderful career, he was based in Seattle, SF, LA and Berlin.

Adding to their family in 1993 were 2 daughters, Larissa and Laissa, adopted from Ukraine, ages 4 and 6. “Welcome to wild life with children again!” Ron was a very dedicated dad, cook, builder, gardener, so knowledgeable about anything and everything. He was a helpful neighbor and friend. He just generally enjoyed life in his quiet and unassuming way. He was such a good man, a wonderful husband and father, a man who could take pleasure traveling the world or in the simplest of things in life. He is so loved and missed.

Ron’s Memorial Service was held on August 12, 2023 at Allyn Historic Church, Allyn, WA 98524.

Wall of Honor Location

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