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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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Bode, John R.

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John Raymond Bode

Preferred Name: John
Nickname/Call Sign: Issue 11
Date of Birth: September 16, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Ogalalla, NE
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

Civilian Life:

After retiring from the USAF in 1974, John spent the next 16 years as Unit Chief to VP and Group General Manager BDM International Washington/Albuquerque. In  1990 he became Associate Director of Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque until 2000. While employed at BDM/Sandia he served (1988-1993) as a member of the US Air Force Advisory Board.

In 2000 he founded Bode Aviation, Inc where he was a pilot and in 2014 he became the organization’s Chairman and Executive VP.

Units Assigned

  • 1952-54 Enlisted, Student at USMA Prep School
  • 1954-55 Pilot Training Class 55.O
  • 1955-56 Pilot Tactics and Gunnery Schools Laughlin/Nellis AFB, NV
  • 1956-58 434 FDS/476 FDS George AFB, CA, F-100
  • 1958-61 Assistant Operations Officer 494 TFS Chaumont/Lakenheath, England, F-100
  • 1961-65 Student AFIT Program U of Oklahoma, BS/MS Mechanical Engineering
  • 1965-68 Research Engineer/Chief High Altitude Group Air Force Weapons Laboratory
  • 1968 Survival School (3), F-4 Aircraft Commander Course, FAC training, F-4, OV-10
  • 1968-69 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division, RVN
  • 1969-73 Director CAS Studies/Chief Fighter Division ACS Studies and Analysis, Hq USAF
  • 1973-74 Industrial College of the Air Force
  • 1 Feb 74 Retired from active duty

Awards & Decorations

Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross
Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Bronze Star
Bronze Star
Air Medal
Air Medal (15)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
RVN Gallantry Cross With Palm
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm

Flight Info

F-100
OV-10
F-4

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • Enlisted USMA Prep School
  • Pilot Class 55-O
  • Nuclear Weapons School
  • ICAF-Correspondence

Civilian Education:

  • Ogallala High School Diploma
  • BS/Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma
  • MS/Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma

John Raymond Bode Before 225x309
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
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Wall of Honor Location

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