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Today in History – April 5, 1962 – 1962 Neil Armstrong takes X-15 to 54,600m

Neil Armstrong and the X-15 by Bob van der Linden, Posted on Tue, July 23, 2019, Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “Released from duty in mid-1952, Armstrong returned to Purdue where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. His love of flight and engineering drew him to the National Advisory

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Redmond , John W.

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  • Redmond , John W.

John W. Redmond

Preferred Name: Jack
Date of Birth: August 26, 1936
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Beatrice, NE
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

Lt. Col. John (Jack) Redmond graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and was commissioned through ROTC on June 6, 1959. He earned his wings at Laredo AFB, TX in Class 61ECHO and went on to F-100 training at Luke and Nellis AFB.

His first real assignment was to the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Itazuke AB, Japan. While in Japan he sat “alert” at Osan AB, Korea one week out of every three. The Wing transitioned from the F-100 to the F-105 in 1963 and moved to Yokota in 1964. While at Yokota the 80th Squadron deployed TDY to Korat AB, Thailand in 1964 and Takhli AB, Thailand in 1965.
One of his missions was the first raid against the Surface to Air Missile “SAM” sites in North Vietnam.

That mission was on the 27th of July 1965. Forty-eight Thunderchiefs “Thuds” (24 from Korat and 24 from Takhl) attacked two SAM sites and lost 6 aircraft. It was later determined the sites were dummies). Of the four aircraft in this flight, his was the only one without battle damage.

He returned to the States in December of 1965 as an F-105 RTU instructor in the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron, McConnell AFB, KS. He returned to Korat in April 1968 where he became a “Wild Weasel” pilot in the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron TFS. He completed 100 missions over North Vietnam that year. In early 1969 he transferred to Eielson AFB, AK, and returned to the Thud and McConnell AFB in 1971. In the spring of 1972, he went TDY to Korat for 179 days and back again in 1973 for another 60 days. He moved to George AFB in June 1973 and became the 35th OMS Commander. In 1974 he checked out in the F-4 and moved to the 20th TFS.

In November of 1974, he checked out in the F-5E and went as a remote advisor to the Imperial Iranian Air Force. He returned to the States in 1976 to the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Studies and Analysis, Nellis AFB, NV. In 1980 he moved to Keesler AFB, MS as DO for Battle Staff Operations, 7th Airborne Command and Control Sq. (Cricket, Alleycat). He returned to Nellis in July 1982 as the 554th Range Group ADO and in 1986 moved up to Vice Commander. Jack retired from the United States Air Force in December of 1987.

Jack remembers “As a bachelor at Itazuke there could not have been a better assignment. I lived in the Kitajima House with 5 other bachelors. Flying the Hun was great and $125.00 a month for room, board, maids, beer, booze, etc. couldn’t be beat. A 1st Lt. flying the Hun at Itazuke! It couldn’t possibly have gotten any better.”

Units Assigned

  • 6/1959 Commissioned through ROTC University of Nebraska
  • Earned his wings at Laredo AFB, TX (Class 61ECHO) F-100 training at Luke AFB, AZ and Nellis AFB, NV (F-100)
  • 1961-1963 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron/8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Itazuke AB, Japan (F-100, F-105)
  • 1963-1964 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron/8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Yokota AB, Japan (F-105)
  • 1964-1965 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron/8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat AB, Thailand/Takhli AB, Thailand. (F-105)
  • 12/1965 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron, RTU Instructor, McConnell AFB, KS (F-105)
  • 4/1968-1969 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat AB, Thailand (F-105 Wild Weasel)
  • 1969-1971 Eielson AFB, AK
  • 1971-1972 McConnell AFB, KS (F-105)
  • 1972-1973 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat AB, Thailand
  • 6/1973-1974 35th OMS Commander, George AFB, CA
  • 1974 20th Tactical Fighter Squadron, George AFB, CA
  • 11/1974-1976 Remote Advisor, Imperial Iranian AF (F-5E)
  • 1976-1980 Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Studies and Analysis, Nellis AFB, NV
  • 1980-7/1982 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron (Cricket, Alleycat), DO for Battle and Staff Operations, Keesler AFB, MS
  • 7/1982 554th Range Group ADO, Nellis AFB, NV
  • 1986 554th Range Group Vice Commander, Nellis AFB, NV
  • 12/1987 Retired from USAF

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-100
F-105
F-105 “Wild Weasel”
F-5 E

Wall of Honor Location: Foil: 10 Panel: 3 Column: 3 Line: 36

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • SOS
  • ICAF
  • AWC, (Most effective, Air over North Vietnam)

Civilian Education:

  • 1959 BA University of Nebraska, ROTC

Redmond_John service era
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
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Wall of Honor Location

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