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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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Breen, Joseph A.

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  • Breen, Joseph A.

Joseph A. Breen

Preferred Name: Joe
Nickname/Call Sign: Irish
Date of Birth: May 21, 1940
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Washington, DC
Joseph A. Breen
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

“…one third of my career was spent outside the Air Force assigned to other agencies. Flew the Hun one last time in May 2016, 55 years after the first flight and 50 years since the last. What a gift to fly her again!”

Joe Breen flew “missions around the world — from Europe to Asia, South America, the Pacific, Alaska to Argentina, flying for multiple agencies in all theaters of operations.” (1)

Source (1): https://www.daedalians.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/May-2019-Aviator-edited-1.pdf

Units Assigned

  • Aviation Cadet Class 61-D/F. Checked out in T-37 at age 19. Commanders Trophy as the top graduate 61-F.
  • F-100: Luke, Nellis, George, Homestead. Checked out in the Hun at age 20.
  • 1963 -1964 VNAF Forward Air Controller. 800+ hours VNAF L-19A. 640 missions.
  • 1964-1967 Flight Instructor/Group Training Officer (T-37/T-38)
  • 1967-1971 Pilot/IP RB-57F Project, Kirtland AFB, NM
  • 1971-1972 Foreign Service Institute US Dept of State. Thai Language and other training
  • 1972-1975 Asst. Air Attaché, US Embassy Bangkok, Thailand. Operated in Laos, Burma, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and throughout Thailand.
  • 1975 Armed Forces Staff College. Graduated “With Distinction”
  • 1975-1978 Pilot/IP, Sq Ops Officer, Sqdn CC Plattsburgh AFB, NY
  • 1978-1978 USAF Research Associate/Senior Fellow The Mershon center for National Security Policy Studies, Ohio State University
  • 1979-1982 Director, Strategic, and Energy Issues, Studies, Analysis and Gaming Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, developed and directed sophisticated politico-military war games for the executive branch from the cabinet assistant secretary to the vice-president level. Personally represented the Chairman, JCS, at the combatant commands and US embassies in Asia, Europe and South/Central America.
  • 1982-1985 DO 305th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom AFB, IN. Operated KC, RT, EC-135s worldwide. Multiple Special Ops TDYs in Central America.
  • 1985-1986 Training: Department of State and other Executive Agencies.
  • 1986-1989 Senior US Military Representative to France. Defense and Air Attaché, US Embassy, Paris.
  • 1989-1991 The Inspector General for the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device
Air Medal
Air Medal (15)
Defense Super Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit
Hai Chi Naval Distinguished Service Medal
Medal of Hai Chi (Chinese Gov’t)
Order_of_the_White_Elephant_-_Special_Class_(Thailand)_ribbon
Royal Order of the White Elephant (Thai)
Ordre_national_du_Merite_Chevalier_ribbon
Ordre de Merit (French President)
Medaille_de_la_defense_nationale_or
Medaille de Paris
Thai Pilot Wings
Thai pilot wings
vietnamese pilot wings
Vietnamese pilot wings

Flight Info

5,000+ hours in 36 types and models including the Mirage 2000 and Jaguar (courtesy of the French AF)

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • SOS
  • Armed Forces Staff College
  • USAF Senior Fellow
  • Language Training (French, Thai)
  • Multiple flying training courses CCTS (TAC & SAC), IPIS, etc.

Civilian Education:

  • BA, Univ of Nebraska
  • MA, State Univ of NY

Joseph A. Breen
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
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Wall of Honor Location

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