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
Capt Kanaar enlisted in the Air Force and entered via Reserves and was serving with the 308th TFS/3rd TFW out of Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam.
On January 9, 1966, Kunaar was attacking a gun position north of Bien Hoa AB when his F-100 #56-3166 was hit by a 12.7mm gun and burst into flame. Capt Kanaar pulled off and turned towards a safe area but his ejection was unsuccessful.
1Lt J.D. Davies II who was also in the aircraft ejected and was recovered by a USAF Helicopter. Lt Davies suffered major injuries.
Louis is buried at Restlawn Cemetery in Muskegon, MI, and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 04e, Line 60.
