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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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Kempton, Jimmy D.

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Jimmy D. Kempton

Preferred Name: Jim
Date of Birth: March 14, 1938
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Albion, ID
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

After leaving the service, Jim Kempton has been busy with Ranching; Civilian Flight Instruction; serving in the Idaho House of Representatives (Chair Transportation and Defense Committee); a Gubernatorial appointment (Northwest Power Planning Council (Member-Chair Power Committee); a Gubernatorial appointment to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (Member-President); and a Gubernatorial appointment Idaho Transportation Board (Member-Vice Chair).

Units Assigned

  • 8/27/1961 ATC 3561st Pilot Training Group, Webb AFB, TX (T-37, T-38)
  • 8/3/1962 TAC 4510th Combat Training Group Luke AFB, AZ (F-100)
  • 6/14/1963 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron/27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, NM
  • 7/10/1966 HQ USAF Academy, CO (Department of Physics)
  • 10/15/1971 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron/366th Tactical Fighter Wing, DaNang AB, Vietnam
  • 6/26/1972 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Wing Organizational Maintenance Commander (36-UE A/C), Takhli AB, Thailand
  • 9/29/1972 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron/1st Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill AFB, FL
  • 7/18/75 HQUSAF(RDFP), International Programs
  • 12/11/1976 HQUSAF(RDPF), F-16 Staff Officer (F-16)
  • 5/1/1979 SECDEF assignment in writing to DOC(AFELM) /attached to DASD/ISA (Liason: foreign military sales technology transfer)

Awards & Decorations

Defense Super Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Award
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star
Bronze Star
Air Medal
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Award, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR)
Small Arms Marksmanship Ribbon
RVN Gallantry Cross With Palm
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Flight Info

T-37
T-38
F-100
F-4
F-16

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • AFROTC Univ. of Idaho (Distinguished Graduate)
  • USAF Operational Training Course (F-100)
  • Squadron Officer School
  • Air Command and Staff College
  • USAF Combat Operations Specialist Course (Forward Air Controller)
  • HQASD Acquisition Course
  • Defense Systems Management College
  • Industrial College of the Armed Forces
  • Army Airborne Parachutist Course (Jump Qualified Forward Air Controller)
  • ADC Life Support Training Course
  • TAC Life Support Systems School
  • Jungle Survival School
  • USAF Operational Training Course (Cat-4, F-4)

Civilian Education:

  • 1960 BS/Physics, University of Idaho
  • 1961 MS/Physics, University of Idaho

Jimmy D Kempton 7810
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
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