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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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Knepper, John D.

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  • Knepper, John D.

John D. Knepper

Preferred Name: John
Nickname/Call Sign: Guner
Date of Birth: June 26, 1939
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Toledo, OH
Headed West Date: May 5, 2022
Biography
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Headed West
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John Knepper flew the F-100 from 1970-1977 with the 180th Tactical Fighter Group of the Ohio Air National Guard.

He was pilot for Eastern Airlines from September of 1968 until March of 1989.

Units Assigned

  • 1970-1977 with the 180th Tactical Fighter Group of the Ohio Air National Guard.

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

John D. Knepper, OHANG pilot, “Headed West” on May 5, 2022.

John Knepper, 82, of LaGrange, IN died Thursday, May 5, 2022, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange, IN.

Mr. Knepper was born on June 26, 1939, in Toledo, OH to Lester and Katheryn (Blank) Knepper; they preceded him in death.

In 1976, he moved to the LaGrange area after purchasing a farm and continued to farm until just recently. He was an airplane pilot for Eastern Airlines from September of 1968 until March of 1989 and was based out of Chicago, IL and then Atlanta, GA.

John was a retired United States veteran having served in the Ohio Air National Guard.

John was active with the LaGrange County Library and was involved with expansion of the library. He was a member of the United States Auto Club with the midget cars where he was an owner and mechanic. From 1990-1995 he was an owner and mechanic when his son raced quarter midget cars.

John attended the First United Methodist Church of LaGrange.

Surviving are two daughters, Kristen Knepper-Bahbahani and Leith Bahbahani of San Diego, CA, and Kimberly and Emmanuel Quijano of Rockledge, FL; a son, John F. and Melissa Knepper of Brownsburg, IN; six grandchildren; the mother of his children, June Knepper of Rockledge, FL; and a sister, Jane Bectal of Ohio.

A memorial visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, from 4-7 pm at the Frurip-May Funeral Home, 309 W. Michigan St., LaGrange, IN.

A memorial service will take place on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 11:00 am at the funeral home. Officiating the service will be Jeff Miller and Pastor Mike Overpeck.

Memorials may be made to the LaGrange County Library.

Source: https://www.fruripmayfuneralhome.com/obituaries/John-D.-Knepper?obId=24799591

Knepper, John D Before
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