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Today in History – September 21, 1956 – Test pilot Tom Attridge shoots himself down in F-11F

21 September 1956 – Grumman company test pilot Tom Attridge shoots himself down in a Grumman F-11F Tiger, BuNo 138260, during a Mach 1.0 20 degree dive from 22,000 feet. Tom fires two bursts from the fighter’s 20mm cannon during the descent, and as he reaches 7,000 feet (2,100 m) the jet is struck multiple

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Langston, Donald W.

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  • Langston, Donald W.

Donald W. Langston

Preferred Name: Don
Date of Birth: January 15, 1935
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Arkansas/Springfield, MO
Headed West Date: October 14, 2017
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

Donald Langston flew for 52 years for a total of 17,000 hours. After retiring from the USAF in 1975, he was a corporate pilot for for Hutchens Industries until he retired in 2009.

Units Assigned

  • 6/1955 Pilot Training
  • 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tuy Hoa, Vietnam
  • 352th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Phan Rang, Vietnam
  • 5/1975 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

B-25
T-29
T-33
BRB-66
T-37
T-38
F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Lt. Col. (ret.) Donald W. Langston, LtCol USAF, Ret., “Headed West ” on October 14, 2017.

Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Donald Langston was born 1935 in Arkansas and grew up in Springfield, MO. He joined the USAF and graduated from pilot training with the aviation cadets in June 1955 at the top of his class. During his 22-year career in the Air Force, he flew the following aircraft: B-25, T-29, T-33, BRB-66, T-37, T-38 and an F-100.

After his retirement from the Air Force in May 1975, as a Lt. Col., he continued his flying career as a corporate pilot and retired in January 2009 after 25 years as chief pilot for Hutchens Industries. During his career, Lt. Col. Langston flew for 52 years for a total of 17,000 hours.

Donald was preceded in death by his wife Miriam “Sam” Langston. He is survived by his two sons, Dennis and Andrew and daughter Donna, one granddaughter and two great-granddaughters.

Don was buried at White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Springfield, MO.

Lt. Col. Langston’s death was reported to the SSS by his son Dennis. (obituary source: Springfield News/Leader)

Wall of Honor Location

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