Neil Armstrong and the X-15 by Bob van der Linden, Posted on Tue, July 23, 2019, Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “Released from duty in mid-1952, Armstrong returned to Purdue where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. His love of flight and engineering drew him to the National Advisory
On 25 July 1968, Captain Joseph A. L’Huillier was on a strike mission flying F-100 #54-1912 near Thon Sau, 15km S-SE of Heip Duc. (1) He was “fatally injured after he ejected from his disabled aircraft west of Chu Lai. Immediately after a high angle dive bomb delivery, Captain L’Huillier’s aircraft was believed to have been hit by ground fire. Captain L’Huillier relayed that his aircraft controls were failing and then pulled up into a cloud deck and ejected. No one observed his ejection but his parachute was spotted on the ground a short while later. A rescue helicopter picked him up within 30 minutes but he died before he could be hospitalized. His fatal injuries were probably incurred upon ejection or landing, with improper chute opening or seat involvement suspected.” (2)
Joseph Andre L’Huillier is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 50w, Line 7.
Source: Bio Info/Photos – HonorStates.org; WallofFaces.org; (1) Coffeltdatabase (2) AU/ACSC/08-8361/AY06, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Forgotten Heroes – U.S. ANG Fighter Squadrons of Vietnam by Joseph B. Speed, Major, USAF, A Research Report Submitted to the Faculty In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements, Instructor: Dr. Michael E. Weaver, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, April 2006, https://www.afresearch.org.
