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
John Loerch was a “veteran of WWII U.S. Army Air Corps and served in the Korean Conflict as a F-80 Fighter/Bomber Pilot. He flew 100 combat missions and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. He rejoined the Oklahoma Air National Guard in 1953 and served until 1980 as Group Commander of the 138th Tactical Fighter Group.
After retirement, he owned a Stearman Bi-plane and a AT-6 Texan Trainer and frequently gave rides. If he ever gave you a ride in his plane and you said “Thanks”, he would answer “That’s OK, I’d do the same for a friend”.
Source: TulsaWorld
