Skip to content

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

Read More »
Join The SSS
Update My Bio
Main Menu
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact

Sorrel III, Marcial

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Sorrel III, Marcial

Marcial Sorrel III

Preferred Name: Mike
Date of Birth: October 28, 1929
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Wharton, TX
Headed West Date: March 1, 2021
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Album

“I was flying in the Philippines as an instructor with Lt. Dick Campbell, when we experienced engine failure along with both fire warning lights illuminated. Flight controls were locked up.

We had no choice to make except to bail out, which we accomplished successfully. A base helicopter picked us both up and delivered us to the base hospital, where we were greeted by the Wing Commander along with the Hospital Commander.

After listening to the reason for our bailout, the Wing Commander decided the incident was caused by material failure and not pilot error. Mission Whiskey seemed to be the answer and much to our surprise, we rather enjoyed the entire episode.”

Units Assigned

  • 51st FIW, Korea (K-13, F-86)
  • England AFB/Aviano AB (F-86, F-84F, F-100)
  • F-100 Gunnery Instructor, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100)
  • Nuclear Alert at Tainan Formosa & Taklai Thailand in Support of American Advisors in Vietnam, Clarke AFB -Philippines
  • Cuban Alert Crisis, Homestead AFB, FL
  • Command & Staff School, Maxwell AFB, AL
  • Long Bien & Tuy Hoa, Close Air Support, Vietnam (F-100 – 197 missions)
  • F-100 Munitions Development, Nellis AFB, NV
  • AF Advisor to 2nd Armed Division, Fort Hood, TX
  • Mountain Home AFB, ID  (F-111, TFR)
  • 7/1/1973 Retire USAF (23 years)

Awards & Decorations

Air Medal
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star
Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA)
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars
Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Flight Info

F84
F-86
F-100
F-111

Military & Civilian Education

  • AF Basic, Lackland AFB, TX
  • James Connley – Waco awaiting Aviation Cadet
  • Contract AT-6 Basic Flying, Manana AB, HI
  • Advanced F-100 T-33 training, Williams AFB, AZ
  • F-86 advanced Gunnery, Nellis AFB, NV
  • Command and Staff School, Montgomery, AL

Marcial “Mike” Sorrel III (LtCol USAF, Ret) “Headed West” on March 1, 2021

Marcial passed into the arms of the lord on Monday, March 1, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family, he was 91.

“Mike” Sorrel was a veteran and served his country in the U.S. Air Force for 23 years flying fighter jets.  Marcial earned many medals and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel.  Some of his many accomplishments include the Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal.  He participated in countless military missions including the Cuban alert crisis and several tours in Vietnam.  He was stationed all over the world including the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam as well as all over the United States.  He graduated from Texas A&M University where he served in the core (ROTC).

After his storied career, he retired from the Air Force in 1973 when he returned to his hometown of Wharton with his “Precious Patricia” and his two children.  He reinvented himself and took over the family farm and cattle business.  Marcial even built his own plane and was still flying it until he turned 82!  He was extremely motivated and active until the end.  You could often see him working the land and cattle, spending time with his wife Maggie, enjoying his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  He was very active in the Episcopal church where he served as Senior Warden and formed the famed Blue Aprons.

Mr. Sorrel is survived by his wife Maggie Sorrel, two children: Martha Sorrel and Marcial David Sorrel.  He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Tommy Sorrel (Monica), Chris Sorrel (Meagan), Andrew Sorrel, and Katie Sieggreen.  His great-grandchildren: Kaylie, Drake, Luke, Charlie, and Lance. Marcial was preceded in death by his first wife of 58 years, Patricia Scott Sorrel.

Relatives and friends attended his memorial service on Wednesday, March 3rd, at the Wharton Funeral Home.  There will be no visitation hours.

Source: https://www.whartonfuneralhome.com/obituary/marcial-sorrel-iii

Sorrel Marcial F 100
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
Click To View

Wall of Honor Location

Our Mission

The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2025 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top