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
Bob McClinton was born December 9, 1936, in Mt. Pleasant, TX. He attended Kilgore Jr. College where he played trumpet in the marching band. After graduation, Bob began studies at East Texas State College. He graduated as a Distinguished Military ROTC Graduate.
Entering the U.S. Air Force in 1960 and stationed out of Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM, Bob flew the F-100 during the Vietnam conflict. After returning from multiple tours he met his future wife, Sandi, in Los Angeles in 1967, and they married in 1968.
He returned to Cannon AFB after his time in Vietnam and flew the F-111. His TDY took his family to Ramstein AFB, Germany in 1974 for 4 years and he then returned to Cannon AFB for another 2 years. Bob hung up his wings after 20 years of service.
Relocating to Texas in 1980, Bob worked for General Dynamics/Lockheed for another 20 years. He and Sandi raised their children in Arlington, TX. Retirement brought Bob and Sandi to Pecan Plantation, Granbury, TX in 1998. If you spent time with him since then it was most likely on the golf course or at the clubhouse talking about playing golf.
