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

McLeish, Charles E. – KIA

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • McLeish, Charles E. – KIA

Charles Edward McLeish - KIA

Preferred Name: Chuck
Date of Birth: November 27, 1944
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Monana, WI
Headed West Date: August 21, 1970
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

1LT Charles E. McLeish was a U.S. Air Force pilot serving with the 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Phan Rang Airbase, RVN. Missions of the 35th TFW included air support of ground forces, interdiction, visual and armed reconnaissance, strike assessment photography, escort, close and direct air support, and rapid reaction alert.

On August 21, 1970, 1LT McLeish was on a training mission in a USAF North American F-100D Super Sabre (#56-3435) jet fighter aircraft in a flight of two F-100’s. During the mission, his plane was observed roll and crash one mile south of Dak To in Kontum Province, RVN. No ejection occurred and McLeish was killed. He was posthumously promoted to Captain. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, wikipedia.org, and “Headquarters MACV – Monthly Summary for August 1970” at ttu.edu]

Charles Edward McLeish is buried at Roselawn Memorial Park, Monona, Dane County, Wisconsin, and is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. His name is inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 08w, Line 128.

 

Sources: Bio info- HonorStates.org; TheWallofFaces.org; Findagrave.com

Units Assigned

  • 10/1/1969-8/21/1970 – 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, based at Phan Rang Airbase, RVN (F-100 – 289 missions)

Awards & Decorations

Air Medal
Air Medal
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Cross Of Gallantry
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
AF Good Conduct Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
US Air Force Pilot Badge
United States Aviator Badge Air Force

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • Frank Allis Grade School
  • Monona Grove High School
  • University of Wisconsin

Charles Mcleish1
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