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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

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Murphy, John B.

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  • Murphy, John B.

John B. Murphy

Preferred Name: John
Nickname/Call Sign: Murphy
Date of Birth: April 27, 1932
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Rocky Mountain, NC
Headed West Date: August 11, 2016
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

John Barry Murphy served 30 ½ years in the US Air Force/Air National Guard. During these years, he flew top of the line fighter aircraft, including the F-86, F-100, and F-105s, with over 6,000 hours, mostly in single-seat aircraft (jets).

He was happiest when he was airborne.

Units Assigned

  • 430th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM
    8th, 9th, 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron/49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany/Etain AB, France

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

F-86
F-100
F-105

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • BS/Mechanical Engineering, North Carolina State University

John Barry Murphy, Colonel USAFR (Ret.), “Headed West” on August 11, 2016.

Born on April 27, 1932, he was raised in Rocky Mount, NC and he was the last surviving child of late James Leo Murphy and Helen Keeley Murphy.

Mr. Murphy graduated from NC State University, Raleigh, NC with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served 30 ½ years in the US Air Force/Air National Guard. During these years, he flew top of the line fighter aircraft, including the F-86, F-100, and F-105s, with over 6,000 hours, mostly in single-seat aircraft (jets). He was happiest when he was airborne. Mr. Murphy was an aircraft maintenance officer/director until his retirement from the military. He was a devout Catholic and he lived a full and active life.

Mr. Murphy leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Catherine; daughter, Deborah and husband, Mike; son, John and wife, Jan; son, Michael and wife, Susan; daughter, Judy and husband, Jeff; and daughter Mary Lou and husband, Gary. He is also survived by nine grandchildren; 12 nieces and nephews and their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, August 19, 2016 at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 331 Hammond Street, Rocky Mount, with the Father Tim Meares officiating. He was laid to rest with military honors at Pineview Cemetery following the Mass.

source: https://www.wheeler-woodlief.com/

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