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 »
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

Niski, Leonard E. – KIA

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Niski, Leonard E. – KIA

Leonard Edward Niski - KIA

Preferred Name: Leonard
Date of Birth: May 17, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-4 – Major
Hometown: Amsterdam, NY
Headed West Date: May 10, 1967
Biography
Pilot Information

On May 10, 1967 – Major Leonard Niski was flying F-100 #55-3618 out of Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam. His aircraft was shot down near Phu Bon Province SVN.

At the time of his death he was married with daughters.

He is buried in Amsterdam, NY and honored on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Units Assigned

  • Flight instructor, Kelly Air Force Base, TX
  • 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force (F-100)

Awards & Decorations

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 Cross of Gallantry
AF Good Conduct Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

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