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Today in History – April 5, 1962 – 1962 Neil Armstrong takes X-15 to 54,600m

Neil Armstrong and the X-15 by Bob van der Linden, Posted on Tue, July 23, 2019, Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “Released from duty in mid-1952, Armstrong returned to Purdue where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. His love of flight and engineering drew him to the National Advisory

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Lusby, Perry M.

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Perry Minor Lusby

Preferred Name: Perry
Nickname/Call Sign: P.O.
Date of Birth: January 7, 1919
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Owenton, KY
Headed West Date: March 21, 2017
Perry Minor Lusby - before
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
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In his words…

“I was lucky to be permitted to checkout in and fly the Hun at the ripe old age of almost 41. I enjoyed every minute of it, especially since I flew the same D and had the best Crew Chief the whole four years at Cannon AFB; and to paraphrase Will Rogers,” I never met a Hun driver I didn’t like”.

Perry moved to Pleasanton, CA to become Western General Manager, Scholastic, Inc. (Educational Books & Magazines), till final retirement in 1982. He was residing in Gold River, CA until 2017, enjoying Bridge, traveling, and lots of reunions. He’ll tell you he was enjoying the good life, approaching 99 on next birthday and planning on sticking it out until the Century mark.

Units Assigned

  • 1/1941 Volunteered and entered active service in U.S. Army, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, TX
  • 1942 Accepted for Pilot Aviation Cadets. Graduated with Class 43-B in Feb 1943 at Foster Field, TX. Assigned to 366th Fighter Group, Bluethenthal Army Air Field, NC for Advanced Training. P-47
  • 1/1944 Arrived ETO, RAF Thruxton and Forward Air Strips until war’s end near Munster, Germany, P-47 & P-38J “Droop Snoot”
  • 1945 Commander Matagorda Island Bombing And Gunnery Range, TX until facility destroyed by a hurricane. T-6, P-40, P-47
  • 1946-1948 Assigned to Indoctrination Division, Training Command, Lackland AFB, TX Asst. DO and Commander of Camp Bullis Training Base. P-51, P-38, B-25, B-26 & C-47
  • 1949-1953 Puerto Rico, Senior Advisor to the PR ANG, P-47N & B-26
  • 1953-1954 3600 CCTW Luke AFB, DO, F-84 G & F
  • 1955-1958 MAAG Norway, Fighter Operations Advisor, RF-84, F-86, T-33 & VC-47
  • 1958-1962 474th TFW DO/Deputy Commander, F-100
  • 1962-1964 HQ 9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, SC Director of Operations; Chief ORI Team; F-100, flying with 31st TFW at Homestead AFB, FL and 354th TFW, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC
  • 1/31/1964 Retired USAF with 23 years and 15 days total service

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Air Medal
Soldier's Medal Ribbon
Soldiers Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Belgian Croix De Guerre
Belgian Croix de Guerre

Flight Info

P-47
P-38J “Droop Snoot”
T-6
P-40
P-51
P-38
B-25
B-26
C-47 N
F-84 G/F
RF-84
F-86
T-33
VC-47
F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 10/1046  Command & Management Course
  • 6/1947  Squadron Commander Course
  • 12/1948  Squadron Officer School
  • 6/1952  USAF Instrument School
  • 8/1952  Instructor Pilot School
  • 1/1953  Advanced Flying School
  • 1/1961  Combat Operations Course

Civilian Education:

  • Business College in Kentucky

Perry Minor Lusby, Col USAF, Ret.,  “Headed West” on March 21, 2017.

Here’s a Tribute by his son Mike…
“…My Dad passed away this morning at the age of 98 (he almost made his goal of 100). Jim [my brother] and I had flown out to see him over the weekend and the hospice nurse that called me today said he told her, “it was time to go since my boys have been here”. So she told him, “then it’s time to go”, and he did. What Jim and I saw when we visited him was not “Dad”. It’s hard to get the image out of my mind of how Dad looked and acted, but I’m glad we got to be with him at the end, and I’m glad he has now gone. He hated that we had to see him in the shape he was in and he wanted to die with dignity, and that was not happening at the end.
All of you just remember the robust guy that he was and all the stories. Up until this phase, hell, even just 4 weeks ago, he was still sharp in the mind and holding court in his cul-de-sac with his neighbors in his driveway – pouring martinis, smoking cigars, telling his stories, and just cracking everyone up. Over this last weekend, one of these fellow neighbors told us that last summer they all went to a plane museum and after seeing many, many planes, he asked dad, “so which ones have you flown?” Dad answered, “it would be faster to tell you which ones I haven’t flown!” There were only a few.
As some of you may know, dad flew operations during D-Day, and in support of General Patton. He went on to fly jets up until he retired. The neighbor said that Dad had told him at least 10,000 stories over the years and never repeated one of them. The dude lived a full life! Dad ALWAYS knew someone no matter where he was traveling around the world – it was uncanny! Anyway, thank you all for being in his life!
Here’s to my mentor, great dad, and war hero.”

Lusby, Perry WWII P 47
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