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
“I flew the [F-100] “A” at Nellis in 1957. It was the hottest airplane I ever flew. Once on takeoff on a solo flight, I was slow to disengage the afterburner and broke the mach between Nellis and Henderson. I expected real trouble, but nothing was ever said about it. Once returning from the range in a four-ship flight the instructor had us cruise through Mach 1. The little “A” was rock solid. My first love was the ’86, but the “A” ran a close second.”
In 1962 Peter attended the University of Virginia law school while continuing to serve in the VAANG. In 1965, he moved to Sitka, Alaska, and in 1967 was appointed to the bench as Alaska District Judge in Sitka.
1969 found Peter in the Alaska Attorney General’s office where he served as Assistant District Attorney in Juneau and Anchorage, and as Assistant United States Attorney in Anchorage.
He was made a partner in the law firm of Gregg, Fraties, Petersen, Page and Baxter until his retirement in 1998.
