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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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Rice, Warren H.

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  • Rice, Warren H.

Warren Harry Rice

Preferred Name: Warren
Date of Birth: August 24, 1924
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Fallon, NV
Headed West Date: April 8, 2011
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

“Warren was born in Fallon, NV in 1924. He grew up in Calif. and graduated from Sebastopol High School in 1943 at the height of WWII. He joined the USAAF as an Aviation Cadet, won his wings and was sent to the Southwest Pacific in the 13th A/F as a P-47 Fighter Pilot. Due to the long range requirements, they were soon equipped with the Lockheed P-38. Warren cut his combat teeth flying long range interdiction missions in the Lightning.

After VJ and VE Day, he was posted to the occupation forces in Germany flying the P-47. After returning to the U.S. he was posted to Northern Japan flying F-86 Sabres in support of the Korean Armistice. Being a Fighter Pilot when there are wars on takes its toll on family life. Warren got to spend some time with his family with a stint in the Philippines. He then became an instructor Pilot in the F-86 and was posted to Nellis AFB during a pivotal period in fighter tactics development.

When Vietnam broke out he flew two combat tours accumulating 228 combat missions in the F-100 as the C.O. of the 612th TFS at Phu Cat. He finished his distinguished 28 year USAF career as an Instructor Pilot in the F-100 at Luke AFB.(1) “[Rice] was known for a unique – and dangerous – technique for taking out anti-aircraft guns during his time in Vietnam: Rice would dive directly at the guns firing at him. It worked, and the enlisted men in his squadron presented him with a large wooden plaque proclaiming him “the greatest gun-killer in Vietnam.”(2)

“Several of his awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (2 awards), eleven Air Medals, Asia Pacific Campaign Medal with four battle stars, China Campaign Medal with four battle stars, Philippine Liberation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four battle stars and Air Force Commendation Medal (two awards).

During his long USAF career he flew many aircraft including the BT-13, PT-22, T-6, P-47, P-38, P-51, P-82, T-33, P/F-80, F-86, F-100, and F-105. He said that his favorites were the P-38 and the F-100 because they were the most effective fighters of the period for the ground interdiction mission.

In Dec. 2011 he attended a dedication of an F-100 that he had flown previously at Luke. This was S/N 54-281. It had been restored and installed on a pylon in Bonsall Park in Glendale, AZ. Warren continued his fascination with aviation by flying formation flights regularly in his Harmon Rocket with a Prescott, AZ group of similarly inclined friends.

He passed away 8 Apr 2013 in his Chino Valley, AZ home.”(1)

Source (1): https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/warren-h-rice;

(2) https://www.flightjournal.com/california-pilot-had-long-eventful-military-career/

Units Assigned

  • USAAF, Aviation Cadet,  Williams Army Airfield, Mesa, AZ
  • Pilot Training
  • 13th Air Force, Southeast Pacific (P-47, P-38)
  • After VJ/VE Day, posted to the occupation forces in Germany (P-47)
  • Northern Japan in support of the Korean Armistice (F-86)
  • Philippines
  • IP, Nellis AFB, NV
  • 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron, CO, Phy Cat AB, Vietnam – 2 combat tours/ 228 combat missions (F-100)
  • Instructor Pilot, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100)
  • Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Air Medal
Air Medal (11)
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
Asia Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Battle Stars
China Campaign Medal Ribbon
China Campaign Medal with 4 Battle Stars
Philippine Liberation Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Battle Stars
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal (2)

Flight Info

BT-13
PT-22
T-6
P-47
P-38
P-51
P-82
T-33
P/F-80
F-86
F-100
F-105

Wall of Honor Location: Foil: 10 Panel: F100 Super Sabre Society Column: 1 Line: 54

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • 1943 Sebastopol High School, NV

Warren H. Rice, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on April 8, 2011.

“AN AMERICAN HERO LOST”
“Colonel (USAF, retired) Warren H. Rice, 88, a highly-decorated fighter pilot and member of the fast-disappearing “greatest generation” died April 8th in the Chino Valley, Arizona home he designed and built.

He had flown almost every prop-driven fighter used by the Air Corps/Air Force in World War II, beginning with the P-38, which he piloted as a young lieutenant on combat sorties in the South Pacific. During his long military career, he also served in other European and Asian locations. As a squadron commander in Vietnam, he flew 228 missions in an F-100 jet fighter, twice earning the Distinguished Flying Cross (awarded for extraordinary heroism or achievement in aerial flight). He was recommended, as well, for the Silver Star.

Among his many other medals, he took special pride in one that truly was unique: Because of his practice of diving directly at enemy gunners firing at him from the ground, the enlisted men in his squadron presented him with a large wooden plaque they had created. It described him as “The greatest gun-killer in Vietnam,” and it remained in a place of honor on the living room wall of his Arizona home until his passing.

He received, however, unexpected recognition of still another kind from a highly unusual source. It ranks among his highest commendations, even though it arrived without ceremony and could not be represented by a ribbon on his chest. Left on his bunk in Vietnam by a civilian house “boy,” it consisted of a laboriously handwritten note rendered in broken English and one French word, “Amerique.” Although somewhat difficult to understand, it is nevertheless eloquent in fervor and meaning.

It is quoted verbatim next: “3 Dec 68. Dear respect fully off send for maj…room 50. I to send word thank you much, because the Sir are with one’s whole heart charity try help me…two peoples V.N. – Amerique. And me to pray god sky for you very often in good health and the whole life days live in Viet-Nam. Go country see family happiness. Signature [unreadable].”

A deeply spiritual man, Colonel Rice became convinced, because of certain phenomena occurring in combat, that he had been guided and protected by a guardian angel. One possible “celestial intervention” of this nature, for instance, saved him from bombing a friendly native village to which he had been misdirected. The correct target was an enemy settlement with similar characteristics.

Arizona was very important in his life: He received his pilot’s wings and commission years ago at Williams Field; and, after retirement, he resided for 36 years in Chino Valley, remaining there to the end of his days.

Before incapacitating illness intervened, he reveled in formation flying with friends from Prescott airport, even practicing old-style combat air maneuvers, etc. and simply communing with what he called his “second family” among the many pilots there.”

Source: https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LDC4-6MK/warren-harry-rice-1924-2011

Wall of Honor Location

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