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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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Russell, Robert

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  • Russell, Robert

Robert Russell

Preferred Name: Bob
Nickname/Call Sign: Shandy
Date of Birth: May 24, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Santa Cruz , CA
Robert "Bob" Russell - before
Biography
Pilot Information

“Retired in July of 1977. Started work as a “Beltway Bandit” consultant for Naval Air Systems Command in early 1978. I provided support and advice on Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for F-14s and numerous air launched missiles. Participated in site surveys and program reviews in 16 countries around the globe.

The F-100 was my primary aircraft, and first love, 1400 hours, and I was an F-100 Viet- Nam volunteer in 65 & 66 but MPC kept telling me they had more than enough F-100 drivers coming out of Luke as they transitioned SAC pilots to single engine fighter pilots.

I had to go to plan B. In 1966 I won the only A-1 slot that came to Nellis. My 9 months flying the A-1E out of Udorn Thailand was the most satisfying of all flying I had ever done.

As “Sandy’s” we led the rescue efforts for our pilots who had been shot down. I was a member or flight leader of many successful Pick Ups.

I too was shot down over N. Viet- Nam and picked up by a Jolly Green. I spent an unplanned overnight in Laos after I used up my “Bingo” fuel in an aborted pickup attempt. The dirt strip night landing is a whole new story. Being the number 2 live body extraction from an A-1E with the Stanley Yankee system was also a life changing event.”

Units Assigned

  • 1955-1956 UPT Mariana FL, Laredo TX, ADV FTR Phoenix, AZ
  • 1956-1958 509th Fighter-Bomber Squadron/405th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Langley AFB VA/Landstuhl AB Germany (F-100D)
  • 1958-1960 4533rd Combat Crew Training Squadron, Williams AB, AZ (T-33, F-100F)
  • 1960-1961 4511th &4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100C/F)
  • 1961-1962 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Woodbridge AB, England (F-100D)
  • 1962-1965 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, Wethersfield AB England (F-100D)
  • 1965-1966 4520th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV (F-100D)
  • 1966-1967 602nd Fighter Squadron,  Udorn, Thailand (A-1E)
  • 1967-1970 19thAF Seymour Johnson AFB, NC (T-33)
  • 1970-1973 311th & 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100D/F, F-4C)
  • 1974-1974 Det 30AC, USMTM Taif AB, Saudi Arabia (Last Form 5 Entry) (F-5E )
  • 1975-1977 Div Ch XPPD, HQ TAC, Langley AFB, VA “US Govt. Desk, subsonic”

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

T-33
F-100 C/D/F
A-1E
F-4C
F-5E

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • Primary Flight (T-6) Mariana AB, FL
  • Basic Flight (T-33) Laredo AFB, TX
  • Advanced Fighter (F-86F) Williams AFB, AZ
  • Winter, Water, Jungle Survival Schools
  • ICAF

Civilian Education:

  • Santa Cruz High School
  • BS USMA
  • 1955 West Point NY
  • 1965 MBA/Business Management & Marketing, George Washington University

Wall of Honor Location

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