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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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Schaller, Donald R.

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  • Schaller, Donald R.

Donald R. Schaller

Preferred Name: Fritz
Date of Birth: October 2, 1930
Highest Military Grade: 0-4 – Major
Hometown: Beverly, MA
Headed West Date: June 11, 2011
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

Fritz “joined the USAF in July 1952 and became a fighter pilot. Among other commendations received during his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He served tours of duty in the U.S., Japan, Vietnam, and a NATO tour in Germany. He proudly served for 23 years.

After retirement from the Air Force he moved to Stratham, NH where he became Vice President of a research and development firm. In 1988 he moved to Marco Island, FL and joined the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol serving as Squadron Commander. After moving to Williamsburg he joined the Newport News Squadron, served as Operations Officer and evaluator. He also was a member and volunteer of the Christopher Wren Association and a member of the Virginia Aeronautical Historic Society.” (1)

Source: (1) The Marblehead Reporter from Jun. 18 to Jun. 25, 2011

 

Units Assigned

 

 

 

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Bronze Star
Air Medal
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • 1948 Marblehead High School
  • BS/Chemistry, University of Southern Massachusetts in New Bedford

Donald R. “Fritz” Schaller, Maj USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on June 11, 2011.

Donald “Fritz” Schaller, 80, a resident of Williamsburg, Va. since 1996, passed away on June 11, 2011 after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He was born in Beverly, in 1930 to the late Irvin R. Schaller and Harriett Wade. He grew up in Marblehead, and graduated from Marblehead High School in 1948 and the University of Southern Massachusetts in New Bedford, where he earned a degree in chemistry.

He joined the USAF in July 1952 and became a fighter pilot. Among other commendations received during his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He served tours of duty in the U.S., Japan, Vietnam, and a NATO tour in Germany. He proudly served for 23 years.

After retirement from the Air Force he moved to Stratham, NH where he became Vice President of a research and development firm. In 1988 he moved to Marco Island, FL and joined the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol serving as Squadron Commander. After moving to Williamsburg he joined the Newport News Squadron, served as Operations Officer and evaluator. He also was a member and volunteer of the Christopher Wren Association and a member of the Virginia Aeronautical Historic Society.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Catharina “Ineke” Schaller; his sister-in-law, Marlene Siemers, his brother-in-law, Herman (Irene) Siemers, his nephew, Bastiaan (Clementine) and their children, Tim and Jasmijn, his niece, Maaike, all in the Netherlands, and his cousin, Debrah Leahy of Beverly, and many friends.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 2 p.m., at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg. Mr. Schaller [was] interred at Arlington National Cemetery on October 12, 2011.

Published by The Marblehead Reporter from Jun. 18 to Jun. 25, 2011.

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