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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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Smith, Leslie E.

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  • Smith, Leslie E.

Leslie Earl Smith

Preferred Name: Les
Date of Birth: October 12, 1940
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Monroe, LA
Headed West Date: February 2, 2016
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

“Leslie was an Eagle Scout, Graduate of Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in Ruston Louisiana, and an Avid Ham Radio Operator, W5GFS.

Les was a US Air Force Pilot, Served in Vietnam, was the recipient of many awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Les retired as a commercial pilot flying a 747 for American International Airways and had total of 17000 hours flight time over the course of his career. “(1)

Source: (1) Charleston Post & Courier

Units Assigned

  • 1967-1968 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron/35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Phan Ran AB, Vietnam (F-100)

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star
Bronze Service Medal
Air Medal
Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters

Flight Info

F-100

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • Louisiana Polytechnic Institute

Leslie E. Smith, LtCol USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on February 2, 2016.

Lt. Col. Leslie Earl Smith, USAF (Ret.) HOLLYWOOD, SC – Lt. Colonel Leslie Earl Smith (Ret.) of Hollywood, South Carolina, husband of Billie Sutton Smith. Memorial Service [was] held at Charleston Air Force Base Chapel on February 15, 2016.

Leslie Earl Smith was born October 12, 1940 in Monroe Louisiana, Son of Leslie William Smith and Edna Earl Jones Smith. Member Dorchester Waylin Baptist Church and Christ Saint Pauls Episcopal Church. Leslie was an Eagle Scout, Graduate of Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in Ruston Louisiana, and an Avid Ham Radio Operator, W5GFS.

Les was a US Air Force Pilot, Served in Vietnam, was the recipient of many awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross. Les retired as a commercial pilot flying a 747 for American International Airways and had total of 17000 hours flight time over the course of his career.

Les is survived by Billie Sutton Smith his wife of 54 years, and sons Tracy Lynn Smith, Slade Earl Smith. Interment of the remains [was held] at Arlington National Cemetery. Mourners are encouraged to contribute to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/charleston

Published by Charleston Post & Courier from Feb. 12 to Feb. 13, 2016.

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