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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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Derrick, Thales A.

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  • Derrick, Thales A.

Thales A Derrick

Preferred Name: Tad
Nickname/Call Sign: Meteor
Date of Birth: January 19, 1935
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Thales A. Derrick - before
Thales A. Derrick - now
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

“The friendships made in the USAF were among the very best of my life.  I have often told those, who asked about my 20-year military career, that I would gladly do it all again!  Thanks to the SSS for helping keep all of us in touch.  The SSS leadership is doing a great job!”

Units Assigned

  • 1954-1957 Enlisted service and Undergraduate Pilot Training, Advanced Training (T-34, T-28, T-33, F-86F)
  • 1958 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV (F-100 A/F)
  • 1958-1959 506th Tactical Fighter Wing, Tinker AFB, OK  (F-100 D/F)
  • 1959-1961, 4510th Combat Crew Training Group, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100 C/F)
  • 1961-1964 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, Lakenheath AB, England (F-100 D/F)
  • 1964-1968 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, NM, (with TDYs to Vietnam/Japan/Korea) (F-100 D/F)
  • 1968-1969 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea (F-100 C/F)
  • 1969-1971 HQ PACAF, Hickam AFB, HI (T-33A)
  • 1971-1972 ACSC, Maxwell AFB, AL (no flying except for U-3A “Blue Canoe”)
  • 1972-1974 USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis AFB, NV (A-7D)

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Award with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
AF Good Conduct Medal
AF Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Expeditionary Forces Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (USA)
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM)
Korea Defense Service Medal

Flight Info

T-34
T-28
F-86F
F-100 A/C/D/F
T-33 A
U-3A
A-7D

Flight Hours:
Combat Flying Time – 173.3 hours
Total Flying Time – 3,839.4 hours
Airplane SE Land Prop – 506.4 hours
Airplane ME Land Prop – 56 hours
Airplane SE  Land Jet – 3,104.3 hours
Airplane ME Land Jet – 153.4 hours
As Flight Instructor – 1,196.3 hours
As Pilot in Command – 3,258.4 hours

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1963 Squadron Officer School – Correspondence
  • 1971-1972 Air Command and Staff College – Residence

Civilian Education:

  • BS/Business Management, University of Omaha
  • MS/Systems Management, University of Southern California (USC)

Derrick, Tad 2
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
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Wall of Honor Location

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The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

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