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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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Thompson, Howard C.

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  • Thompson, Howard C.

Howard C. Thompson

Preferred Name: Whitey
Nickname/Call Sign: Misty 62
Highest Military Grade: Select
Biography
Pilot Information

“The NF-104A, a modification of the basic Lockheed F-104A Starfighter with rocket engine and reaction controls(1), was picked as the aircraft to train pilots on realistic spaceflight training experiences.

Three F-104A aircraft chosen for the program, USAF serial numbers 56-0756, 56-0760 & 56-0762 which were all former test aircraft at Edwards AFB. They were delivered to Lockheed in August & September 1962 for modification work…

NF-104A #56-0756 became permanently grounded after a flight on June 15, 1971. Captain Howard ‘Whitey’ Thompson, beginning his rocket-assisted transonic run when he heard a loud explosion and immediately shut the engine down. He felt a second explosion and his chase pilot reported that the rocket and part of the rudder had disappeared. Captain Thompson made an emergency landing at Edwards AFB but the aircraft never flew again.”(1)

From the Misty FACs website: “Whitey Thompson was a test pilot, retired and teaches in an urban high school.”

Source: (1) https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2854337/flashback-lockheed-nf-104a-aerospace-trainer/

Units Assigned

  • 1968 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron/37th Tactical Fighter Wing, Phu Cat AB, Vietnam (F-100)
  • 1968 Misty 62, Phu Cat AB, Vietnam (F-100F)

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F-100 F
NF-104A

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