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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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Vanderpool, Travis

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  • Vanderpool, Travis

Travis Vanderpool

Preferred Name: Travis
Nickname/Call Sign: Lt. Possum
Date of Birth: December 5, 1941
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Travis-Vanderpool-before
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I was a distinguished graduate from Air Force ROTC at Texas Christian University in 1964 and received a Regular Commission in the USAF. In 1965 I reported for active duty at Laughlin AFB near Del Rio, Texas as part of UPT Class 66-G.

Upon graduation from pilot training in May 1966, I was assigned to train in the F-100 at Luke AFB, AZ. What a great assignment!  So much fun. Our entire Luke AFB class of 10 was assigned to the 3rd TFW at Bien Hoa AB in Vietnam. My assignment was to the 90th TFS “Pair-O-Dice”.  Upon reporting as a first lieutenant to the Squadron, Ops Officer Dale Rook said, “We have a Lieutenant!”  I was the only Lieutenant in the squadron for all of 1967 and I was and am still known as The Lieutenant.

There was such a wealth of fighter experience in the squadron. I have told people over the years that it was like being called up as a rookie baseball player to a NY Yankee team that included Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. What an honor to be a part of this group. Being a part of a fighter squadron in combat was everything I had dreamed of. The camaraderie was incredible.

It was a privilege to fly as a First Lieutenant with the great fighter pilots that were part of the 90th TFS in 1967-1968. It was special to lead air strikes, but just flying on the wing with those guys was awesome.

I had the opportunity to upgrade to a flight leader and after Vietnam became a T-38 Instructor Pilot at Reese AFB near Lubbock, TX. The transition from flying combat in the F-100 to the role of an instructor in the Air Training Command was difficult for me and I didn’t adjust well.  I burned out rather quickly.  In December of 1968 I got married and while I had planned for a career in the USAF, I soon decided that I would be better off taking another direction.

I got out of the Air Force in July of 1971 and began law school at Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, TX in August 1971.

I completed law school in 2 1/2 years and began practicing in January of 1974 with a law firm in downtown Dallas.  My primary practice was in trials.  Our firm represented the largest electric utility serving most of North Texas and I eventually became the lead defense attorney for that client.  I also served the company as an adviser concerning contracts and risk management, worked with distribution systems, nuclear power plant matters and lignite mining concerns.

Toward the end of my practice, I began to serve as an independent mediator in litigation matters. My legal career was topped-off with my election as Chair of The Board of the State Bar of Texas serving in 2007-2008. In accordance with the law firm’s policy of mandatory retirement at age 65, I retired in March of 2007.

My wife and I have two adult children and two wonderful grandsons. When I retired we moved to Sun City near Austin, TX so that we could be close to our kids and our grandsons in Austin.  We have three golf courses in Sun City and that is an activity I love.

Units Assigned

  • UPT Class 66-G Laughlin AFB, TX
  • 1966 Combat Crew Training Squadron, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100)
  • 1967-1968 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien HOA, RVN
  • 1968-1971 T-38 Flight and Academic  Instructor, Reese AFB, TX (T-38)

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (4)
Air Medal
Air Medal (27)
Vietnam Cross Of Gallantry
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star
RVN Gallantry Cross With Palm
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm

Flight Info

T-37
T-38
F-100- 267 combat missions

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • UPT
  • Combat Crew Training

Civilian Education:

  • 1964 BS, Texas Christian University
  • 1974 JD, SMU Law School

Travis-Vanderpool-before
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