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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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Vasiliadis, Charles C.

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  • Vasiliadis, Charles C.

Charles Constantine Vasiliadis

Preferred Name: Charles
Nickname/Call Sign: Vas
Date of Birth: June 26, 1928
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Huntington, NY
Headed West Date: September 8, 2022
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
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Air Force Colonel Charles “Vas” Vasiliadis, who was buried in Section 7 on January 9, 2023, left behind a strong legacy of military service that not only affected the nation, but personally affected at least two people attending his funeral: his son Douglas and granddaughter Sophia.

Colonel Vasiliadis served three tours in the skies over Vietnam. He flew A-1E Skyraiders during his first tour, and then F-105 Thunderchiefs on his second two tours. He strafed and bombed enemy positions in support of American and South Vietnamese forces in South Vietnam and bombed heavily defended positions in North Vietnam.

On May 3, 1967, during his second tour, enemy fire hit his F-105 during a bombing run. He ejected from his damaged aircraft, injuring his leg in the process, and was rescued within 36 minutes. By the time he left the war zone, he had flown 560 combat missions and earned numerous awards, including two Silver Stars, two Legion of Merit medals, five Distinguished Flying Crosses and a Purple Heart.

Upon his burial, Vasiliadis joined his wife Joan, who passed away on June 22, 2022. At the funeral service—after the prayers, the firing of volleys and the sounding of Taps—Vasiliadis’s son Douglas reflected on growing up with a father at war. “I took the phone call when my father was shot down,” said Mr. Vasiliadis, who was only six years old at the time. “I could tell it was something important because my mother turned white.” Yet the young Vasiliadis knew no other way growing up. “I supposed as a child it was normal.”

Colonel Vasiliadis’ legacy also affected his granddaughter Sophia Vasiliadis, who is now a captain in the U.S. Air Force. “I never thought I would join the military,” she said, but her grandfather encouraged her to look at the service academies. To encourage her grandfather during an illness, Captain Vasiliadis applied to the Air Force Academy “with no intention of ever going.” But after visiting the academy, she was hooked. “I flip-flopped from it not being a real choice to my first choice, and he lived for another twelve years to see me through it,” she said.

Captain Vasiliadis admits that, when growing up, she did not fully understand her grandfather’s service. “I just knew my grandpa was a fighter pilot,” she said. That has changed due to her own service.  “Now that I’ve been in the Air Force, I have so much more of an appreciation of everything that he did.” Today, Captain Vasiliadis flies HC-130 Hercules transport aircraft out of Moody Air Force Base in Georgia.

With his legacy secured, Colonel Vasiliadis wanted to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. “My father cherished this place,” explained Douglas Vasiliadis. “My mother is here already. There is nowhere he would have rather been.” (1)

Source: (1)https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Blog/Post/12888/Vietnam-War-USAF-Fighter-Pilot-Buried-at-ANC

Units Assigned

  • 1956-1958 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron/354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach, SC (F-100)
  • Vietnam – 3 tours (F-100, A-1E, F-105- 560 combat missions)

Awards & Decorations

Silver Star
Silver Star (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (5)
Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit (2)
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Air Medal (30)

Flight Info

T-33
F-100 C/D
A-1
F-105
F-4

Military & Civilian Education

Civilian Education:

  • High Point High School
  • Harvard University

Charles C. Vasiliadis, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on September 8, 2022.

Col. Charles Constantine Vasiliadis (USAF – Retired) passed away peacefully on September 8, 2022 at the age of 94 at home with his three sons, Douglas, Mark, and Roger, of Great Falls, Virginia.

Charles was a devoted husband to his late wife Joan Stern Vasiliadis; father; and grandfather (Papou) to his eleven grandchildren, Lincoln, Alexa, Joanie, Sophia, Austin, Charlee, Andre, Dante, Nico, Tre, and Matteo.

He is also survived by his brothers, Nick and Gus. He had a sister Marjorie Vasiliadis Zarros, wife of Woodie Zarros, both of whom have passed; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and life-long family friends all whom he loved deeply.

Charlie was born in Huntington, New York to Greek immigrants, Constantine Nicholas Vasiliadis and Sophia Kyriages Vasiliadis. Charlie did not speak English when he enrolled in public elementary school, yet 19 years later, he graduated from Harvard University.

“Vas” — to his military buddies — served in the United States Air Force for 30 years and was a highly decorated fighter pilot. He flew 578 combat missions in Vietnam, earning two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and numerous other medals and commendations.

After his military service, “Col. Vas” taught Air Force Junior ROTC for 20 years at High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland. He loved his students and had life-altering and life-lasting influence on many of them who continued to stay in touch with him for decades after their graduation.

Charles Constantine Vasiliadis was a family man, a patriot, a decorated fighter pilot, a dedicated teacher, and a hero. He will undoubtedly rest in honor and peace at Arlington National Cemetery with his beloved wife Joanie.

Vasiliadis, Charles With F100
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