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
George B. Wallace was born in Minnesota in 1932, but he grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After two years at the University of Wisconsin, he joined the Aviation Cadet program. In 1955, he received his wings and a commission as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.
He served several tours of duty as a fighter pilot. During the Vietnam War, George survived a combat tour flying the F-105 fighter/bomber. For his efforts, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters. He retired from the military in 1978 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Settling in Oklahoma City, he completed college in 1978, earning his bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma City University. George later founded Sunbelt Recycling Company, a firm he operated until he sold it in 2004.
Following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, he joined the Oklahoma Bombing Investigation Committee. He was instrumental in the committee’s efforts to force a county grand jury investigation of the crime and in the research and publication of the committee’s comprehensive report. He accepted appointment to the John Birch Society Council in 2004.
