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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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Weiger, William F.

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  • Weiger, William F.

William F. Weiger

Preferred Name: Bill
Nickname/Call Sign: Whiskey
Date of Birth: June 25, 1929
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Manhattan, New York City, NY
Headed West Date: February 25, 2019
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West

“After growing up on the streets of Manhattan and enrolling in night school to study accounting, William “Bill” Weiger left home to fight in the Korean War, launching a legendary career as an Air Force fighter pilot. He went on to fly F-86s in Japan and Las Vegas before transitioning to the F-100, where he trained new pilots. He was one of the first pilots to bail out of a jet at supersonic speed and overcame serious injury to resume his flying career.

Bill’s heroic flying missions in Vietnam earned him the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (2), Bronze Star, and 13 Air Medals, along with the respect of his comrades across the country. He reached his highest professional goal as the commander of an F-4 squadron in Okinawa, known as “Whiskey’s Raiders” from his long-standing call sign “Whiskey.” Three songs were recorded about Whiskey Bill’s heroics and antics.

When his flying days ended at the rank of Colonel, his sense of adventure continued. He partnered with an AF buddy to become a commercial fisherman in the Gulf, fighting mother nature on weeks-long adventures at sea. When retirement kicked in, he embraced new challenges, teaching himself computer programming and learning to golf, and pursued his passions for traveling, cooking, devouring history books, and mentoring his granddaughter.”(1)

Bill Weiger was the first paying member of the SSS.

Source (1) Florida Today, Mar 17, 2019

Units Assigned

  • 1954 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing, Itazuke, Japan (F-86)
  • Nellis AFB, NV (F-86, F-100)
  • 1971 44th Fighter Squadron, Commander, Okinawa, Japan (F-4)

Awards & Decorations

Silver Star
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Bronze Star
Bronze Star
Air Medal
Air Medal (13)

Flight Info

F-86
F-100
F-4

Military & Civilian Education

Col. William “Whiskey” Weiger “Headed West” April 25, 2019

On Feb. 25, Whiskey Bill departed this world peacefully, surrounded by his wife of 62 years, three children, and one of his grandchildren. His amazing reputation as a patriot and patriarch lives on in the hearts of all those left behind.

“After growing up on the streets of Manhattan and enrolling in night school to study accounting, William “Bill” Weiger left home to fight in the Korean War, launching a legendary career as an Air Force fighter pilot. He went on to fly F-86s in Japan and Las Vegas before transitioning to the F-100, where he trained new pilots. He was one of the first pilots to bail out of a jet at supersonic speed and overcame serious injury to resume his flying career.

Bill’s heroic flying missions in Vietnam earned him the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (2), Bronze Star, and 13 Air Medals, along with the respect of his comrades across the country. He reached his highest professional goal as the commander of an F-4 squadron in Okinawa, known as “Whiskey’s Raiders” from his long-standing call sign “Whiskey.” Three songs were recorded about Whiskey Bill’s heroics and antics.

When his flying days ended at the rank of Colonel, his sense of adventure continued. He partnered with an AF buddy to become a commercial fisherman in the Gulf, fighting mother nature on weeks-long adventures at sea. When retirement kicked in, he embraced new challenges, teaching himself computer programming and learning to golf, and pursued his passions for traveling, cooking, devouring history books, and mentoring his granddaughter.” (1)

Source (1): Legacy.com, Published in FLORIDA TODAY on Mar. 17, 2019

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