Nasmyth, Spike

Spike Nasmyth started off life in Billings, Montana on 14 November 1940. He first flew at the controls of an airplane in 1961. He earned his private pilot's license in 1962. After graduation from the University of Idaho he went on to U.S. Air Force pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. Spike graduated high enough in his class to get one of the three fighter assignments. He was assigned to the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

On 4 September 1966, Spike was flying as aircraft commander in an F-4 Phantom fighter-bomber on an A...