First In, Last Out: Wild Weasels vs. SAMs

DAYTON, Ohio - Items on display in the First In, Last Out: Wild Weasels vs. SAMs exhibit: 1) Thorsness and Johnson were shot down eleven days after their decorated mission, spending the rest of the war as POWs in North Vietnam. This POW bracelet for Johnson was worn by another Wild Weasel, Bob Dorrough. 2) Maj. Leo Thorsness' "boonie hat." On it are marks showing his combat missions, his two MiG victories and several missile radars and sites that he destroyed. 3) Capt. Dethlefsen wore these gloves and dogtags and carried the Bible and fingernail clippers on this mission. 4) One of Maj. Bell's K-2B flying suits. While this one has unit patches and his name badge, aircrews flew "sanitized" flying suits on missions over North Vietnam. Note "SAM Slayer" patch. 5) "SAM Slayer" patch donated by Col. Mike Gilroy, USAF (ret.). These patches were given to aircrews who destroyed a SAM site (a hit from a Shrike alone would not qualify). The patch depicts an "Iron Hand" crushing an SA-2. The patch was designed by Mike Gilroy and George Metcalf at Takhli RTAFB in July 1966. (U.S. Air Force photo)