100 Missions Up North

DAYTON, Ohio - In this case from the 100 Missions Up North exhibit in the museum's Southeast Asia War Gallery are Capt. Ben Bowthorpe’s flight suit and g-suit worn during his 100-mission tour. Later pilots flying over the North wore “sanitized” flight suits with no rank or unit insignia. Bowthorpe wore this cap from the briefing room to the airplane, stored it in his g-suit pocket before takeoff, and put it back on after landing. Also shown is Bowthorpe’s flight jacket. On the right is Capt. Bruce Holmes' tiger suit, Capt. Richard Ely's helmet and oxygen mask wore during his 100-mission tour (Ely used this air navigation computer during his 100 missions) and Ely’s F-105 100 mission patch. Ely and the other three were the first to wear this symbolic patch. Display also includes patch for the 355th Fighter Wing at Takhli RTAFB, Capt. Ely’s Red River Valley Fighter Pilots stein, and an enemy bullet and fragment dug out of the cockpit of his F-105 after one of his missions. Additionally, a g-suit and kneeboard used by Capt. William May on his 100-mission tour, May’s party suit with 100-mission patch and a g-suit worn by Capt. William Ramage on his 100-mission tour. (U.S. Air Force photo)