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  • ROLLING THUNDER Missions over the North

    In addition to the F-105 "Thud," a variety of Air Force aircraft flew over the North during ROLLING THUNDER. F-4 Phantoms provided air cover against enemy MiG fighters and occasionally conducted bombing missions too. RF-101s and RF-4s took reconnaissance photographs of the North. B-66s conducted

  • 1st Lt. Karl Richter: Consecutive 100-mission tours

    First Lt. Karl Richter's story is one of remarkable courage and perseverance. An Air Force Academy graduate, Richter flew F-105Ds in the 421st TFS, 388th TFW, Korat RTAFB. He flew aggressively and volunteered for the most hazardous missions. In September 1966, he shot down a MiG-17. As he neared the

  • 1st Lt. David Williams: F-105 Wild Weasel EWO

    Lt. David Williams flew 100 missions as a Wild Weasel electronic warfare officer (EWO) between June and December 1967. During an October 1967 mission near Hanoi, Williams showed extraordinary courage by guiding his pilot in an attack on a SAM site while his aircraft was hit and burning. With his

  • The Patch

    This widely-respected symbol began with F-105 aircrews. Capts. Bruce Holmes and Will Koenitzer, two pilots in the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, designed the original 100-mission patch while on leave in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1965. Holmes completed his 100-mission tour

  • Lt Col Robert Krone: 1st Squadron Commander 100-Mission Tour

    Commander of the 469th TFS, 388th TFW, Lt. Col. Krone's first "counter" was on Nov. 15, 1965. On June 3, 1966, he became the first squadron commander to complete a 100-mission tour.Click here to return to Badge of Honor: 100 Missions Up North.  Find Out More

  • 100 Mission Celebrations

    The celebration that followed a 100-mission tour started with the F-105 crews at Korat in January 1966. This grew into an elaborate ritual which continued past the end of the 100-mission tour policy. The ceremonies varied between units and bases -- for most it involved a fly-by, a red carpet,

  • The First F-105 100-Mission Tours

    On Jan. 11, 1966, Capt. Donald Totten and Capt. Benjamin Bowthorpe, 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th TFW, became the first F-105 pilots to achieve 100 missions "out-country." The next day, Capt. Michael Cooper, 334th TFS, reached his 100. On Jan. 15, 1966, four F-105 pilots from the 388th TFW

  • 100 Missions North in the “Thud”

    Achieving 100 missions over North Vietnam in an F-105 "Thud" had particularly special meaning. During some periods, it was more likely than not that an F-105 Airman would be shot down at least once during his tour, and the odds of completing a 100-mission tour were not good. Though they were

  • First 100-Mission Tour

    The first pilot to reach 100 "counters" was Capt. Donald Beck, an RF-101C pilot in the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, who completed his 100th on Nov. 15, 1965. Beck's 100 included missions over both Laos and North Vietnam. RF-101C crews were some of the first to fly Air Force combat missions

  • First 100 Missions over North Vietnam

    Capt. Eldon "Joe" Canady was an EWO (electronic warfare officer) in the first group of RB-66Cs to deploy to Southeast Asia in April 1965. These aircraft jammed enemy radar that directed anti-aircraft fire. Canady flew on the first RB-66C combat mission in Southeast Asia on May 4, 1965, and rapidly