Published May 19, 2015
Front row (l to r): Bill Thomas, Jim Barr, Clancy Langford, Dave Ingleman, Ed Hartman, John Murphy, Ben Fuhrman, Jack Brooks, Bob Moore, Monty Pharmer, Rog Ingvalson, Darrell Ahrens. Back row: Jim Metz, Bill Blakeslee, Jim Ross, Carl Light, Don Hodge, Gary Durkee, Larry Bogemann, Bob Smith (commander), Mel Irwin, Joe Sechler, Bill Shunney, Ken Everett, Ivor Goodrich, Sam Bass.
Two 34th TFS pilots, Captains Lamont “Monty” Pharmer and Gary Durkee, celebrate their 100th mission over North Vietnam in August 1968.
DAYTON, Ohio - 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron Honor Roll and 100 Mission Scarf, 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron Honor Roll and 20th TRS patch on display in the 100 Missions Up North exhibit in the Southeast Asia War Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
The 34th TFS flew F-105 bombing missions over North Vietnam during OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER. This name board was started in 1968 by Capt. William Thomas of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing as a tribute to the pilots in the unit. The unit also put the pilots' names on a scarf worn at 100 mission celebrations. Capt. Thomas flew 200 missions over North Vietnam--a remarkable feat considering the number of F-105 losses in Southeast Asia. Tragically, shortly after his tour, Thomas was killed on a test flight in an F-105.
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