100 Missions Up North
DAYTON, Ohio - Flight suit, scarf, and survival chaps worn by Maj. James Harding on his O-1 missions over North Vietnam. Harding obtained the scarf while attached to Australian troops as a ground air liaison officer. Harding had just landed his O-1 at Dong Ha—which was right next to the DMZ—after flying a mission over North Vietnam. As he walked away from the aircraft, Harding slung this map bag over his left shoulder and held the strap with his left hand. Then, North Vietnamese artillery fire hit the base, and this fragment hit and broke his left hand (which was directly in front of his heart). Harding’s unique 100 mission patch. (U.S. Air Force photo)