Published May 19, 2015
F-105 aircrews taxied with the refueling probe on the side of the nose extended as a sign they had completed their 100th mission. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Ground crews played an essential role in completing a 100 mission tour. Here Maj. Robert Krone, 469th TFS commander, gives his crew chief a gift and a heartfelt handshake after completing his 100 missions on June 3, 1966. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Capt. Richard Hammaker, an RF-4C backseater in the 14th TRS, being thrown into a vat of stagnant water, shark repellent, and anti-freeze kept just for end of tour dunkings. (U.S. Air Force photo)
RF-4C pilot Capt. Robert Clark gets hosed down at the completion of his second 100-mission tour. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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)
DAYTON, Ohio - Close-up of objects in the 100 mission celebrations display case 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)
DAYTON, Ohio - This artifact has a remarkable story. In the summer of 1966, Air Force Academy Cadet Richard Hall visited McConnell AFB, and met Bruce Holmes. Holmes gave Cadet Hall this Thai-made tiger-stripe suit with one of his 100 mission patches on it. In January, 1967, Holmes was tragically killed in a house fire. Hall, who retired from the USAF as a lieutenant colonel, kept this artifact for three decades, and donated it to the museum in 2007. The artifact is 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)