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    Air Force Heroes In Vietnam [Illustrated Edition]
    Air Force Heroes In Vietnam [Illustrated Edition]
    Air Force Heroes In Vietnam [Illustrated Edition]
    Ebook167 pages1 hour

    Air Force Heroes In Vietnam [Illustrated Edition]

    By Major Donald K. Schneider

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    Illustrated with over 30 maps, diagrams and photos
    This ninth essay of the Southeast Asia Monograph Series tells the stories of the 12 Air Force heroes who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam. The author, Major Schneider, has chosen a most unusual and effective way of presenting his material, for he is greatly concerned with the contextual aspects of what he describes; that is, he devotes considerable attention to the history of the Medal itself, particularly insofar as airmen of earlier wars are concerned, to the aircraft in which these latest recipients flew, and to the missions with which both the men and their machines were entrusted.
    These factors, then, are put in the context of the battle arena-Vietnam, with all of its special conditions and limitations. There 12 airmen of the United States Air Force acted with such courage, devotion, and utter selflessness that they were subsequently awarded the highest recognition that their country could bestow, the Medal of Honor. Three of the men died in the actions for which they were cited. But in one sense at least they and the others will never die, for their actions have insured that their names will live as long as determination, fidelity, bravery, and nobility of spirit are traits that human beings admire.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNormanby Press
    Release dateAug 15, 2014
    ISBN9781782898986
    Air Force Heroes In Vietnam [Illustrated Edition]

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      Book preview

      Air Force Heroes In Vietnam [Illustrated Edition] - Major Donald K. Schneider

      This edition is published by PICKLE PARTNERS PUBLISHING—www.picklepartnerspublishing.com

      To join our mailing list for new titles or for issues with our books – [email protected]

      Or on Facebook

      Text originally published in 1979 under the same title.

      © Pickle Partners Publishing 2014, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

      Publisher’s Note

      Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

      We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

      USAF Southeast Asia Monograph Series

      Volume VII

      Monograph 9

      AIR FORCE HEROES IN VIETNAM

      by

      Major Donald K. Schneider

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Contents

      TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

      Foreword 4

      DEDICATION 5

      Preface 6

      Acknowledgments 8

      Chapter I. The A-1 Skyraiders 9

      The Job 9

      The Aircraft 9

      A-1 Aircraft 10

      The Men 10

      March 10, 1966 12

      September 1, 1968 15

      Chapter II. The Forward Air Controllers 18

      The Job 18

      The Aircraft 18

      The Men 20

      February 24, 1967 21

      June 29, 1972 24

      Chapter III. The Wild Weasels 28

      The Job 28

      The Aircraft 28

      The Men 29

      March 10, 1967 31

      April 19, 1967 35

      Chapter IV. The Helicopters 38

      The Job 38

      The Aircraft 40

      The Men 40

      November 9, 1967 41

      November 26, 1968 44

      Chapter V. The Cargo Gunships 48

      The Job 48

      The Aircraft 50

      The Men 51

      May 12, 1968 52

      February 24, 1969 56

      Chapter VI. The Prisoners of War 59

      The Job 59

      The Aircraft 61

      The Men 61

      August 26, 1967-March 14, 1973 62

      November 9, 1967-January 22, 1968 64

      Postscript 67

      Appendix A. United States Air Force Medal of Honor Winners 1918-1952 69

      World War 1—1918 69

      Peacetime Award—1946 70

      Korea—1950 to 1952 70

      Appendix B. United States Air Force Medal of Honor Winners in Vietnam 70

      Appendix C. Medal of Honor Citations 72

      Steven L. Bennett (Posthumous) 72

      George E. Day 73

      Merlyn H. Dethlefsen 74

      Bernard F. Fisher 74

      James P. Fleming 75

      Joe M. Jackson 75

      William A. Jones III 76

      John L. Levitow 76

      Lance P. Sijan (Posthumous) 77

      Leo K. Thorsness 78

      Hilliard A. Wilbanks (Posthumous) 78

      Gerald O. Young 79

      Appendix D. Glossary 80

      REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 83

      Foreword

      This ninth essay of the Southeast Asia Monograph Series tells the stories of the 12 Air Force heroes who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam. The author, Major Schneider, has chosen a most unusual and effective way of presenting his material, for he is greatly concerned with the contextual aspects of what he describes; that is, he devotes considerable attention to the history of the Medal itself, particularly insofar as airmen of earlier wars are concerned, to the aircraft in which these latest recipients flew, and to the missions with which both the men and their machines were entrusted.

      These factors, then, are put in the context of the battle arena—Vietnam, with all of its special conditions and limitations. There 12 airmen of the United States Air Force acted with such courage, devotion, and utter selflessness that they were subsequently awarded the highest recognition that their country could bestow, the Medal of Honor. Three of the men died in the actions for which they were cited. But in one sense at least they and the others will never die, for their actions have insured that their names will live as long as determination, fidelity, bravery, and nobility of spirit are traits that human beings admire.

      DEDICATION

      Preface

      I would rather have this medal than be President of the United States. So spoke President Harry S. Truman during a Medal of Honor presentation ceremony at the White House. This sentiment has been shared by soldiers, sailors, and airmen since 1862, when President Lincoln approved an Act of Congress authorizing medals of honor. A single word etched on the medal’s face tells its meaning. The word? VALOR.

      Former Air Force Chief of Staff General John D. Ryan describes the stringent requirements for earning the nation’s highest military award:

      A member of the American Armed Forces can merit the Medal of Honor in only one manner: by a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice, above and beyond the call of duty, while in combat with an enemy of the nation. The gallantry must be certified by two eye-witnesses, and be clearly beyond the call of duty. Moreover, it must involve the risk of life and must be the type of deed that, if not performed, would evoke no criticism of the individual.

      This book tells the story of the 12 United States Air Force airmen who won the Medal of Honor in Vietnam from 1966 through 1973. These 12 men are the latest in a line of 60 Air Force heroes whose story began in the skies over France in 1918.

      Four airmen won the Medal during World War I. Three were killed in action as a result of their disregard for personal danger. The sole survivor, First Lieutenant Eddie V. Rickenbacker, later became the leading American ace of the war, destroying 26 enemy aircraft by Armistice Day in 1918.

      Except for a rare special award, the Medal is given only for gallantry in combat. In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh was awarded a special Medal of Honor in peacetime for his nonstop flight from New York to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis.

      The saga began again in the skies over the Pacific and Japan when Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle became the first Army Air Forces recipient of World War II just four months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. With the apparent certainty of being forced to land in enemy territory or of perishing at sea, he led a squadron of B-25s in a bombing raid on the Japanese mainland. Thirty-seven airmen joined Doolittle as WW II Medal of Honor winners before the final allied victory in 1945. Of the 38 heroes, 22 were killed in action. On one historic day, the first of August 1943, five pilots earned the Medal during the daring low-level attack on the vast, heavily-defended oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania. Five heroes were aces, including Major Richard I. Bong, who racked up 40 victories, and Major William A. Shomo, who downed seven Japanese aircraft in one dogfight over the Philippine Islands. Sergeant Maynard H. Smith, serving as a gunner aboard a heavy bomber, became the first enlisted airman to win the nation’s highest decoration. On a mission over Europe, his aircraft was hit by enemy fighters and antiaircraft artillery, igniting intense fires in the waist section and radio compartment. Sergeant Smith, single-handedly, gave first aid to the wounded tail gunner, fired the waist guns to ward off opposing fighters, and extinguished the flames.

      In the post-war period another special peacetime Medal was awarded posthumously to Brigadier General William Mitchell. He was recognized by Congress in 1946 for outstanding pioneer service and foresight in the field of military aviation. In 1947, the United States Air Force became a separate service, fulfilling one of Billy Mitchell’s great dreams.

      During the Korean War, fast and maneuverable jet aircraft helped US pilots sweep the skies before the cease-fire in 1953. Three of the four heroes, including Major George A. Davis, a World War II ace who downed 14 enemy aircraft over Korea before winning the Medal, were fighter pilots. The four awards were presented posthumously—each man had made the ultimate sacrifice.

      The year is 1966. A small outpost in the jungle is under attack by an overwhelming hostile force while overhead Air Force attack aircraft fight desperately to stave off the enemy. The setting is Southeast Asia, and the scene is set for the personal bravery

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