2015
Mar 26
Captain William D. Alcorn 23 March 1951 – 23 March 1981 Crashed into the Hesselberg near Gerolfingen in Germany on 23 March 1981. F-4E 74-0660.
Mar 26
Major Douglas R. Withers 3 January 1945 – 23 March 1981 Crashed into the Hesselberg near Gerolfingen in Germany on 23 March 1981. F-4E 74-0660.
Mar 26
Captain Daniel P. Habas 25 August 1948 – 24 March 1980 Captain Daniel P. Habas, 31, formerly of Louisville, KY, died Monday 24 March 1980 in a crash in Bensfield, Germany. He was born in Erie, PA on 25 August 1948, the son of Felix and Clara Habas of Louisville, KY. He moved to Louisville in 1954 with his parents. He attended St. Xavier High School and the University of Louisville, J. B. Speed School of Engineering. Captain Habas was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force on June 1, 1971. Prior to his service at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany on…
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2020
Aug 17
Sergeant John Clifford Cyphers d. 11 August 1943 From his great niece Amy Rauch: Sergeant John Clifford Cyphers was assigned to the 480th Bomb Squadron at the time of his passing. His death was not combat related. See the Application for his headstone below.
2015
Mar 26
Captain Robert Wilbur Smith 2 July 1944 – 17 April 1970 On 17 April 1970, Major Loel F. Rexroad and (then) Lieutenant Robert W. Smith were killed when their F-4 crashed in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam, during a Close Air Support mission. Both bodies were recovered. Lt. Smith was postumously promoted to Captain. View Captain Smith’s page at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund HERE and his page at the Virtual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall HERE.
Mar 26
Major Loel Franklin Rexroad 5 September 1933 – 17 April 1970 On 17 April 1970, Major Loel F. Rexroad and Captain Robert W. Smith were killed when their F-4 crashed in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam, during a Close Air Support mission. Both bodies were recovered. View Major Rexroad’s page at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund HERE; his page at the Virtual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall HERE; and his page at Together We Served HERE.
Mar 26
LtCol Kenneth “Skip” Burns d. 9 June 2012 From the San Diego Union-Tribune on 15 June 2012: BURNS, KENNETH (SKIP) May 13, 1930 to June 9, 2012 Major General USAF (Ret), a longtime resident of San Antonio, TX, passed away peacefully following a long battle with COPD and leukemia. Raised in Chula Vista, Ken graduated from Sweetwater High. Upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1954, Ken took a commission in the United States Air Force and served 31 years as Commanders of: the largest fighter wing in Europe at RAF Upper Heyford, England; USAFSS in San Antonio;…
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Mar 26
Major Robert W. Storey d. 15 May 2012 Bob, 67, passed away May 15, 2012. He was born in Fairfield, AL on Oct. 14, 1944. He spent 28 years in the Air Force, including a tour in the 480th TFS at DaNang in 1967 and 1968. Husband of Sheila for 42 years; father of Jonathan, Todd (Becca), Robyn, Daniel (Angie) and Meagan; grandfather of Cassidy, Brody, Drayce, Caleb, Aaron, Leah, Olivia, and Eleanor; son of Mildred Storey; and brother of Peggy Tootle, Kenneth, Peter, and Scott. He was preceded in death by his father Robert M, and sister Milly Holmes.
Mar 26
Captain Murray Lamar Wortham 26 May 1943 – 18 January 1977 On 30 December 1967, then 1st Lt. Murray L. Wortham, co-pilot; and then Major Smith Swords III, pilot; comprised the crew of an F4C, call sign “Flamingo 02,” that departed DaNang Airbase as the #2 aircraft in a flight of two. They were conducting a Steel Tiger strike mission against moving trucks at a road intersection located on the south side of a jungle covered valley on the north side of a mountain range. This area of eastern Laos was considered a major artery of the infamous Ho Chi…
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Mar 26
Colonel Donald R. D’Amico d. 9 NOV 2011 Colonel D’Amico’s obituary from The Denver Post: “D’Amico, Colonel Donald Richard, 83, of Parker, CO passed away peacefully on November 9, 2011, after a long illness. Colonel D’Amico is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Dora Bertoglio D’Amico, daughters Adrienne Southworth and Nancy D’Amico and sons Donald and John-Peter D’Amico. He is also survived by his 5 grandchildren. Colonel D’Amico dedicated his career to protecting our country as an Air Force fighter pilot during which time he received numerous commendations, medals and awards for his service in Korea and Vietnam.…
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480th Fighter Squadron
The 480th Fighter Squadron was reactivated on 13 Aug 2010, back at Spangdahlem AB, West Germany, with F-16CM Block-50 assets from the 22nd FS, which was inactivated. The 480th FS took the role of USAFE’s SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) asset. The Warhawks have since continued to distinguish themselves in combat operations Operation Odyssey Dawn over Libya, Operation New Dawn in Iraq, and in Afghanistan.
480th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Spangdahlem)
In November of 1976 the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron was reactivated at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, as part of the 52nd TFW (later the 52nd Fighter Wing). Flying the F-4D, the unit was tasked with maintaining an operationally ready nuclear strike capability, conventional attack, interdiction, armed reconnaissance, and close air support missions. Three years later, in 1979, the squadron gained additional capabilities by transitioning to the F-4E (outfitted with the ARN-101 Digital Modular Avionics System). The squadron earned an AF Outstanding Unit Award, 1 Jul 1978 – 30 Jun 1980.
480th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Southeast Asia)
The 480th TFS began operations from DaNang AB in February of 1966 as part of the 2nd Air Division, attached to the 6252nd Tactical Fighter Wing. In April 1966 the 480th and the 6252nd TFW became part of Seventh Air Force, and soon after joined the 480th joined the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing. On 1…
480th Tactical Fighter Squadron (France)
480TFS reactivated 30 Apr 1962, assigned to USAFE at Chaumont Air Base, France (8 May 1962), and later at Phalsbourg AB, France (20 Dec 1962), as part of the 366th TFW once again. Flew F-84s in training operations and participated in numerous USAFE exercises, including deployments back to Wheelus AB, Libya. During the Cuban Missile…
480th Fighter-Bomber Squadron
Constituted 30 Aug 1957. Activated 25 Sep 1957. Inactivated 30 Apr 1959. Flying F-84 “Thunder Jets” as part of 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing (renamed the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1958) at England AFB, Louisiana. Became first tactical unit in the 366th to transition to the F-100 Super Sabre, as well as continued flying F-84s. Redesignated…
580th Aerial (then Air) Resupply Squadron
Activated 16 Apr 1951. Inactivated 18 Oct 1956. B-29s, C-119s, and SA-16s. Provided evacuation and supply support to Ranger-type personnel in enemy occupied territory. Conducted training in the delivery of psychological warfare propaganda. At Wheelus, the 580th trained extensively in preparation for the wartime mission of packaging and aerial delivery of supplies and equipment as…
480th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)
Constituted: 9 July 1942. Activated: 15 July 1942. Inactivated 1 May 1944
First constituted as the 480th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) as part of the 336th Bombardment Group (Medium). Served as a replacement training unit (RTU) for medium bomber crews in the B-26 Marauder.
Stations:
MacDill Field, FL (15 Jul 1942)
Ft. Myers, FL (10 Aug 1942)
Avon Park, FL (13 Dec 1942)
MacDill Field, FL (13 Oct 1943)
Lake Charles AAFld, LA (8 Nov 1943 to 1 May 1944).
Commanders:
Capt. Alfred D. Belsma, 15 Jul 1942.
Capt. Chesley I. Swann, 16 Jul 1943.
Maj. Gerald J. Crosson, 8 Sep 1943 – 1 May 1944.
Citations:
American Theater (WWII) Service Streamer