2015
Mar 26
Major Gordon Scott Wilson 3 June 1940 – 22 November 1966 Scotty Wilson was the best “stick” in the famous 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The 480th was famous because in November of 1966 a total of eight Mig-21s had been shot down by anyone anywhere and the 480th had five of them. On November 21, 1966 Scotty was one of the front-seaters in a four-ship formation of F-4Cs hand-picked to fly against two targets chosen by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The targets were JCS 51.10 and JCS 22. JCS 22 was the Hanoi power plant. But the primary target that…
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Mar 26
Captain Richard Lee Whitteker 7 February 1939 – ???? On 27 March 1968, Captain Richard L. Whitteker and then 2nd Lt. James L. Badley, both of the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, departed Danang Air Base on a strike mission (callsign Gunfighter 8) into North Vietnam. On the mission, Gunfighter 08 crashed. The target area was within North Vietnam, and the target being attacked was on the road leading to the Ban Karai Pass, a major entry point into the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. Whitteker and Badley were in F-4D tail number 66-8801. From an eyewitness account by Captain…
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Mar 26
Colonel Bobby Gene Vinson 17 January 1928 – ???? On April 24, 1968, then LtCol Bobby G. Vinson (pilot) and then 1Lt Woodrow W. Parker (WSO) launched from Da Nang Airbase, South Vietnam, lead in a flight of two F-4D Phantoms on night strike mission against a storage area near Van Loc, some 10 miles northwest of Dong Hoi in North Vietnam. Vinson and Parker were in F-4D tail number 66-7541. As the flight approached the target area Vinson advised his wingman that he, Vinson, was beginning a descent to visually acquire the target and to drop flares to illuminate…
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Mar 26
Captain Richard Haven Van Dyke 24 January 1944 – ???? Richard Haven (Rich) Van Dyke entered Officer Training School (OTS), Medina Annex, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, on 22 May 1966 and was a Distinguished Graduate on 16 May 1966 with Class 66G. He then attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) at Williams AFB, Arizona, with Class 67H and received his pilot rating on 14 Jun 1967. He attended upgrade training and flew in the back seat of the F-4D Phantom II. Eventually, he was assigned to the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Warhawks) at DaNang AB, South Vietnam. On 11 Sep 1968,…
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Mar 26
Captain Alan Robert Trent 22 May 1940 – ???? On May 13, 1970, Captain Alan R. Trent and then 1st Lt Eric Huberthwere the crew in an F-4D (tail number 65-0607), one of a flight of two F-4s which took off from Phu Cat Air Base against a target approximately 105 miles northwest inside Cambodia. There was .30 and .51 caliber ground fire against their aircraft while in the target area. Their aircraft was observed to crash into a ridge line during its second bombing run. A forward air controller saw no one eject, no parachutes and heard no beepers.…
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Mar 26
Colonel Smith J. Swords III 17 July 1929 – 17 August 1979 On 30 December 1967, then Major Smith Swords III, pilot; and 1st Lt. Murray L. Wortham, co-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
1st Lt Albert Eduardo Rodriguez 18 July 1942 – ???? Then Maj. Ernest A. Olds and 1Lt. Albert E. Rodriguez comprised the crew of an F4D Phantom fighter/bomber sent on a mission over North Vietnam on March 11, 1968. Their mission area was near a railroad which runs parallel to the Nguon Nay River in Quang Binh Province. The F4 Phantom D model had only arrived in Vietnam the previous May and was initially part of the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron’s aircraft inventory. The D model was improved over the C model with the addition of a lead-computing sight and…
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Mar 26
Major Donald William Pick 13 January 1930 – 8 August 1968 Major Donald William Pick was killed on 8 August 1968. His F-4 crashed at sea in Military Region 1 of South Vietnam, and his body was not recovered.
Mar 26
Major Woodrow Wilson Parker 18 April 1943 – ???? On April 24, 1968, then-LTC Bobby G. Vinson (pilot) and 1LT Woodrow W. Parker (WSO) launched from Da Nang Airbase, South Vietnam, lead in a flight of two F-4D Phantoms on night strike mission against a storage area near Van Loc, some 10 miles northwest of Dong Hoi in North Vietnam. Vinson and Parker were in F-4D tail number 66-7541. As the flight approached the target area Vinson advised his wingman that he, Vinson, was beginning a descent to visually acquire the target and to drop flares to illuminate it. Shortly…
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Mar 25
Colonel Ernest Arthur Olds 14 July 1934 – ???? Then Maj. Ernest A. Olds and 1Lt. Albert E. Rodriguez comprised the crew of an F4D Phantom fighter/bomber sent on a mission over North Vietnam on March 11, 1968. Their mission area was near a railroad which runs parallel to the Nguon Nay River in Quang Binh Province. The F4 Phantom D model had only arrived in Vietnam the previous May and was initially part of the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron’s aircraft inventory. The D model was improved over the C model with the addition of a lead-computing sight and central…
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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