2015
Mar 25
Captain Eugene Thomas Meadows 4 March 1940 – 13 October 1966 A flight of two F-4s from the 480th TFS were conducting an armed reconnaissance mission in Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam, when they came across truck traffic on Route 103 a few miles 10 miles north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The two aircraft set up and began to conduct multiple passes against the trucks. On its third, perhaps fourth, pass, F-4C tail number 64-0654 impacted the ground. Their wingman saw no parachutes and emergency radio communications could not be established with the crew, then 1st Lt Murray L…
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Mar 25
LtCol John Murray Martin 17 June 1931 – 20 November 1967 On 20 November 1967 two F-4Cs, CRAB 1 and CRAB 2, from the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Danang were tasked against a suspected SAM site north of the DMZ. CRAB 2, F-4C tail number 63-7680, was flown by Captain John M. Martin and 1st Lt James L. Badley.. The target was identified by a COVEY FAC, and the two F-4s began their attacks. Following his third pass at the target CRAB 2 was hit by anti-aircraft fire. With one engine out and his F-4 on fire, Martin headed…
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Mar 25
Captain Glenn Hung Nin Lee 6 August 1945 – 27 May 1970 On 27 May 1970 F-4 aircraft from the 480th Tac Ftr Sqdn were supporting US troops in Cambodia, about 45 miles west of Ban Me Thuot. After making several passes at the target, F-4D tail number 66-0275 flown by Capt George R. Keller and Capt Glenn H. Lee, was hit by enemy fire. The aircraft’s port wing separated and the F-4 rolled into the ground. On 28 May Graves Registration personnel were able to recover fragmented remains from the crash site and later positively identify them as Captain…
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Mar 25
Captain George Richard Keller 5 September 1943 – 27 May 1970 On 27 May 1970 F-4 aircraft from the 480th Tac Ftr Sqdn were supporting US troops in Cambodia, about 45 miles west of Ban Me Thuot. After making several passes at the target, F-4D tail number 66-0275 flown by Capt George R. Keller, Farmington, NM, and Capt Glenn H. Lee, Honolulu, HI, was hit by enemy fire. The aircraft’s port wing separated and the F-4 rolled into the ground. On 28 May Graves Registration personnel were able to recover fragmented remains from the crash site and later positively identify…
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Mar 25
Captain Eric James Huberth 20 January 1945 – ???? On 13 May 1970, Capt. Alan R. Trent, pilot; and then 1st Lt. Eric J. Hubert, co-pilot; comprised the crew of an F-4D (serial # -0607), call sign “Cobra 84,” that departed Phu Cat Airbase in a flight of two to conduct a scramble alert mission in support of US/allied troops operating in the tri-border region where South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia meet. The target area was located in the rugged jungle covered mountains of Cambodia. The briefed flight path was from Phu Cat Airbase to the target and back to…
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Mar 25
Major Murray Lyman Borden 2 January 1941 – ???? A flight of two F-4s from the 480th TFS were conducting an armed reconnaissance mission in Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam, when they came across truck traffic on Route 103 a few miles 10 miles north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The two aircraft set up and began to conduct multiple passes against the trucks. On its third, perhaps fourth, pass, F-4C tail number 64-0654 impacted the ground. Their wingman saw no parachutes and emergency radio communications could not be established with the crew, then 1st Lt Murray L Borden and…
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Jun 23
Major Darrell E. Pyle POW 1966 – 1973 Name: Darrell Edwin Pyle Rank/Branch: O2/United States Air Force, pilot Unit: 480th TFS Date of Birth: 25 April 1940 Home City of Record: Compton CA Date of Loss: 13 June 1966 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 173800 North 1062200 East Status (in 1973): Returnee Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4C Other Personnel in Incident: Alan Lurie, returnee On 1 February 1966 the squadron departed the USA for assignment at Danang AB. Lurie was then the aircraft commander of an F4C Phantom fighter bomber. On June 13, 1966, while on an armed reconnaissance mission in the southern part…
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Mar 25
Colonel William J. Baugh 17 July 1934 – 19 February 2010 On November 17, 1996, Col (RET) William Baugh provided the P.O.W. NETWORK with this biography: I was born on 17 July 1934 in Piqua, Ohio. I graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio in 1956, with an Air Force ROTC Commission as a Second Lieutenant. After completing Pilot Training in 1958, I was assigned to the 465th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Griffiss AFB Rome NY, where Iflew the F-89 and F-101 B, then off to the 92nd TFS, RAF Bentwaters England in 1963, where he flew F-101A & C,…
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Mar 25
1st Lt James Lindsay Badley 18 October 1942 – ???? On 27 March 1968, then 2nd Lt. James L. Badley and Captain Richard L. Whitteker, both of the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, departed Danang Air Base on a strike mission into North Vietnam. Jim Badley did not return from his 85th mission – their F-4D went down in North Vietnam. From an eyewitness account by Captain Charles Smith, an F-100 “Fast FAC” who controlled the flight: “On the afternoon of 27 March 1968, as Misty 21, I controlled Gunfighter 07 [piloted by Major Harper and Lt. Paul] and Gunfighter 08…
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Mar 25
Major Gerald Oak Alfred Jr. 18 October 1942 – ???? On December 11, 1966, then 1st. Lt. Gerald Oak Alfred Jr. was flying backseater to Capt. Jerry Woodcock in an F4C on an armed reconnaissance mission near the DMZ when the aircraft was hit by hostile fire.The U.S.S. Keppler (DD-765) was operating in the coastal area about halfway between Dong Hoi and Vinh Linh. The Keppler’s crew, comprised of Navy Seals, was part of Operation Sea Dragon, which involved engaging and destroying Waterborne Logistic Craft, junks and barges in particular. On the evening of December 11, 1966, the seas were relatively…
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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