Inactivated in 1944 when b24 liberator crew training was ended. Sep 2, 2015 my dad served here in 1973 in the 388th fms. Welcome to the 388th fighter wings official facebook fan page. During the first nine months with the 388th tfw, the squadron lost 15 f105ds.
What had been the 6234th tac ftr wg provisional, was now officially the 388th tfw. The 388th tactical fighter wing at korat royal thai air force. Unique f35a program, maintainers progress during red flag 201. Fort roundeye patch contributed by greg pierce 100 ground aborts patch contributed by greg pierce sooies patch contributed by greg pierce ecm podman patch contributed by charles prescott 428th tfs while attached to the 347 tfw f111. Shortly we would be joined by the 34th tfs rams and then the th tfs panthers. No part of this page may be reproduced in any form without the prior written approval of r. Some dislike this design,and a few have nicknamed it the surrendering chicken, but i kind of like it,as roosters can be quite fierce fighters. It opened for business in april at korat, taking over the complete assets of the 6234 th tfw, which had been at korat for a year. Constituted as the 469th fighterinterceptor squadron on 10 october 1952. The 469th flying training squadron was reactivated in april 2009 as part of the 80th flying training wing to conduct undergraduate flying training for euronato pilot candidates. Later transferred to the 469th tfs, the jet was written off with the unit on 12 september 1968. In october 1962, the 388th tactical fighter wing was reactivated under tactical air command tac. The firstcombat operational f16 fighting falcon was delivered to.
The 388th fighter wing 388fw is a united states air force unit assigned to the air combat command twelfth air force. Bob freitags the vietnam war years of korat royal thai air. This republic f105d thunderchief squadron was one of the first units to be deployed to thailand as early as 1964 under the provisional 6234th tfw, and to be later transferred to the 388th tfw at korat rtafb in november 1965, thus becoming the first squadrond to be. Us 388th tactical fighter wing tiger fac vietnam war patch. Easy model f15e eagle 881691 336th tfs 4th tfw finshed 172 trumpeter new. See more ideas about korat, fighter jets and military aircraft. Activated on 1 december 1952 inactivated 8 january 1958. Air force 469th tactical fighter squadron usaf veteran. Find people you served with from 469th tactical fighter squadron. Additional costs may incur for euro, south america and african.
The author flew 3 combat missions in southeast asia in 1972, and was assigned to the 469th tfs, one of the two f4e squadrons of the 388th tfw. Lockheed p38j lightning droopsnoot aircraft 4267704 f. The 469th flying training squadron is part of the 80th flying training wing and is based at. The 469th tactical fighter squadron was assigned to the 388th tactical fighter wing on the 8th april 1966 at korat royal thailand air force base rtafb, thailand. The 469th tfs was transferred from the 355th tactical fighter wing at mcconnell afb, kansas, to the 6234th tfw at korat rtafb, thailand on 8 november 1965, and a few days later all of its pilots had arrived. Robert krone, 469th tfs operations officer, wrote in a letter. Bruce holmes and will koenitzer, two pilots in the 469th tactical fighter squadron, 388th tactical fighter wing, designed the original 100mission patch while on leave in bangkok, thailand, in. The 388th fighter wing 388fw is a united states air force unit assigned to the air combat. The elaborate event these pilots enjoyed quickly became a. Usaf serial number search results rcn telecom services, llc.
This widelyrespected symbol began with f105 aircrews. This is the gray version of the 421fs patch with the black cut edge border and does not come with velcro attached. The us post office has greatly increased the cost of international 1st class mail. Usaf 429 tactical fighter squadron tfs patch black falcons 1986 nellis afb tfw. Abmc headquarters 2300 clarendon blvd, suite 500 arlington, va 22201 phone. Deployed to takhli, rtafb, thailand 11 may 27 sep 1972. It also has an analq71 pod on its outer starboard wing pylon. On january 15, 1966, the first four 388th tfw f105 pilots finished their 100mission tourscaptains holmes and william may of the 469th tfs, and captains richard ely and william ramage of the 421st tfs. Upon activation the 388th absorbed the personnel and resources of the 6234th. Redesignated 469th tactical fighter squadron and activated on april 1962 not organized organized on 8 july 1962 inactivated 31 october 1972.
They were the fighting bulls with a green patch bearing a black bull snorting red flames. In march 1973 a7d aircraft were drawn from the deployed 354th tfw squadrons and assigned to the 388th tfw as the 3d tactical fighter squadron tail code. The 366ths official air force heraldry emblem, as per afi 84105 organizational lineage, honors, and emblems, and a few of the many unofficial 366th unit patches that have adorned our uniforms over the years since the 366th was formed. The 6234th was probably redesignated the 388th tfw or. It survived the vietnam war, but was destroyed 20 december 1974 when, assigned to the 35th tfw at george afb, california, it crashed at the cuddeback lake gunnery range after an engine failure. New bases were being established in thailand and a permanent organizational structure was needed to accommodate the semipermanent presence of. Squadron started flying combat missions in f105s on 15 november 1965. The 469 flying training squadron is composed of approximately 60 multinational personnel representing signatory nato nations supporting euronato joint jet pilot. The us post office has greatly increased the cost of international. This republic f105d thunderchief squadron was one of the first units to be deployed to thailand as early as 1964 under the provisional 6234th tfw, and to be later transferred to the 388th tfw at korat rtafb in november 1965, thus becoming the first. The unit is stationed at hill air force base, utah. Guaranteed to be an original period patch, not a reproduction. Up for auction this time is a 469th tactical fighter squadron patch, dating back to 1971. The 388th bg association college scholarship program is up and running.
Contributed by andy bevilacqua sgt, acft elect repairman 388 fms, korat 11721173. Save 8th tfw patch to get email alerts and updates on your ebay feed. May 19, 2015 the 34th tfs flew f105 bombing missions over north vietnam during operation rolling thunder. On 15 may 1969, the f105equipped 44th tactical fighter squadron was transferred and reassigned to the 355th tfw. Vintage air force patch 69th tfs dragons tactical fighter. Hm north american f100d supersabre 27th tfw416th tfs. The author flew 3 combat missions in southeast asia in 1972, and was assigned to the 469th. Newest f35a squadron brings fifthgeneration capabilities to red flag. On 15 may the 44th tfs was permanently attached to the 388th. The 34th tfs flew f105 bombing missions over north vietnam during operation rolling thunder. Miss universemary b 581167 of the 34th tfs, 388th tfw had its right horizontal stabilizer shot off by aaa, but it made the 300mile return journey to a safe recovery at da nang.
A few 18th us air force tactical fighter squadron patch. Contributed by will seaver spark chaser patch is the fms electric shop patch worn on our hats. Air force 469th tactical fighter squadron usaf veteran locator. The new phantom squadron, the first emodels in thailand, retained the designation 469th tfs. It prepares to deploy worldwide to conduct airtoair and airtoground. Happy friday all, recently i was able to acquire these two variations of the usaf 18th tfs patch. Some background on korat royal thai air force base. The 388th tactical fighter wing at korat royal thai air. Originally flying f105df thunderchiefs, in november 1968 the 40 tfs deployed to korat from eglin with f4e phantom iis and on arrival redesignated as the 469th tfs the 40 tfs designation returned to the 33 tfw.
Looking for the most accurate aircraft profile illustrations you can get. This aircraft has an early postcamouflage serial presentation, and is armed with six m117 bombs. I found these in a korean embroidery shop and it has that theatermade feel to it. May 19, 2015 this widelyrespected symbol began with f105 aircrews. The droop snoot field conversion entailed the removal of the nose armament and associated equipment to make room for a prone bombardiersobservers position with the installation of a plexiglass nose, a norden bombsight, side windows and an emergency hatch. Republic f105 thunderchief usa 561st tfs, 388th tfw. Effective on the first day of that month the temporary nature of the wing at korat became permanent. Weve recently needed to relocate the 388th database maintained by our historian. In vietnam f4e 670288 arkansas traveler ii became his personal aircraft and was adorned with the same 8 victory markings and nose art of a. At that time, the 469th tfs was stationed at korat rtafb, thailand, and equipped with mcdonnell douglas f4e phantoms. Schiffer publishing the 388th tactical fighter wing. Vietnam war incountry embroidered patch measures approximately 3 by 3.
The 469th tfs was transferred from the 355th tactical fighter wing at mcconnell afb, kansas, to the 6234th tfw at korat rtafb on 8 november 1965, and a few days later all of its pilots had arrived. The 40th tfs arrived at korat rtafb on november 17, 1968 and was redesignated the 469th tfs and assigned to the 388th tfw if you have a vintage 469th tfs 1 or 2eye bull patch or other items send a picfile of front and back. The patch national museum of the united states air force. The demands of the vietnam war and escalation of united states involvement in the conflict led tac to deploy the 388th tfw to southeast asia for combat duty. Hobby master 172 ha1907 mcdonnell douglas f4e phantom ii. The 469th tfs transferred from the 355th tfw at mcconnell afb, kansas to the 6234th tfw at korat rtafb on nov 8 1965. Air force wings main patch page leejackson militaria. January 12, 2008 click here to see tom seguras patch page 2262006 388th mms patch courtesy of larry mitchell. This is the patch we wore with the 809th and 561st engineers in 19641965. Hgu2ap 469th tfs thailand 1965 this helmet belonged to capt willard f.
The 388th tfw initially consisted of two f105 thunderchief squadrons, the 421st and 469th. Constituted 388th bombardment squadron light on january 28, 1942. William thomas of the 34th tactical fighter squadron, 388th tactical fighter wing as a tribute to the pilots in the. Patch with 469th fighterinterceptor squadron emblem, 469th fighterinterceptor squadron emblem. Schurr, korat royal thai air base, paul doumer bridge, republic aviation corporation, republic f105d thunderchief, vietnam war bryan swopes.
We welcome members of the 388 fbw korea the 388 tfw vietnam and the 388 fw today. On 10 may 1969, the 34th tactical fighter squadron was transferred organizationally to the 347th tfw at yokota ab, japan, but it remained attached to the 388th tfw at korat. Your 388 fw patches are 3 tall, and 100% embroidered with velcro backing. The squadron is the second unit at hill to transition to the f35 after retiring the f16 in may 2016. Some tdy personnel from the 354th tfw were assigned to the 388th and placed on permanent party status. By midoctober, 1,574 airmen from myrtle beach had arrived. The commander of the 388th tfw, th air force was colonel paul douglas who was a wwii p47 ace with 8 victories flying the arkansas traveler.
The 388th had been around for a long time and is still active today at hill afb ut. Apr 19, 2020 it was one of 61 f105fs that were upgraded to the f105g wild weasel iii configuration beginning in late 1967. F4e phantom ii 347th tfw, 70th tfs, my68429 profile print. Twelfth air force, 30 jun 1971 attached to thirteenth air force, 5 may2 oct 1972 stations. About 4 inches tall check out my other auctions for more great vintage patches. A brief history of the 469th tactical fighter squadron, f105d era. The 469th flying training squadron 469 fts is part of the 80th flying training wing and is based at sheppard air force base, texas. The 34th tfs and the 469th tfs were the mainstay squadrons for the wing. Established as a b24 liberator heavy bomb squadron in 1942.
954 552 1012 924 714 337 1228 415 789 948 456 629 1033 812 1291 1051 1094 1401 1023 1362 396 765 513 784 975 1183 859 3 1258 131 357 35 72 578 1178 883