March 20, 1968 – Major Fred Neal Thompson was flying his F-100D (#553606) on a mission over South Vietnam when he was hit by gunfire. 
Fred was stationed at Phu Cat with the 416th. In November of 1967, Thompson had received the Distinguished Flying Cross as an F-100 pilot for his actions during an aerial battle. Five months later he was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. He received an early release by the North Vietnamese on July 22, 1968, and returned home on August 4, 1968. Fred is an SSS Member.
Today in History – April 29, 1949 – Prototype of McDonnell XF-85 “Goblin” dropped from crane at Moffett Field.
29 April 1949 – During WWII a need was discovered for a “parasite fighter” – a jet fighter to protect bombers from hostile intercept aircraft. Pilot fatigue from P-41 and P-51 pilots who were protecting Boeing B-17’s, B-24’s, and Boeing B-29’s was a real problem. Aerial refueling hadn’t been perfected and these interceptors couldn’t match