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Today in History – November 30, 1957 – Capt Benny Lacombe killed in U-2 Crash

30 November 1957 – Capt Benny Lacombe is killed when he unsuccessfully attempts to bail out of Lockheed U-2A, 56-6704, Article 371, 13 miles SE of Laughlin AFB. Ejection seats had not yet been fitted to U-2s at this point. The history of the U-2 program is fraught with fatalities and crashes. “CIA pilots Wilburn S.

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Bottesch, John R. – KIA

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  • Bottesch, John R. – KIA

John Richard Bottesch - KIA

Preferred Name: John
Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain
Hometown: Munhall, PA
Headed West Date: July 19, 1966
Biography
Pilot Information

John Richard Bottesch enlisted in the USAF through the Reserve Military.

On July 19, 1966, Captain John R. Bottesch and combat cameraman Airman Darryl G. Winters were flying in F-100F (tail number 58-1217) when they were shot down near Tan An, about 17 miles southwest of Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon.

Although Captain Bottesch’s remains were recovered and identified, Airman Winters’s remains were not. John is honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 09e, Line 36.

Source: TogetherWeServed

Units Assigned

  • 1955–1965, Air Force Reserve Command
  • 1965-1966 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Dicemen), 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force, Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam (F-100)

Awards & Decorations

Purple Heart
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Cross Of Gallantry
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
AF Good Conduct Medal
Air Force Good Conduct Medal

Flight Info

F-100

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