Biography

“The key to a fighter pilot’s success, is that there has to be “no second thought when you see an enemy plane, and you’ve got to immediately engage.”
Korean War ace Lieutenant Henry Buttelman was born in Corona, New York on June 26, 1929. After serving two years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and two years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, he entered the Air Force pilot training program of class 52-E and graduated as a second lieutenant on Aug. 2, 1952.
After completing three months of advanced gunnery training at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, he was shipped out to Korea in December 1952 to serve with the 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st fighter Interceptor Wing, equipped with the F-86 Sabrejet. The Korean War was winding down and on June 19th on his 55th combat mission and his first mission as an element leader he scored his first aerial victory — a MIG -15.
Eleven days later, however, he became the youngest Korean ace at age 24 when he downed his fifth MIG on June 30th. He shot down two more in July to bring his total to seven, just before the cessation of hostilities on July 27, 1953. He logged 65 combat missions during this tour.
Following the outbreak of the Vietnam War, Major Buttelmann left McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas in April 1965 for four months temporary duty at Takhli Air Base Thailand where he flew 46 combat missions in the F-105 with the 562nd Tactical Fighter Squadron. He returned for a second tour of duty in May 1969 to fly the F-100s as commander of the Misty Forward Air Controllers and the 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He logged 232 combat missions in his 12 month tour.
Lt. Col. Buttelmann retired from active duty in Oct. 1979 with 27 years of active duty. (1)
For more on Hank Buttelmann see: http://wingsmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Lt.Col_.-Henry-Buttelmann.pdf
Source: https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/henry-buttelmann

Units Assigned

• 1946-1948 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
• 1948-1950 USAF Reserve
• 1950-8/2/1952 Pilot Training, Class 52-E, commissioned second lieutenant, Greenwich AFB, CT
• 8/1952-11/1952 Advanced gunnery training, Nellis AFB, NV
• 12/1952 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron/51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Suwon AB, Korea (F-86)
• 6/1953 19th 55th combat mission, 1st mission as an element leader, first aerial victory – a MIG -15
• 6/30/1953 Eleven days later, became youngest Korean ace at age 24, downed fifth MIG
• 7/1953 He shot down two more MiGs, bringing total to seven (65 combat missions in Korea)
• 1953-1965 McConnell AB, KS
• 4/1965 562nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli AB, Thailand (F-105 – 46 combat missions)
• 5/1969 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Commander Misty Forward Air Controllers “Misty 144” (F-100 – 232 combat missions)
• 10/1979 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Congressional Gold Medal
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal (with 4 Silver Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
Korean Service Medal (with Bronze Campaign Star)
Vietnam Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Campaign Stars)
Air Force Longevity Service Award (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Korean War Service Medal

Flight Info

F-86
F-105
F-100

Military Education

Civilian Education

• University of Bridgeport, CT