26 June 1969 – Capt John Casper was serving with the 413th TFS out of Phan Rang AB, Vietnam. On a mission to detect VietCong...
Read MoreOn take-off for a training mission at Cannon AFB, I heard a loud bump and was told by the tower that I was on fire. The SOF advised me to eject. I checked my instruments and everything appeared normal with no warning lights but I looked in the mirror and saw the flames.
I decided to get enough altitude for a safe ejection but was not going to jump out unless I found something definitely showing a fire. When I came out of burner, the fire went out. I had a wingman check me over and he said I was pouring fuel from the left wing tank and that the left gun bay door was missing.
When I landed I found out that the gun bay door had not been secured and came off on rotation and that the fuel tank had a big hole in the inboard side.
Another day at the office.
Units Assigned
- 1967 931st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam (F-100)
Awards & Decorations

Silver Star

Bronze Star

Air Medal (7)

Legion of Merit
Flight Info
F-100 – About 100 hours
Military & Civilian Education
Military Education:
- SOS
- ACSC, National
- War College
- Air War College
Civilian Education:
- 1963 BS/Aerospace Sciences, USAF Academy
- MPA, Auburn University