15 July 1967 – T.H. Herndon was flying F-100D #563275. Enroute to a target of 150 Vietcong in a treeline, he was hit by 57mm AAA during a climb. He ejected and was recovered by USAF Helo. Herndon was serving with the 531st TFS out of Bien Hoa AB.
I was raised in Winter Park, FL and ventured to Idaho on a football scholarship. While there I participated in ROTC and was the Cadet Commanding Officer in 1963. Upon commissioning, I was assigned to Class 65D at Vance AFB, OK, where I was fortunate to finish high enough to get one of four F-100 slots allotted to the UPT facilities Air Force wide.
After training at Luke AFB, AZ, I was assigned to the 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron/20th Tactical Fighter Wing TFW at Wethersfield, England. In Sept 1965, while there, I was fortunate to attain Select Crew Status and was the Top Gun in the Wing for the period of Jan ’68-July “68.
I received Orders and headed for Vietnam where I was assigned to the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron/365 Tactical Fighter Wing in Sept ’68. I flew 150 missions out of Phan Rang before transferring to Tuy Hoa where I was assigned to the Misty FAC (Misty 1117), flying with the 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron/31st Tactical Fighter Wing.
That was a tremendous experience! I got shot a few times flying in Steel Tiger South but managed to find concrete to land on.
Six years and 1200 hours in the HUN was a wonderful experience! Fond memories. Flew with some great airmen.
Left the Air Force in Sept ’69., and went into commercial aviation, but stayed in the Georgia National Guard flying C-130s until 1990. I retired as an O-5.
