Hyde, Michael L. - KIA - Super Sabre Society

Michael L. Hyde - KIA

Preferred Name: Mike

Date of Birth: May 14, 1938

Highest Military Grade: 0-3 – Captain

Hometown: Boulder City, NV

Headed West Date: December 8, 1966

Mike Hyde entered the class of 1960 at the Air Force Academy immediately after high school. While there, he was an energetic prankster who also played baseball as a pitcher. He achieved his ambition of being a fighter pilot after graduation.

Mike went through pilot training at Laredo and Bainbridge and then went on to flying the F-100. His first assignment was to the 48th TFW at Lakenheath RAF Station from 1962 to 1966 where he sat on Victor Alert and later went on to Wing Tac Eval. He was sent to Vietnam in September 1966 where he flew with the 510th TFS, “The Buzzards of Bien Hoa”.

On 8 December 1966, his F-100 was hit by ground fire as he made a second pass on a Viet Cong position at Kien Hoa, South Vietnam. He was declared missing in action. In September 1990 his remains returned to the United States and he was buried at the Air Force Academy Cemetery.

Michael has a military marker in his memory at USAF Academy, CO.

Units Assigned

1960 Air Force Academy
1961 Pilot training, Laredo AFB, TX and Bainbridge AFB, GA (F-100)
1961–1962, 4515th Combat Crew Training Squadron (Cadre) (Tactical Fighter), Luke AFB
1962–1962, 4523rd Combat Crew Training Squadron (Cadre), Nellis AFB
1962–1964 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath AB
1964–1966 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, “Victor Alert”, Wing Tac Eval, Lakenheath RAF, England (F-100)
1966–1966 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron/3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, “The Buzzards of Bien Hoa”, Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam (F-100)
12/8/1966 Mike’s F-100 was hit by ground fire as he made a second pass on a Viet Cong position at Kien Hoa, South Vietnam. He was declared missing in action
9/1990 His remains returned to the United States and he was buried at the Air Force Academy Cemetery