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.
“Having bailed out of two F-100s and dead-sticked an A-7, the Air Force thought it was a good idea to send me to A/C Accident Investigation and Safety school. My life’s greatest fortune and my life’s greatest honor was to serve with so many honorable and brave men and women in the Air Force and Air National Guard. Wearing the uniform was my greatest achievement in life, besides being a father.
With the Vietnam War ending in 1974, I transferred my commission to the LA ANG’s 122nd TFS (Thank you Jimmy Hourin). It was a squadron of legends and Coonasses; that’s where I flew 1,009 hours in the F-100D/F. After 2 years in the F-4s with the LA ANG, I transferred to the Colorado ANG, only to return to fight the Coonasses in the famous “Battle of the Chandelier Islands”.
I served the rest of my 24 year military career in the Colorado ANG flying the A-7s and F-16s. I served one combat tour over Iraq with the CO ANG.”
John flew for Continental and United airlines for a total of 39 years.
3,300 fighter hours.
Retired Continental/United airline pilot – 39 years.
(B-727, DC-10, MD-80, B777)
