Skip to content

Today in History – January 31, 1968 – F-100 pilots Maj Joe Bulger and 1Lt “Fearless” Fred Abrams are given the worst kind of mission

31 January 1968 – On the first full day of the Tet Offensive, Major Joe Bulger (Flight Lead) and 1Lt “Fearless” Fred Abrams were asked to bomb their own base. In the early hours of the day, Vietcong forces had launched an attack on Bien Hoa AB. “The whole east end was hot,” Abrams said.

Read More »
Join The SSS
Update My Bio
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • Unit Patches & Other F-100-Associated Imagery
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact
  • Member’s Area
Menu
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • Unit Patches & Other F-100-Associated Imagery
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact
  • Member’s Area

Bode, John Raymond

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Bode, John Raymond

John R. Bode

Preferred Name: John
Nickname/Call Sign: Issue 11
Date of Birth: September 16, 1933
Highest Military Grade: 0-6 – Colonel
Hometown: Ogalalla, NE
Biography
Pilot Information
Album

Civilian Life:

After retiring from the USAF in 1974, John spent the next 16 years as Unit Chief to VP and Group General Manager BDM International Washington/Albuquerque. In  1990 he became Associate Director of Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque until 2000. While employed at BDM/Sandia he served (1988-1993) as a member of the US Air Force Advisory Board.

In 2000 he founded Bode Aviation, Inc where he was a pilot and in 2014 he became the organization’s Chairman and Executive VP.

Units Assigned

  • 1952-54 Enlisted, Student at USMA Prep School
  • 1954-55 Pilot Training Class 55.O
  • 1955-56 Pilot Tactics and Gunnery Schools Laughlin/Nellis AFB, NV
  • 1956-58 434 FDS/476 FDS George AFB, CA, F-100
  • 1958-61 Assistant Operations Officer 494 TFS Chaumont/Lakenheath, England, F-100
  • 1961-65 Student AFIT Program U of Oklahoma, BS/MS Mechanical Engineering
  • 1965-68 Research Engineer/Chief High Altitude Group Air Force Weapons Laboratory
  • 1968 Survival School (3), F-4 Aircraft Commander Course, FAC training, F-4, OV-10
  • 1968-69 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division, RVN
  • 1969-73 Director CAS Studies/Chief Fighter Division ACS Studies and Analysis, Hq USAF
  • 1973-74 Industrial College of the Air Force
  • 1 Feb 74 Retired from active duty

Awards & Decorations

Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross
Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Bronze Star
Bronze Star
Air Medal
Air Medal (15)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
RVN Gallantry Cross With Palm
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm

Flight Info

F-100
OV-10
F-4

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • Enlisted USMA Prep School
  • Pilot Class 55-O
  • Nuclear Weapons School
  • ICAF-Correspondence

Civilian Education:

  • Ogallala High School Diploma
  • BS/Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma
  • MS/Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma

John Raymond Bode Before 225x309
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
Click To View

Wall of Honor Location

Our Mission

The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2023 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top