March 20, 1968 – Major Fred Neal Thompson was flying his F-100D (#553606) on a mission over South Vietnam when he was hit by gunfire. Fred was stationed at Phu Cat with the 416th. In November of 1967, Thompson had received the Distinguished Flying Cross as an F-100 pilot for his actions during an aerial battle. Five months later he was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. He received an early release by the North Vietnamese on July 22, 1968, and returned home on August 4, 1968. Fred is an SSS Member.
Today in History – September 29, 1954 – The F-100 enters service with the 479th Fighter Wing.
29 September 1954 – The North American F-100 Super Sabre entered service with the United States Air Force‘s 479th Fighter Wing. Initially, the new wing maintained tactical proficiency with the World War II-era F-51Ds inherited from the Air National Guard, then in February 1953 upgrading to the North American F-86H Sabre jet aircraft. The wing