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34th Tactical Fighter Squadron - Thud Era

Korat RTAFB, Thailand - May 1966 to May 1969
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87 - Looking for crew chief

Becky Purcell Arts: Beckyarts@me.com

My Father was with the 12 TAC FTR Squadron; In Korat 1965. I am trying to find the crew chief that put him in his Thunderchief on July 27,1965. I have tried other avenues, and realize it may be impossible but I'm not giving up. Daddy was in F-105D tail # 62-4252. His name was Capt. Robert B. Purcell better known as "Percy". He was shot down that day. Luckily he returned home almost 8 years later. He has since died. I wish I would have asked him so much more but... I would like to thank this man.

Thank you and thank you all for your service to our wonderful America. Becky Purcell Arts

Hi Becky, Thank you for your entry. I've enjoyed your comments on the Facebook F-105 groups. We have a lot of Thud drivers, crew chiefs, historians, and many others visit this site so perhaps you will get an answer. We honor your father's service. Take care, Jack

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86 - Reunion 2014

Rich Stratton: blkvet81@gmail.com

i was with the 34 t.f.s from May 68 thru May 69. Was night crew chief on tail # jj 449; also had a big blue fox painted on the side of the 105. I live in Florida now not too far from Ft. Walton Beach. I would to go to the Reunion in Sept.

Hi Rich, Thanks for your service. Keep checking the Reunion 2014 page for the latest info. Take care, Jack

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85 - Roscoe

Col William C Koch Jr, USAF (Ret): billkoch@aol.com

I saw your picture of Roscoe's paw print. This is how it got there. I was a Navigator on an EC-121. One day, as I was leaving the KABOOM dining room, a Thai workman was working on that little segment of concrete. Just then Roscoe walked over it and left a paw print. The workman started to smooth it over, but I told him no and actually printed the name Roscoe under the paw print. I used a very thin "something" and I guess the name got filled in. I do not know who took the photos.

Hi William, Thank you for the Roscoe addition. He was everybody's friend and I sure missed him when he passed. I was back in the 34th TFS driving F-4E's at the time. And thanks for your service too. Take care, Jack

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84 - Maintenance Flight to Tan Son Nhut Airbase

Bill Hitsman: va@co.warren.ia.us

Researching for anyone with 34th TFS in December 1966 that was on maintenance flight to Saigon with A1C Mike Callahan. Need buddy statement or other documentation showing he was in-country Vietnam for VA benefits. Bill Hitsman, Assistant Director Warren County VA 105 W. 1st Ave. Indianola, IA 50125 515-961-1045 Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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83 - Major Donald W. Hodge

Danny Holder: dh30590@gmail.com

I recently found a letter from Major Donald W. Hodge that I received in 1967 when I was 8 years old. It was very moving to see it again. If anyone has any contact info for Major Hodge, I would really like to thank him or his family for his service to our country.

Hi Danny, Thank you for the post. Hopefully one of our readers can help you. Take care, Jack

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82 - 34 TAC Fighter Septembe 1967- October 1968

Tom Septembre: @tseptembre@aol.com


Hi to all of those I proudly served with during this period.

After spending two years teaching aircraft mechanics in the Air Force, I volunteered for Southeast Asia. I was a crew chief on two F-105's from September 1967 through the first half of 1968 before being assigned TDY to the EB-66 group at Takhli. From Takhli I was rotated back to the states from Japan.

One of my F-105s at Korat was Isaiah 6:8. I believe the pilot was Major "Digger" Odell. In the event anyone speaks to him, please tell him I have two pictures of him in the cockpit of that aircraft at Korat and would like to send copies to him.

To add to the below posting regarding aircraft returning heavily damaged, I remember the first aircraft assigned to me had no tail section due to major combat damage. One night we borrowed a good tail section from the engine run up pad. No one missed it.
I also remember our pilots coming back with barely airworthy aircraft due to new ventilation holes and pieces of wings missing. I do not remember the sam stuck in a wing but do remember other issues.
The line truck picked me up once to help with one F-105 I watched on touched down slid down the runway with no brakes and no drag shoot. I also remember the one that a wheel came off and slammed into the blast wall a few feet from me. I will never forget these nor in October 1967 when Isaiah 6:8 did not return.

On another topic, I am seeking to contact any of my fellow ground crew who had been successful in obtaining VA Agent Orange disability. Please respond by email.

Thank you for letting me serve with you. I am glad that you all have kept this page up.

Best wishes to all of the 34th this Holiday Season,

Tom Septembre,
Sgt. T43151C, USAF

Hi Tom, Thank you for your service and for sharing your stories with us. Take care, Jack

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81 - Today in Korat

Edward Medlin: emedlin2000@hotmail.com

Hello fly boys! I live here in Korat and am active in our local VFW post. Our website is http://www.freewebs.com/vfw10217/home-beta . I was a grunt in Vietnam, and like most ground pounders there, looked up at you guys in your roaring chariots as sort of supermen. Thanks for all the bombs and close support, also for all the presents you carried up north for Uncle Ho and his friends.
Ed

Hi Ed, Thanks for visiting. And thank you also for your service then and now in the VFW. Naming the post is a nice tribute to Karl Richter. We flew many missions together and I attended his memorial service. Take care, Jack

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80 - 34th TFS web site

Don Bolling: donald.t.bolling@lmco.com

Gentlemen, My hats off to you for an outstanding site. I had the privledge of being Ram Boss at Hill AFB in 2002 when we hosted a Ram reunion of sorts (was hard to track down former Rams) so we had a sparse showing. Glad to see you've been able to gather considerably more Rams together. Rumor has it that the 34th Rams will rise again as the first F-35 squadron in the USAF. Again well done! Cheers, Don Bolling

Hi Don, Thanks for visiting and for your kind words. Always glad to hear from a fellow Ram. Your picture is on the Reunion 2002 page. Take care, Jack

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79 - My experiences with the 34th TFS and the F-105

Anthony ( Tony ) Germann: groundedeagle@comcast.net

Hi guys, I finished my 100th mission over NVN on 3 Oct.1968 . Went back as a Wild Weasel pilot ( 17th WWS ) just as Linebacker Two concluded. Found out about the 34th Reunions through Joe Sechler and attended in C Springs, 2012. What a great time Can't wait until 2014 in Fort Walton Beach. YGBSM CHECK SIX.

Hi Tony, Thanks for the entry and thank you for the two "interesting" tours. Glad you're enjoying the reunions. Take care, Jack

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78 - Nickel Reunion, Dallas, 4 - 7 Oct 2013

Bob Middleton: gulbeden@bellsouth.net

Hi Gang... Trying to locate (EMail) Larry Hoppe and Ed Cleveland. Can any of you out there help me? Bob... Finished my 100 over the North in Dec '67 -- flew out of both Korat & Takhli -- I was a TDY puke out of Yokota (80 TFS) at the time.

Hi Bob, Thanks for the entry and thanks also for your service. Larry's address is on our Pictures pages, but can't help on Cleveland. Perhaps one of our readers knows. Good luck, Jack

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77 - Researching F-105 pilot, Major Clyde Benson

Kevin Hills: p.hills@shaw.ca


Hello from British Columbia! I am writing on behalf of my father-in-law, William Benson, who is Cyde Benson's brother. Major Clyde Benson, USAF, had World War two service, stayed in after the war, trained on the F-105 in 1964, and was killed in a training accident in Kansas on 22 April 1965. I found his name as a classmate of one of your members, Robert R Reed. He stayed in McConnell as an instructor on the F-105. The training accident happened out of McConnell, there was an incident requiring ejection, and he died in the ejection. The student stayed with the aircraft and was able to recover it back to base, so there was no hull loss. It's a strange one, and the family never really knew what happened. As time moves on I am trying to help find some answers for William. Can you suggest any resources I could pursue to find out more? Thanks for your time, fantastic looking website! Cheers, Kevin Hills.

Kevin, Thank you for the inquiry. Perhaps one of our members can contact you with more information regarding this incident. Good luck, Jack

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76 - Aircraft 62-4361

Frank Snyder: cz105d@yahoo.com

I was crew chief from August 67 through May 68. I remember the bomb dump explosions and runway crashes. I also remember the thud that was bent upon bomb release and subsequently sent back to the states. Worked with a lot of dedicated people.

Frank, Thank you for your service. I just missed you since I left in early August. Take care, Jack

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