100 Missions North

The “100 Mission Patch” became a symbolic mark of courage during OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER. The achievement of 100 missions in the deadly skies over North Vietnam grew into a rich tradition with its own proud customs.

“Instinctively, my eyes found the patch we coveted the most…the bold, embroidered words read: ‘North Vietnam–100 missions F-105.’ It was beautiful and signaled the finale I had dreamed about.”
— Capt. (later Brig. Gen.) Kenneth Bell on receiving his ceremonial 100-mission flight suit after finishing his 100th mission over North Vietnam.

In previous wars, some aircrews’ tours were determined by the number of missions flown. In Europe during World War II, early heavy bomber crews could go home after completing 25 missions. During the Korean War, 100 missions over North Korea was the standard for many.

At the start of OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER in early 1965 personnel rotated in and out of theater for 30-90 days, thereby limiting the number of combat missions. In November 1965, the length of a tour was established as either 100 missions “out-country” (meaning Laos and North Vietnam), one year, or a combination of the two (20 missions equaled one month, so an Airman with 80 missions could go home at eight months).

Reaching this mark was no easy task. Those flying over North Vietnam faced a deadly combination of MiG fighters, SA-2 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and an unprecedented concentration of anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) and automatic weapons.

Starting in February 1966, only missions over North Vietnam were counted towards completing a tour. Even so, missions in Laos were dangerous whether or not they were “counters”–52 F-105s, 109 F-4s, and 22 RF-4Cs among others, were lost from combat damage received over Laos.

The 100-mission policy changed as ROLLING THUNDER began winding down in the spring of 1968. On March 31, 1968, President Johnson ended all bombing north of the 20th Parallel (shortly thereafter the 19th Parallel). Aircrews arriving in theater on July 1 or later were given a one year tour, regardless of where or what number of missions they flew. In October, ROLLING THUNDER ended, curtailing major USAF operations over the North until the start of OPERATION LINEBACKER in 1972.

First 100-Mission Tour

The first pilot to reach 100 “counters” was Capt. Donald Beck, an RF-101C pilot in the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, who completed his 100th on Nov. 15, 1965. Beck’s 100 included missions over both Laos and North Vietnam.

RF-101C crews were some of the first to fly Air Force combat missions during the Southeast Asia War. From 1961 on, the 15th and 45th TRS flew combat missions in Southeast Asia. It was only in May 1964, however, that they began to keep track of their missions over Laos and North Vietnam.

100 Missions North in the “Thud”
Achieving 100 missions over North Vietnam in an F-105 “Thud” had particularly special meaning. During some periods, it was more likely than not that an F-105 Airman would be shot down at least once during his tour, and the odds of completing a 100-mission tour were not good.

Though they were fighters, F-105 Thunderchiefs were the primary bombers of the ROLLING THUNDER campaign. Thud pilots constantly flew bombing missions over very heavily defended targets. They often attacked these same targets several days in a row. Moreover, F-105 crews flew dangerous Wild Weasel anti-SAM missions. Thuds flew in the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB), Thailand, and the 388th TFW at Korat RTAFB.

The USAF lost 334 F-105s in combat (all but one over North Vietnam or Laos) during the Southeast Asia War. Most of these occurred during ROLLING THUNDER, and they represent nearly 20 percent of all USAF combat losses during the war. Accidents or malfunctions claimed 63 more F-105s. From 1964-1972, over one-half of all F-105Ds, F-105Fs and F-105Gs produced were lost in Southeast Asia.

The USAF rescued 99 downed F-105 Airmen, but another 214 were killed, missing-in-action (MIA), or became POWs (some of whom did not survive captivity).

Billy Sparks completing 100 missions North flying F-105 Wild Weasels with the 357th TFS out of Takhli RTAB

Capt. Will Koenitzer shortly after completing his 100th mission wearing the patch he helped design. (U.S. Air Force photo)

In January 1968, before completing his F-105 Wild Weasel training, Maj. Stan Goldstein was hurriedly deployed to Osan AB, South Korea, in response to the Pueblo incident (North Korea captured a U.S. ship and its crew). The incident was resolved peacefully, so he had a patch made. He later completed a 100-mission tour in Southeast Asia in the 44th TFS, 388th TFW. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Left; 1st Lt. Karl Richter: Consecutive 100-mission tours

Lt. Karl Richter’s story is one of remarkable courage and perseverance. An Air Force Academy graduate, Richter flew F-105Ds in the 421st TFS, 388th TFW, Korat RTAFB. He flew aggressively and volunteered for the most hazardous missions. In September 1966, he shot down a MiG-17.

As he neared the end of his 100-mission tour, Richter asked for and received permission to fly 100 more missions back-to-back. On his second tour, he was awarded an Air Force Cross for a mission on April 20, 1967, in which he vigorously suppressed heavy AAA and SAM defenses.

In July 1967, on his 198th mission, Lt. Richter was hit by enemy fire and ejected over sharp limestone rocks known as karst. He was mortally injured when he hit the rocks.

First 100 North Vietnam A-1 Missions
In November 1966, Lt. Col. Jerald Ransom became the first A-1E Skyraider pilot to complete 100 missions over North Vietnam. Ransom was a veteran of World War II, flying 35 missions over Europe as a B-17 navigator. In 1966, as commander of the 602nd Fighter Squadron (Commando), Ransom flew 366 hours over North Vietnam, and his A-1E was hit by enemy fire seven times. With his later tour as deputy commander of the 56th Special Operations Wing, Ransom flew a total of 326 combat missions in Southeast Asia.

Lt. Col. Jerald Ransom became the first A-1E Skyraider pilot to complete 100 missions over North Vietnam

100 Mission Traditions
In addition to a special patch and elaborate celebrations, there were other aspects of the 100 mission tradition. Some aircrews grew large “bullet-proof” mustaches to “protect” themselves and shaved them off after completing their tours. Nearly all had a “boonie hat” (also known as a “go-to-hell” or “Sierra Hotel” hat) on which they kept a running tally of their missions. This tally was often sorted into missions over North Vietnam (“counters”) and those in Laos (“non-counters”). Most units kept lists of those Airmen who had completed their 100-mission tours on scoreboards, plaques, red carpets and even sewn onto a flying scarf.

Air Force Col. Robin Olds, in Southeast Asia – 1967- commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, preflights his F-4C Phantom. Col. Olds has shot down four enemy MiG aircraft in aerial combat over North Vienam. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

Maj. Roy Dickey, an F-105D pilot in the 469th TFS, smiling under his “bullet-proof” mustache. (U.S. Air Force photo)

On March 18, 1968, Capt. James “Ed” Risinger finished his Misty FAC tour in the F-100F 56-3837. Capt. Risinger, holding a glass of champagne, celebrates his 58th and final mission. On the left is Capt. Brian Williams and inspecting bullet damage is Capt. Richard Rutan. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Lt. (later Maj.) Ed Rasimus, an F-105 pilot in the 421st TFS, completed his 100th mission over North Vietnam on Nov. 3, 1966. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Two 34th TFS pilots, Captains Lamont “Monty” Pharmer and Gary Durkee, celebrate their 100th mission over North Vietnam in August 1968.

34 TFS Snoopy Wagon used for 100 mission parades at Korat RTAFB

Capt. Merlyn Dethlefsen kneels beside a board that says he completed 100 missions over North Vietnam

Against the odds, Capt. Mike Gilroy completed 100 missions over North Vietnam flying Wild Weasels, First in Last out over North Vietnam

To the right;Lieutenant Colonel McGee (right) served as Commander of the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Vietnam; Lieutenant Tom Coney (left) flew as his backseater.

Lieutenant Colonel McGee would retire as Brig. General on January 31, 1973. During the Vietnam War, as a lieutenant colonel, McGee flew 172 combat missions in a McDonnell RF-4 photo-reconnaissance aircraft. During his Southeast Asia combat tour, McGee served as the Squadron Commander of the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS), of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, which was based at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, in South Vietnam.

Brig. General MeGee McGee achieved a three-war fighter mission total of 409 combat missions, one of the highest by any Air Force fighter pilot.^[10] He ended his military career with 6,308 flying hours.

The Thunderbuzzards
From 1971-1972, the 469th TFS and 34th TFS at Korat RTAFB escorted end of tour aircraft with the humorous 5-man team called the “Thunderbuzzards.” Mimicking the famous Air Force Thunderbirds, they had special suits and rode motorscooters in various formations as they led returning aircraft to the revetments.

The Patch
This widely-respected symbol began with F-105 aircrews. Capts. Bruce Holmes and Will Koenitzer, two pilots in the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, designed the original 100-mission patch while on leave in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1965. Holmes completed his 100-mission tour on Jan. 15, 1966, and Koenitzer finished his the next day.

Although unofficial, this patch became a powerful symbol of a proud tradition. A badge of honor, it showed that one had faced mortal danger 100 times and survived where so many others had been lost. It also certified the faithful completion of a tour and the right to go home.

Some of the patches I have collected over the years and donated to my collection, These are the crown jewels of my collection