Vietnam War Memorial, Prospect Lake Memorial Park, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Posted by: 
HANSENNI
N 38° 49.644 W 104° 47.777
13S E 517682 N 4297642
F-100 "MISTY" Fast Forward Air Controller memorial in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Waymark Code: WM6VCP
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 07/23/2009
Views: 10
Dedication:
MISTY
RADIO CALL SIGN OF OPERATION "COMMANDO SABRE"
THE FAST FORWARD AIR CONTROLLERS (FACs)
WHOSE MISSION WAS TO INTERDICT THE FLOW OF SUPPLIES
AND HOSTILE FORCES ON THE HO CHI MIHN TRAIL IN
NORTH VIETNAM AND LAOS DURING 1967 - 1970
-----------
TO OUR DEPARTED BROTHERS
KILLED IN ACTION
HOWARD "HOWIE" WILLIAMS
MIKE McELHANON
JOHN OVERLOCK
LEE GOURLEY
JEFFERSON "SCOTTY" DODSON
PATRICK "PAT" CARROLL
LAWRENCE "LARRY" WHITFORD
CLYDE SEILER
34 OF 157 MISTY PILOTS WERE SHOT DOWN, 2 MORE THAN ONCE.
-----------
"IT IS FOOLISH TO MOURN
THE MEN WHO DIED. RATHER
WE SHOULD THANK GOD
THAT SUCH MEN LIVED."
GEN GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.
______________________________________________________________________
In 1967, a group of combat-experienced fighter pilot volunteers were brought together in South Viet Nam to form a top secret squadron with a now-famous callsign -- MISTY. They were stationed first at Phu Cat Air Base, then in 1969, they moved to Tuy Hoa Air Base. Their mission was to fly fast and low over enemy territory, armed with only their cannons and marking rockets... so low that they could see the targets... SAMs, AAA sites, trucks, bridges, boats, bulldozers... whatever. Their goal was straightforward: disrupt the transfer of enemy supplies and equipment down the Ho Chi Minh trail. When a Misty located one or more of these targets, he directed Air Force and Navy fighter strikes against them. Mistys flew the two-seat version of the Super Sabre, the F-100F, and although they flew fast (350 to 550 MPH), and they continually jinked (i.e., changed direction) to spoil the enemy's prediction of where to aim, still, 28% of the Misty pilots were shot down. Their first commander, Colonel Bud Day, was one of those shot down, and he became a POW in the Hanoi Hilton. Those who survived went on to important positions, including two Air Force Chiefs of Staff, seven general officers, two astronauts, numerous industry CEOs, and the first man to fly around the world unrefueled in a light aircraft. (Information courtesy of MISTYVIETNAM.COM)
Placed by:: Not listed
Date Placed: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Waymarks visited should include a full photo of the memorial.