Wednesday, November 20, 2019

F-100D 54-440 at Haze

Here is the history.  440 was it has the distinction of being the only USAF fight ever to bomb is own base.
F-100D 56-440 and wingman are shown lifting off from Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam late on the first day of the Tet Offensive, January 31, 1968. The enemy forces had overrun 1/3rd of the base before dawn and were gradually pushed back as the day progressed. Debris on the runway prevented operations until early evening when the first Super Sabres took off through a hail of hostile ground fire to bomb their own base to provide close air support for the friendly forces battling enemy troops. The airmen pressed the attack in poor visibility, silenced all hostile fire directed at their aircraft and U.S. ground troops ending the attack on Bien Hoa.

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