Never give up, Never Surrender!

Last Friday, Sarge started off the Memorial day weekend with a Friday Flyby (of sorts), that featured the Wild Weasels.  During my flying days, I've flown a lot of missions with Wild Weasels to include a few as the "Killer" part of a "Hunter-Killer" package.  In that role, the Wild Weasel "Hunter" would locate, ID, and surpress a SAM site to allow us to come in and kill as much of the site as possible.  They were always fun missions, mostly because nobody was actually shooting at us.

I've also gotten to meet a lot of Wild Weasel crews, most notably, Ed Rasimus, who had without a doubt the most profound influence on my flying career even if I did meet him when it was half over.  As Sarge frequently says, "he clanked when he walked".  

Finally, save for the effort of one man, I'd have ended my flying career as a Wild Weasel.  I'm thankful for the intervention as flying the Eagle was fabulous.  But, because of that intervention, even if it had been unsuccessful, I'd have stayed in and become a Weasel.  

So, I enjoyed Friday's post and video.  If you haven't been there yet, you should go.  I'll wait right here for you.

Because it is Memorial Day, I thought I'd do another of my "old reliable" posts.  So, let me introduce you to Col Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen.

 Yes, that is the Nation's highest medal around his neck.  "Courage above and beyond the call of Duty" is required to receive it.
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Col Dethlefsen joined the Air Force in 1953 through the Aviation Cadet program.  After commissioning, he was trained as a Navigator and served as such on "Old Shakey", the C-124 Globemaster.  He was eventually selected for UPT and graduated in 1960 from Bainbridge Air Force Base.

I'd considered myself pretty well versed on AFB's both present and past, but I couldn't place that one.  Which is unusual as I was stationed about 75 miles from there at Moody.  

Anyhow, our Colonel graduated from there and flew the F-100 for a few years before transitioning to the F-105.  In October of 1966, he deployed to Takli Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand where our story begins.

On March 10, 1967, then Captain Dethlefsen, is roughly 3/4 of the way through his 100 mission tour as a Wild Weasel pilot at Takli.  President Johnson has finally relented and is going to allow the US to attack the Thai Nguyen steel works just north of Hanoi.  At the time, Hanoi was the most heavily defended city on Earth and the steel works was it's most valuable asset (except for the leadership themselves at least in their minds).  

So....It was well defended.

If you look closely at the canopy rails, you'll notice this actually is Capt Dethlefsen's Thud Source

Capt Dethlefsen was flying as Lincoln 03 in a flight of 4 Wild Weasels (2 F-105Fs and 2 F-105Ds a Hunter/Killer package),  As they approach the target area, Lincoln 01 locates an active SAM site and the duel begins.  He fires a Shrike at the site as the SAM site returns fire.  Unfortunately, the Shrike misses and the SAMS shoot down Lincoln 01 (Both crewmen survived but were captured) as well as two F-4 Escorts.  Additionally, Lincoln 02 has been hit by AAA and badly damaged.  He exits the fight and RTBs.   Capt Dethlefsen and his wingman are the only two Weasels left in the target area.  With the strike package approaching, the defense systems are becoming very active, to include at least two MIG-21s.

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Capt Dethlefsen continues the attack on the SAM site as the MIGs begin their attack.  He fires a shrike at the SAM site as the MIG's launch ATOLL heat seeking missiles.  Capt Dethlefsen starts a break turn which defeats the ATOLLs, but the MIGs continue their pursuit.  Figuring that they won't follow him down into the very heavy AAA fire, he dives down to low altitude.  In fact, they don't follow him down.

Once clear, Capt Dethlefsen  lights the AB and climbs back up to altitude and resumes his attack on the SAM site.  Unfortunately, the two MIGs had brothers in the vicinity and Lincoln 3 and 4 are attached by another pair of Fishbeds.  Both 105s are hit by 37mm cannon fire, but are still flyable..

This time they evade the MIG by diving down into the thick haze and while doing so, his jet is hit again by AAA.  however, relocating the target SAM site, he attacks it again and destroys it.  

The strikers and escorts are clear of the target area, the SAM site has been destroyed, Mission Completed, right?

Not in this case.

Capt Dethlefsen  realizes that the weather will be good in the target's vicinity for the next several days.  Good enough that he's certain that the target will be attacked many times over that time.  He and his wingman still have ordnance and there are still active SAM sites in the vicinity.

He sets up and attacks a second SAM site with dumb bombs and finishes with multiple strafing passes, thereby destroying it.  During the strafing attack, his aircraft is again hit by AAA.  Finally out of ordnance and heavily damaged, Capt Dethlefsen and his wingman RTB to Takli.

"First in....Last out" indeed!

There were a lot of points in that mission where it would have been smart, even honorable, to withdraw.  At any point after receiving damage that decision would have been warranted.

Once the striking force exited the area?  Absolutely.

Realizing that the "Game ain't over"  and attacking tomorrow's target today?  Good Gravy,  that man didn't clank when he walked, he veritably tolled like Big Ben!

Completing his tour, Colonel Dethlefsen returns to the States and becomes an IP at Vance .

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Colonel Dethlefsen received the Medal of Honor from President Johnson in 1968.  His "Bear" (backseater), Capt Kevin Gilroy received the Air Force Cross as did his wingman, Major Ken Bell.

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He retired from the Air Force in 1977.


  Unfortunately,  Colonel Dethlefsen passed away from natural causes in 1987 and is buried at Arlington.

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Colonel Dethlefsen's Citation:

Maj. Dethlefsen was 1 of a flight of F-105 aircraft engaged in a fire suppression mission designed to destroy a key antiaircraft defensive complex containing surface-to-air missiles (SAM), an exceptionally heavy concentration of antiaircraft artillery, and other automatic weapons. The defensive network was situated to dominate the approach and provide protection to an important North Vietnam industrial center that was scheduled to be attacked by fighter bombers immediately after the strike by Maj. Dethlefsen's flight. In the initial attack on the defensive complex the lead aircraft was crippled, and Maj. Dethlefsen's aircraft was extensively damaged by the intense enemy fire. Realizing that the success of the impending fighter bomber attack on the center now depended on his ability to effectively suppress the defensive fire, Maj. Dethlefsen ignored the enemy's overwhelming firepower and the damage to his aircraft and pressed his attack. Despite a continuing hail of antiaircraft fire, deadly surface-to-air missiles, and counterattacks by MIG interceptors, Maj. Dethlefsen flew repeated close range strikes to silence the enemy defensive positions with bombs and cannon fire. His action in rendering ineffective the defensive SAM and antiaircraft artillery sites enabled the ensuing fighter bombers to strike successfully the important industrial target without loss or damage to their aircraft, thereby appreciably reducing the enemy's ability to provide essential war material. Maj. Dethlefsen's consummate skill and selfless dedication to this significant mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

 Rest in Peace, Warrior!

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlyn_Hans_Dethlefsen
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3259/dethlefsen-merlyn-hans.php
http://www.tailsthroughtime.com/2015/05/major-merlyn-dethlefsen-and-medal-of.html
https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/merlyn-hans-dethlefsen/
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mhdethle.htm
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=29115
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197449/selfless-determination-at-thai-nguyen-capts-merlyn-dethlefsen-and-mike-gilroy/
http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/2208644.html