Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen

On March 10, 1967, Dethlefsen along with his EWO Kevin Gilroy, flying the number three aircraft, and three other F-105s of Lincoln flight, flew ahead of a strike force of 72 fighter-bombers (F-105 Thunderchiefs from Korat and Takhli, and F-4 Phantoms from Ubon) heading to the Thai Nguyen iron and steel works.On the first pass, his flight leader (F-105F 63–8335, piloted by David Everson and Jose Luna, both POW) was shot down by 85mm AAA fire and his wingman was forced to withdraw with severe damage.[4] Dethlefsen could have pulled out of the mission on a number of occasions: when attacked by MiGs, when he and his wingman were hit by flak, or when the smoke of battle made it difficult to locate the enemy.The defensive network was situated to dominate the approach and provide protection to an important North Vietnamese industrial center that was scheduled to be attacked by fighter bombers immediately after the strike by Maj. Dethlefsen's flight.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.
Dethlefsen receives the Medal of Honor from President Johnson
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Air Force version of the Medal of Honor
Greenville, IowaArlington National CemeteryColonel354th Tactical Fighter Squadron96th Bombardment WingVietnam WarMedal of HonorDistinguished Flying CrossMeritorious Service MedalAir MedalUnited States Air ForceIowa State UniversityRoyal, Iowaaviation cadet programC-124 GlobemasterDover Air Force BaseBainbridge Air Force BaseF-100 Super Sabres9th Tactical Fighter SquadronSpangdahlem Air Base560th Tactical Fighter SquadronMcConnell Air Force BaseUniversity of Nebraska at OmahaSoutheast AsiaF-105 Thunderchief333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron335th Tactical Fighter WingTakhli Royal Thai Air Force BaseThailandcaptainKevin GilroyF-4 PhantomsMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Lyndon B. JohnsonVance Air Force BaseAir War CollegeMaxwell Air Force BaseArmy War CollegeCarlisle BarracksSR-71 BlackbirdBeale Air Force BaseB-52 StratofortressDyess Air Force BaseUS Air Force Command Pilot BadgePresidential Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardAir Force Reserve Good Conduct MedalCombat Readiness MedalNational Defense Service Medalservice starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service Medalcampaign starsAir Force Longevity Service AwardArmed Forces Reserve MedalSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry CrossVietnam Campaign Medalflightsurface-to-air missilesfighter bombersList of Medal of Honor recipientsUnited States Army Center of Military History