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Photo Courtesy of HomeOfHeroes.com |
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Captain Dethlefsen piloted an F-105 aircraft in a flight engaged in a fire suppression mission over North Vietnam. The target was a key antiaircraft defensive complex containing surface-to-air missiles, antiaircraft artillery, and other automatic weapons. In the initial attack on the defensive complex the lead aircraft was crippled, and Captain 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, Captain 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, Captain 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. |
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Eventually promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Merlyn Dethlefsen went on to serve as an instructor in a Pennsylvania war college. |
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