The End of an Era
F-105 Thunderchiefs of the 355th TFW depart Takhli
12 ship formation farewell pass - 12 October 1970 - Takhli RTAFB
The 355th TAC Fighter Wing departs Takhli on 12 Oct 1970
From the history of Takhli contributed by Jim Traywick:
The
355 TFW ceased combat operations at Takhli on 7 October, and on the 12th,
the wing retired it's colors with a 12-aircraft flyover of F-105s.
The wing and its associated units inactivated 10 December. Most of
the aircraft were moved to McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, but some went
to Kadena Air Base and the 18 TFW. The only F-105s remaining in PACAF
were the Wild Weasels at Korat and a few aircraft assigned to the 12 TFS
at Kadena. From: Pacific Air Forces: Fifty Years In Defense of the Nation,
p 105
Note from Steve Lott:
I was in the ECM Pod Shop from Oct 1968 to Jul 1968. I returned in Aug 1970, in time to see operations wind down and got a couple of snapshots of the flyover. I remember thinking what a beautiful sight that was on such a sad occasion.