Texas Tech University

Air Force POW Oral History Collection (005) Finding Aid

Collection Item Number: 0050000000
Collection
Air Force POW Oral History Collection
Title
Finding Aid
Linear Feet
1.0
Pages
3
Language(s)
English
Dates
Creation: 15 October 2001
Scope and Contents
One linear foot of paper transcripts of oral histories conducted by the United States Air Force Academy document the prisoner-of-war (POW) experiences of 32 different Air Force officers during the Vietnam Conflict. The interviews were conducted from 04 June 1991 to 30 October 1992 and include interviews with Major General John L. Borling, Major General William J. Breckner and Brigadier General Jon A. Reynolds. The donation of this collection was made possible by Brigadier General Joseph Potter.
Biographical / Historical
The United States Air Force Academy, with funding from the Academy's class of 1965, conducted a series of oral history interviews with Air Force officers who, during their careers, had been prisoners-of-war.
  • Box 1: [Barcode: 1] [TTU - Southwest Collections Building, Stacks [D040.5]]
  • Box 1
  • Folder 1
  • Alpers, John H.; Lieutenant Colonel; F-4 pilot, 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 5 October 1972; released March 1973 (24 July 1992) (John H. Alpers)
  • Folder 2
  • Ayres, Timothy R.; Major; born 2 January 1945; USAFA 1968; F-4 pilot, 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 3 May 1972; released 28 March 1973 (17 October 1991) (Timothy R. Ayres)
  • Folder 3
  • Beekman, William D.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 19 August 1946; USAFA 1968; F-4 pilot 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron, DaNang, South Vietnam, shot down 24 June 1972; released February 1973 (19 June 1991) (William D. Beekman)
  • Folder 4
  • Black, Jon D.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 23 May 1937; USAFA 1959; 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 27 October 1967; released 17 February 1968 (01 August 1991) (Jon D. Black)
  • Folder 5
  • Bliss, Ronald G.; born 22 March 1943; USAFA 1964; F-105 pilot, 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 4 September 1966, released February 1973 (17 October 1991) (Ronald G. Bliss)
  • Folder 6
  • Borling, John L.; Major General; born 24 March 1940; USAFA 1963; F-4 pilot, 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli, Thailand; shot down 1 June 1966; released; February 1973 (01 July 1991) (John L. Borling)
  • Folder 7
  • Breckner, William J.; Major General; born 25 May 1933; F-4 pilot, 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 30 July 1972; released March 1973 (07 May 1992) (William J. Breckner)
  • Folder 8
  • Burroughs, William D.; Colonel; USMA 1955; RF-101 pilot, 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Udorn, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 31 July 1966; released 1973 (12 May 1992) (William D. Burroughs)
  • Folder 9
  • Donald, Myron L.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 20 May 1943; USAFA 1965; F-4 pilot, 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down February 1968; released 1973 (13 July 1992) (Myron L. Donald)
  • Folder 10
  • Driscoll, Jerry D.; Colonel; born 21 February 1940; USAFA 1963; F-4 pilot, 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 24 April 1966; released 12 February 1973 (12 August 1991) (Jerry D. Driscoll)
  • Folder 11
  • Fer, John; Colonel; born 12 February 1937; USAFA 1962; pilot EB-66C, Takhli, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 4 February 1967; released March 1973 (04 June 1991) (John Fer)
  • Folder 12
  • Hill, Howard J.; Colonel; born 7 February 1943; USAFA 1965; F-4 pilot, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon. RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 16 December 1967; released 14 March 1973 (12 July 1991) (Howard J. Hill)
  • Folder 13
  • Jackson, Charles A.; Captain; born 4 March 1946; USAFA 1969; F-4 pilot, 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 24 June 1972; released February 1973 (06 June 1991) (Charles A. Jackson)
  • Folder 14
  • Johnson, Kenneth R.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 23 March 1938; F-4 pilot, Udorn, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 18 December 1971; released 1973 (26 July 1991) (Kenneth R. Johnson)
  • Folder 15
  • Kari, Paul A.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 25 November 1935; F-4C pilot, 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon, RTAFB, Thailand, shot down 20 June 1965; released February 1973 (05 April 1992) (Paul A. Kari)
  • Folder 16
  • Kula, James D.; Colonel; born 5 January 1947, USAFA 1969; F-4C pilot, 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, DaNang, south Vietnam; shot down 29 July 1972; released 29 March 1973 (30 August 1991) (James D. Kula)
  • Folder 17
  • Marshall, Marion A; Lieutenant Colonel; born 4 December 1946; USAFA 1968; F-4 navigator, 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 3 July 1972; released 29 march 1973 (13 August 1991) (Marion A. Marshall)
  • Folder 18
  • McNish, Thomas M.; Colonel; born 1 May 1942; USAFA 1964; F-105 pilot, 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 4 September 1966; released March 1973 (03 July 1991) (Thomas M. McNish)
  • Folder 19
  • Mechenbier, Edward J.; Major; born 29 June 1942; USAFA 1964; F-4C pilot, 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron, DaNang, South Vietnam; 14 June 1967; released March 1973 (20 June 1991) (Edward J. Mechenbier)
  • Folder 20
  • Neuens, Martin J.; Colonel; born 31 May 1942; USAFA 1964; F-105 pilot, 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhili, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 12 August 1966; released February 1973 (26 September 1991) (Martin J. Neuens)
  • Folder 21
  • Pollard, Ben M.; Colonel; born 27 February 1932; F-105 pilot, Korat, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 15 May 1967; released 4 March 1973 (11 July 1992) (Ben M. Pollard)
  • Folder 22
  • Reeder, William S. Lieutenant Colonel; born 22 December 1945; AH-1 pilot; 361st Aerial Weapons Company, Camp Holloway, Pleiku, South Vietnam; shot down 9 may 1972; released 27 March 1973 (30 June 1992) (William S. Reeder)
  • Folder 23
  • Reich, William J.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 10 February 1947; USAFA 1970; navigator F-4, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn, RTAFB, Thailand, shot down (June?)1972; released (March?) 1973 (30 July 1991) (William J. Reich)
  • Folder 24
  • Reynolds, John A.; Brigadier General; born 13 December 1937; F-105 pilot, 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tahkli, RTAFB, Thailand, shot down 28 November 1965; released February 12, 1973 (20 April 1992) (John A. Reynolds)
  • Folder 25
  • Robinson, Paul K.; Colonel; born 5 January 1939; USAFA 1962; F-4 pilot, 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 1 July 1972; released March 1973 (10 August 1991) (Paul K. Robinson)
  • Folder 26
  • Singleton, Jerry A.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 20 March 1940; USAFA 1962; CH-3 pilot, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand; shot down 6 November 1965, released February 1973 (30 October 1992) (Jerry A. Singleton)
  • Folder 27
  • Smith, Wayne Ogden; Captain; born 10 August 1943; USAFA 1965; F-4D pilot 435 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 18 January 1968; released 14 March 1973 (02 October 1992) (Wayne Ogden Smith)
  • Folder 28
  • Spoon, Donald R.; Colonel; born 22 December 1941; USAFA 1964; F-4C pilot, 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, DaNang Air Base, South Vietnam; shot down 21 January 1967; released 4 March 1973 (No Date) (Donald R. Spoon)
  • Folder 29
  • Storey, Thomas G.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 1931; RF-4C pilot, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 16 January 1967; released 4 March 1973 (09 October 1992) (Thomas G. Storey)
  • Folder 30
  • Stutz, Leroy W.; Colonel; born 13 November 1939; USAFA 1964; RF-4C pilot, 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Udorn, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 2 December 1966; released 4 March 1973 (31 July 1991) (Leroy W. Stutz)
  • Folder 31
  • Sweet, Robert J.; Lt. Colonel; USAFA 1988; A-10 pilot; shot down February 15, 1991 over Iraq during Desert Storm; released March 6, 1991 (28 June 1991) (Robert J. Sweet)
  • Folder 32
  • Trimble, Jack R.; Lieutenant Colonel; born 1 September 1947; USAFA 1970; F-4 pilot, 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn, RTAFB, Thailand; shot down 27 December 1972; released 31 March 1973 (23 July 1991) (Jack R. Trimble)
Perma Link
https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=0050000000
Citation
Air Force POW Oral History Collection (005) Finding Aid, Air Force POW Oral History Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University, https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/virtualarchive/items.php?item=0050000000, Accessed 02 Aug 2026.
Pub Credit Line
0050000000, Air Force POW Oral History Collection, Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive, Texas Tech University
Added: 14 Oct 2001 [Updated: 13 Apr 2018]

Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive

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