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Col. Joe Kittinger has gone West . . .

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  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Winter Park, FL
Col. Joe Kittinger has gone West . . .
Posted by fotofrank on Saturday, December 10, 2022 3:01 PM

OK. In the stash: Way too much to build in one lifetime...

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Saturday, December 10, 2022 8:30 PM

Even thought I was in the Air force, I had never heard of him before I got to Orlando.  I met him at the Winter Park mall one day and when he introduced himself, I think he was a little surprised by my reaction which was a look something like "and that means what to me?"  There was never any talk aboiut him in any squadron I was in so I had no idea.

Where is a F-4 on display at the small airport in town that just happens to be one of the ones he flew.  We heard that a requesdt went in for a display aircraft from the bone yard and this one was randomly picked.

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, December 11, 2022 10:10 AM

I knew of his ballon stratosphere jump, and having been a POW in Vietnam. But I looked him up to learn more. I didn't realize that he was also a Mig Killer during Linebacker before getting shot down himself. A bold and brave soul. 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Winter Park, FL
Posted by fotofrank on Sunday, December 11, 2022 2:55 PM

Joe Kittinger's F-4 Phantom at Joe Kittinger Park on the southwest corner of Orlando Executive Airport.

OK. In the stash: Way too much to build in one lifetime...

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, December 12, 2022 11:36 AM

fotofrank

Joe Kittinger's F-4 Phantom at Joe Kittinger Park on the southwest corner of Orlando Executive Airport.

 

Is that in the markings of the F-4 that he was flying when he was shot down? Ltc Kittinger scored his Mig kill in the same F-4D that Steve Ritchie flew for his first and last kills, 66-7463, the highest scoring F-4 of the war with six kills. 

edit- scratch that about his downed aircraft. Here is more info on Kittinger, 463, and some other good stuff for USAF Vietnam Pahntom Phans

 

 https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/f-4d-29-mc/

 

 

 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Monday, December 12, 2022 5:42 PM

Here's a couple shots I took when it landed at Korat in 1974:


  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, December 12, 2022 9:24 PM

Beautiful photos! And here I was told no cameras on the flight line... Wink

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Monday, December 12, 2022 10:09 PM

Who told you that and where were you told it?  At Korat all you needed was a line badge or authorized escort and a permit from the information office on base.  I used to go out in my camoflaged fatigues and would get stopped by the maint. guys sometimes who were looking for a chance to get some revenge against us for something they did and we had to get involved.

Did you take a close look at the kill markings on the splitter vane?

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