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Show c 1 "T1 V i .' H0e 1 Lieutenant colonel remembers POW seventeen years later By Staff ir T a 388th Fighter Wing supplement to the Hilltop Times Thursday, May 3, 2001 Twice Monthly n Black Widows honor Vietnam veteran's return Sgt Brian Bahret 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs By Staff Sgt Brian Bahret 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs The 388th Fighter Wing chief of safety's jaw dropped at an operations group scheduling meeting when he learned the 42 1 st Fighter Squadron was going to fly the missing man formation at Arlington Cemetery for a fighter pilot shot down more than Vietnam 35 years ago. Col. Robert Dyczkowski was flying with the 42 1 st Tactical Fighter Squadron on April 23, 1 966 when he was shot down . 70 miles north of Hanoi, Vietnam. "My jaw hit the floor," said Lt. Col. Paul Strickland when he saw the name "Col. Robert R. Dyczkowski" flashed across the briefing slide; Colonel Strick... land had been carrying Colonel Dyczkowski's Prisoner of War Missing in Action bra-cl- et Nearly 35 years after his death, a 42 1 st pilot's remains were repatriated in a memorial ceremony April 6 at Arlington Cemetery. Col. Robert Dyczkowski, then a cap-tain 0 pilot's family when his remains were at Arlington Cemetery to honor the , . V i r . a Vietnam April 23, 1 966 when his F-- 1 05D was shot down. The 42 1 st Fighter Squadron was invited to Arlington to fly the missing man formation and make a presentation to Colonel Dyczkowski's wife, Delma," during the ' L" ceremony. The memorial ceremony allowed the 42 1 st FS pilots to pay their last respects to Colonel Dyczkowski,' said CaptiStephen Jost who was the Black Widovpres-ehc- e on the ground. Captain Jost, chief n were recovered from Vietnam and the Air Force-waholding a ceremony April 6 y o 3 for nearly two decades. "I know him, that's my guy!" the safety chief exclaimed as he recognized the name. The briefing paused as all heads swiveled towards him. Colonel Strickland explained how he maintained Colonel Dyczkowski's POWMIA bracelet since he was in officer's training school years ago. ; In OTS, the safety chief made a commitment to wear or maintain the bracelet until the missing person was recovered. He vowed to return the bracelet to the 1 with the 421st Tactical Fighter, Squadron, was on his 99th mission over Courtesy Photo of the Dyczkowski family The Air Force Honor Guard carries Col. Robert Dyczkowski's coffin to his gravesite at Arlington Cemetery. Colonel Dyczkowski was body was repatriated during a ceremony at Arlington on April 6. recovered. : -- " ' ' ; . During the staff meeting, Colonel Strickland learned Colonel Dyczkowski's remains s Vietnam veteran. The 42 1 st FS was invited to fly a missing man formation over the ceremony and to make a presentation to Colonel Dyczkowski's wife, Delma. See POW, Page B Bombs away. .. of weapons and tactics, watched the funeral, marched in the procession, and presented Colonel Dyczkowski's wife, with a squadron scarf, coin and the POWMIA bracelet worn by Lt. Col.! Paul Strickland, 388th Fighter Wing chief of safety, V Captain Jost said he participated in military funerals while in the Air Force Academy's Cadet Choir, but has never seen anything as grand as the Arlington, ceremony. "It was perfect," he said. "You couldn't ask for anything more." As the ceremony progressed on the of 421st Fighter ground, a four-shi- p loitered in the distant Squadron skies above waiting for their opportuv nity to honor the fallen pilot "It has special significance to take a ; flight of aircraft from the squadron to vhonor him at his burial," said Lt. Col. Eric Best, 421st FS commander. "The missing man formation is specifically to honor military members who have given their life in service for their country.' "It's an opportunity you just can't say no to," said Colonel Best. "It just means too much." Colonel Best was the flight lead for the missing man formation. F-1- The 1 2$ Air Force Demonstration Team' i U' is looking for a vo- l- I , t 1 . !; frTHuIci' frosa 1 3?thFW.tonar- J ? rate during air shows. j ? Narrciors must be avail- I - ; abl$.ca(Fdays end." occassionaly Mondays to support the various" r-- 5 air shows from now until the third week ,4 in November. For fur- ther information or to I, submit 'your name for consideration, call the ; The four 42 1 st FS 1 6 Fighting Fal- -' cons flew low over Arlington Cemetery to salute Colonel Dyczkowski. As the F-- 1 388th Fighter Wing I t public affairs office at" ? I f Honor Guard detail removed the flag from the casket, one Falcon pulled up and away from the others - a symbol paying homage to those left behind; to Colonel Dyczkowski. - 777-320- 0. Coll Phones Exactly how his aircraft was shot down remains a mystery. Official reports state that Colonel Dyczkowski had completed his bomb run when the flight lead gave him instructions to return to the forma- Air Force members are prohibited from car-Tyi- ng cellular phoses . ea&l; eep ers o&cl4ty unless these itsszts rtqp&od to perfona!4r Foree duties, per Air Xztce Instruction 3$: 2533. 6s The 34th Fighter Squadron "Rude Rams" dropped more than $750 million in guided weapons on the Utah Test and Training Range during Combat Hammer March 26-2Combat Hammer is an exercise that evaluates how well weapons loaders mount munitions on the aircraft, judges pilots on their ability to place bombs on target and evaluates precision guided munitions reliability. 9. tion. The colonel acknowledged and banked his aircraft to rejoin his flight. Approximately four minutes later the flight lead asked everyone to report fuel nd Advertisements contained herein do not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force of HI AFB. Everything See RETURN, Page advertised Is available without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or other nonmertt factor of the purchaser, user or patron. O |