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Show mam Mimnm mm m urn mm T&xbcbip TsyaDipndiimg ffnE utt. "If you really want something, you should keep working for it," he said, with a .... . determined look. And he should know. Lt. Col. John J. Lydon , Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, is now a member of a very prestigious club. He joins the small ranks of Air Force pilots who have flown more than 6,000 accident free hours in fighter type aircraft. IT'S TAKEN HIM 26 years (21 rated), 13 different types of aircraft and a long way from that quaint town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he grew up and had that unfortunate accident. "I did not pass my flying physical," he said. A firecracker which went off near his ear damaged his hearing. But he joined the Air Force to fly and wasn't about to give his dream up. He kept training his "bad" ear. Every chance he got, he would take a flight physical. Finally, after three years, he passed the physical and has passed it ever since. HIS RECORD of 6,000 flying hours is remarkable. The average fighter pilot, with the same number of years on active duty as . the colonel, has about 3,000. To achieve this impressive record, he flew more than 2,800 hours in varioius models of the F-- 4 Phantom aircraft. In addition, he has logged hours in 10 other types of aircraft. xv.x;'-;-s- s. fit - ?T- -- o AY' , Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, records the 1.1 hours he fust completed to give him a total of more than 6,000 accident-fre- e flying hours In fighter type aircraft. He Is one of only a few Air Force on active duty who have achieved this remarkable feat. (U.S. Air Force Photo by pilots TSgt. Larry Harrington) L. Co. John J. Lydon, April 1800, Korat: Colonel Lydon had 5,999.2 total hours when the big flight came. "I didn't realize I was so close," he said "I just happened to look at my totals," he added. Achieving 6,000 flying hours is a personal milestone, the colonel added. "THROUGH A LOT of takeoffs and landings," he continued, "every day I flew I learned something new." His secret for success? "I approach every mission as though it was my first," His assignments, which have taken him to more than 25 different locations, have allowed him to continue to fly and thus gain this two His in total. tours high extremely Southeast Asia, flying D, and E models, also helped. He logged 350 combat missions including many over North Vietnam. The colonel does not regret his career of flying. He has been widely recognized for his abilities. Two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 23 Air Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry are but a few of his decorations. HIS BIGGEST AWARD, however, is that he is still flying. "I just love it," he said. How many more years will be continue? It's hard to tell. But one thing is for sure, according to the colonel, "I will hate to give it up," he said. ' 'Being a fighter pilot is the greatest way of life in the world." F-4- Stories by Capt. Michael It was April 1966. Far away from the Wasatch Front, in the jungles-o- f Thailand, the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) was making a new home, as well as its mark on aviation warfare. LOCATED AT Korat Royal Thai AFB, aircrews put their lives on the line each day in support of the Vietnam War The wing's rews flew against some of the most intensive air defenses in the history of air warfare while attacking targets in North Vietnam. 388th aircrews flew tactical missions in Thunderchief , during the early both the of the war, and the FiD from May 1969 years on. More than 20,500 combat hours were D, and logged by aircrews in the tough systems in the aircraft, to get out of a hostile area," the captain said. "If you finally had to eject, I've seen F-which were nothing but a ball of fire and yet out of it would come two ejection seats and CAPTAIN HOLOVIAK flew 196 combat missions, half of which were over North Vietnam. He participated in Linebacker One and Two, two major Vietnam War air operations. "The Phantom is an excellent aircraft in combat," he continued. "It is very reliable, and had two sets of - - eyes." "The backseater consistently picked up the . i . MiGs and surface to air said. E model Phantoms. pilot, 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, was one aircrew member i assigned to the 388th during the war. "THE F-- 4 CONTRIBUTED a lot to the air war," he said. The aircraft carried a lot of bombs and delivered them well, he added. "If you took a hit you had enough back up systems, two engines and three hydraulic hrK ' ' : Perini . F-4-C, F-- 4 ' D. C, live crews," he added. F-1- 05 Capt. Nick Holoviak, li 4s o o . "- , V f ; . ' f - ; , .i.....M.... , ,, . SAM missiles," he The captain came close quite a few times to ' taking hits. ONE NIGHT MISSION stands out in the captain's mind. "We had seven SAMs fired at us from several different sites while over. Hanoi," he remembered. "We counted each - one as they came up." The captain took the . F-(S- ee below, right) one fighter pilot, 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, describes surface-to-air seven War: "We had memorable night mission during the Vietnam missiles fired at us from several different sites." (U.S. Air Force Photo by George Capt. Nick Holoviak, F-- 4 Whetton) 4 " iJ .! ' -- (From Column 2) evasive maneuvers,, the aircraft through responding quickly and efficiently. During the war, aircrews were scheduled to fly every day, sometimes as many as three missions. A rigorous schedule made the days run into each other, and watches were useless, except to remind one'of the time of the next preflight briefing. Pilots like Captain Holoviak flew the during the war in support of friendly" ground forces, like the U.S. Army, and against enemy supply and communication lines. is a two-seBUT THE fighter, with back seaters like Capt. Sam Dark, assistant weapons officer, 4th Tactical Fighter , Squadron. Though riding in the second seat, the F-- 4 still comes across as rugged. "The F--4 can take a lot of abuse," Captain Dark said "You seldom worried about hits," he added. F-4- D F-4- D " wnnmiMl.i. .IHMIH miJ'JUULl'''UlWIJUJW'JLJUUMUUIILWUII.liniJJULUIfWl'JU Mm LLJl -- Phantom aircraft flown by aircrews of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. Able to exceed speeds of 1,600 miles per hour and heights above 60,000 feet. The designed In the 1950s, Is still the workhorse of the tactical fighter fleet. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Michael B. Perlnl) The F-4-D F--4, . at "The engines were tough," he continued. "If needed, you could shove the power back and forth arid it would take it." The F-- 4 is versatile, heavy and can carry a large amount of bombs and missiles. CAPTAIN DARK spent most of his Southeast Asia experience flying missions in Cambodia, near the Mekong River, and over Fhnom Penh. He has dropped bombs as close as three miles off the end of the Phnom Penh Airport runway in order to allow U.S. cargo planes to unload supplies safely. The slower OV-1- 0 aircraft, whose aircrews found it difficult to mark targets and lead fighters into a high threat environment, were given assistance by F-- 4 aircrews. "We marked targets with rockets being able to get in and away from the danger quickly," he said CAPTAIN DARK, like Captain Holoviak, found you could count on the F--4 if you got into trouble. "If you had to get out, you felt you had a good chance," Captain Dark said. (Please see page C) , |