In Loving Memory ... LTC. Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr..
*** Lieutenant Colonel Lehnhoff was a member of the Tactical Air Warfare Center. On November 18, 1967, he was the co-pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105F) on a mission near Phy Tho, North Vietnam, where the aircraft was shot down by hostile fire. His remains were recovered on November 25, 1987 and identified on February 3, 1988. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
EDWARD WILLIAM LEHNHOFF, JR. - Air Force - LTC - O5
Age: 31
* 1955-1959, University of Missouri-Saint Louis. College
University of Missouri-Saint Louis. From Year 1955 To Year 1959 - Major: Aeronautical Engineering
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Mar 14, 1936
From: FT SCOTT, KS
Religion: METHODIST
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Edward William Lehnhoff,Sr., Born March 13, 1906, lives in Fort Scott, Kansas (Died Jan. 1976). Mother, Luceil Lehnhoff
** Your MOM - Luceil Winkelmeyer Lehnhoff (obit from Fort Scott Tribune) born May 3, 1911, in Carrollton, MO, the daughter of Charles and Ann Caddie Winkelmeyer. She married Edward William Lehnhoff June 15, 1935, in Salisbury, Mo. He preceded her in death Jan. 18, 1976. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Winkelmeyer; and a son, Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., whose plane was shot down over North Vietnam Nov. 18, 1967, and who was declared dead by the USAF in 1988. She was also preceded in death by a niece, Dorothy Barrett.
FAG Vol - Memorial Keeper (Thank you very much, Eddieb)
***** "United States Census, 1940"
Name: Edward Lehnhoff
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Ward 2, Marceline, Marceline Township, Linn, Missouri, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: Missouri
Birth Year (Estimated): 1906
Last Place of Residence: Salisbury, Chariton, Missouri
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Edward William Lehnhoff M 34 Missouri (Dad)
Wife Luceil Lehnhoff F 28 Missouri (Mom)
Son Billy Lehnhoff M 4 Missouri (Edward William)
*** Per FAG jason shuster
3 F-105d's and 1 F-105F were shot down. The F-105F was shot down by a Mig-21 Maj Dardeau and Capt Lehnhoff were killed. The next F-105 was shot down by a Mig-21 pilot rescued. The next two were shot down by SAMS 1 pilot KIA and the other POW-DIED.
LTC - O5 - Air Force - Regular
His tour began on Nov 18, 1967
Casualty was on Nov 18, 1967
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 30E - Line 16
Other Personnel in Incident: From nearby F105s: Leslie J. Hauer; Edward B. Burdett; Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. (all remains returned)
On November 18, 1967, three F105s were shot down over Vinh Phu Province.
The F105 was flown by Maj. Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. His co-pilot on the flight was Capt. Edward W. Lehnhoff, Jr.
Their aircraft was shot down about 10 miles north of the city of Phy Tho.
The fate of these two remains uncertain, but they were classified Missing in Action.
The Vietnamese "discovered" and returned their remains on November 25, 1987.
Edward W. Lehnhoff, Jr. was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. and Leslie J. Hauer were promoted to the rank of Colonel, during
the period they were maintained Missing in Action.
*************************************************
The Last Flight of Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., USAF
Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., Captain, United States Air Force was reported shot down over the Democratic Peoples Republic of Vietnam (DPRVN - North Vietnam) on November 18, 1967. The Air Force classified him and the other crew member of the aircraft as missing in action.
As a young Air Force 2nd Lieutenant, I was sent on a temporary duty (TDY) basis to Southeast Asia – Thailand and The Republic of Vietnam (RVN - South Vietnam) – on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1967. While at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) I learned of my cousin’s fate. Curious about the details of this incident I undertook the task of trying to learn what I could about Bill Lehnhoff’s last flight.
First some background.
Bill Lehnhoff was trained and assigned as a Navigator, Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) on a Republic Aviation F-105F Thunderchief “Wild Weasel” aircraft with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB.
The F-105, also called “Lead Sled,” “Thud,” and “Squash Bomber” was designed as a low level tactical nuclear bomber with an internal bomb bay. It was a large airplane, well in excess of 50,000 pounds maximum weight, tough as nails, and at low altitudes, or on the deck, faster than any other aircraft ever built – easily exceeding 800 MPH (Mach 1.1). The F-105 was the primary aircraft used in operation Rolling Thunder between 1965 and 1968 usually delivering up to 18,000 pounds of ordnance. The F-105F was a two seat version specifically modified for the Wild Weasel mission.
Wild Weasels were designed to counter surface to air missiles (SAMs) in Vietnam and subsequent wars. They carried special receivers that would identify when a SAM radar was searching for them and when tracking them. These receivers gave the crew various threat warnings from search, to track, to launch of a SAM. The aircraft also carried electronic countermeasures (ECM) to jam the ground radars although it was seldom used as the Weasel’s wanted to be seen and fired upon. They were armed with internal 20 mm M61A1 cannon, bombs, and AGM-45A Shrike missiles – which homed in on the SAM tracking radar. Under the “rules of engagement” in force at the time the Weasel crew could take no action until a SAM was actually launched. Unfortunately this meant they had to dance with the SAM – the crew could see the SAM rising from the ground (!), close with it (!!), and out maneuver the SAM (!!!) to avoid destruction. As soon as the SAM launched the Weasel driver got as close to the launch site as possible so the Bear could launch a Shrike. Then if the SAM had been eluded and burned off all its fuel to become a very expensive bomb, they would dive to the deck and bomb the offending SAM site. Complicating matters was the simple fact that the SAMs had a range of about 30 miles and the Shrike a range of only 12 miles. Additionally, the SAM sites were heavily defended by antiaircraft artillery (AAA). Never has the Air Force asked aircrews to perform a more dangerous mission, one many authors refer to as tantamount to suicide. Uncommon bravery was common among the Wild Weasel squadrons.
Because of the intense coordination required by the pilot, called the “Weasel driver,” and EWO, commonly referred to as a “Bear,” necessary to defeat a SAM they train and fly together as a team. It was usual for a crew to serve their entire tour of duty, one year or 100 missions, together.
Enough background, on with the story.
One evening in 1968 I was in the casual bar of the McClelland Air Force Base discussing work with some of my fellow officers when I noticed a Major dressed in his flight suit with Wild Weasel patches on his sleeve. He was sitting with a group of guys I knew in the flight test section. I believe the patches were the original “YGTBSM ” Wild Weasel patch, the more modern “Cave Putorium ” Weasel patch, a 44th TFS “Vampire” patch and a “100 Missions Over the North” patch. Maybe not all regulation, but the Weasel crews were often a tad bit unruly. By then I knew enough to realize this Major had been at Korat with the 44th TFS and probably knew Bill Lehnhoff.
I walked over to the table where the Major was talking to the flight test guys and introduced myself to Major Everett Z. (Ezz) Ott. I asked if by any chance he had known my cousin, Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., while he had been with the 44th.
Ezz’s response was immediate. “Tiny is your cousin! He’s one hell of a guy and one of the best damn Bears in the Air Force. Damn right I know your cousin! I was flight lead the day he was shot down. ”
I asked the guys from flight test if I could steal Major Ott for a while, asked Ezz if I could buy him a drink, and if he could fill me in on Bill and his last flight. Ezz was willing, and the guys from flight test pulled up chairs as they wanted to hear the story as well.
Ezz proceeded to tell me about Bill.
Bill Lehnhoff was a large man, standing about 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds, so of course he was called “Tiny.” This is a bit of a disadvantage even in the relatively roomy F105, because as big as the airplane is, the cockpit is a bit cramped, and on long missions - and they were all long, many exceeding four hours - the crew members tend to cramp up and have great difficulty in exiting the aircraft. As big as he was it took two large sergeants to help (actually pull) Tiny out of the cockpit after a mission.
Tiny was teamed with and flew 75 missions over North Vietnam with Captain Charles VanDriel. In August of 1967, Tiny broke his leg and was placed on “Duty Not to Include Flying” status while his leg healed. Captain VanDriel finished up his 100 missions and rotated back to the States in September.
After his leg healed Tiny was teamed up with Major Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and resumed flying missions over the North. Ezz claimed that Oscar and Bill made an exceptional team.
On November 18th the 388th TFW was going “downtown. ” Their mission was to bomb the Phuc Yen Airfield just north of Hanoi and the Paul Dormer Bridge over the Red River in Hanoi, DPRVN. Both the airfield and the bridge had been damaged in an attack two weeks earlier and this mission was to inflict more damage and prevent repairs on either the airfield or the bridge. Hanoi was the most heavily defended target in history. It was saturated with AAA emplacements - 37 mm, 58 mm, 85 mm, and 100 mm guns, many radar controlled, surrounded by SAMs, defended by three operational MIG bases (two, including Phuc Yen, were down from previous attacks), and every civilian in the city had guns they shot at U.S. aircraft. These defenses were abetted by the unreasonable (off time idiotic) rules of engagement President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara placed on the aircrews. Legitimate military targets were forbidden to be attacked as they might offer the risk of collateral civilian casualties. Far better to risk our aircrews than risk possible world censure!
The 388th fought its way into Hanoi. MIGs were in the area, AAA was intense and SAM radars were intermittently active. The 388th TFW was split into two groups that day, the first one under Colonel Edward Burke Burdett was to hit Phuc Yen, the second, including Bill Lehnhoff, was to strike the Paul Dormer bridge about 15 to 30 minutes later.
The strike against Phuc Yen was largely successful. Significant damage was done to the runway and attempts being made to repair previously inflicted damage. Colonel Burdett’s F-105D was hit by 58 mm AAA, regardless he pressed on dropping his bombs before the aircraft burst into flames and went uncontrollable. Due to cloud cover no one could see if he had ejected. There was no chance of rescue.
Colonel Burdett was placed in to missing in action (MIA) status. He was assumed to have been taken prisoner.
In the second group of aircraft, Oscar and Tiny (in F-105F tail number 63-8295(F)) had the task of trolling for SAMs - make yourself a big, fat, obnoxious, dumb target to get the North Vietnamese to launch a SAM and then evade the SAM and destroy the launch site; but there were no takers. About 10 miles from Hanoi, over the city of Phy Tho, a MIG 21 launched an RS3 “Atoll” air-to-air missile at the flight . It struck and destroyed Oscar’s and Tiny’s F-105F. The Thud disappeared into a cloud bank, someone thought he saw a parachute as it went through the clouds and maybe heard a beeper go off. The beeper only sounded a couple of seconds and then silence. Due to the location there was no chance of rescue.
Tiny and Oscar were placed in to missing in action (MIA) status. They were assumed to have been taken prisoner.
The target was attacked, considerable damage was done to the repair work on the Paul Dormer Bridge and the attack force exited the area in reheat (afterburner). At 900 MPH the force was safe from attack for a few minutes. The force climbed to altitude to continue the flight and fight out of North Vietnam. As on the way in there were MIGs in the area “a constant call of MIG warnings from CROWN, KING, and DISCO , SAM radars were constantly probing, and AAA was still intense.”
As the attack group formed up to exit North Vietnam, the F-105D piloted by Major Leslie John Hauer was hit by a SAM. Major Hauer ejected, got a good chute, made it to the ground where his rescue beeper sounded, and was taken presumably taken prisoner, although the DPRVN denied he was captured. Again, rescue was impossible due to the location. The 44th TFS attacked the SAMs in return and were treated to secondary explosions indicating they got some of the SAMs as well as the radar sites.
It was a bad day for the 388th. Three aircraft lost and four crew members, including the Wing Commander, shot down.
Major Ott had a tape recording of the mission and offered to play the tape for me. I took up his offer at a later date. While the entire mission lasted nearly six hours there is only about 45 minutes of voice on the tape. One hears plainly the calls of “MIG! Watch out! Oh shit! Is that a chute? SAM launch! Damn! Got you, you bastard!” The beeps of a rescue beeper, in both cases faint and far too short.
It was Bill Lehnhoff’s 98th mission over North Vietnam.
Aftermath.
Major Dardeau and Captain Lehnhoff were shot down by a MIG-21 piloted by Nguyen Van Coc. Nguyen was the leading ADPRV Ace, with 9 kills. Both Major Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr. were declared MIA November 18, 1967. On April 4, 1978, The DPRVN provided proof that Major Dardeau and Captain Lehnhoff had not survived the air-to-air missile strike on their aircraft and the USAF declared them killed in action (KIA). In 1987 the Vietnamese “discovered” the remains of an F-105 and two crew members. On November 25, 1987 the remains of Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr. were returned. In February 1988, there remains were positively identified.
Colonel Burdett was declared MIA November 18, 1967. On January 15, 1968, sufficient information was received for the Air Force to declare him a prisoner of war (POW). On March 26, 1974, the DPRVN returned his remains and provided evidence that Colonel Burdett had survived the ejection from his aircraft, was captured and died the same day from wounds received from the AAA hit his F-105D had taken. Confirmed identification of his remains were made April 4, 1974.
Major Leslie John Hauer was declared MIA November 18, 1967. In June 1977, the Vietnamese told U.S. officials they would return Major Hauer’s remains in September. In September 1990 they finally did keep their word and returned Leslie John Hauer’s remains.
In accordance with Air Force policy, service members in MIA status are promoted with their peers, Colonel Burdett to Brigader General, Majors Dardaeu and Hauer to Colonel, and Captain Lehnhoff to Lieutentant Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel Lehnhoff was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
*** Thank you Find a Grave Vol. Tom Reece for this letter.
************************************************
Find A Grave contributor Tom Reece has sponsored your memorial for Edward Lehnhoff.
Thank you Tom for your sponsorship.. Eddieb
***************************************************
Per; Fort Scott Kansas Genealogy News Letter
Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., Lt. Col., from Fort Scott, 35th Tac Ftr Sqdn, 44th Tac Ftr Wing, Korat AB, Thailand, U.S. Air Force, d. 18 Nov. 1967, flying as an Electronic Warfare Officer in an F-105F was shot down with pilot Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. over Phue Yen Airfield in North Vietnam. Was declared missing in action until his remains were recovered and returned to the U.S. on 25 Nov. 1987. Following positive identification, his remains were sent to Salisbury, Missouri, for buried next to his father in the Salisbury Cemetery.
*** Lieutenant Colonel Lehnhoff was a member of the Tactical Air Warfare Center. On November 18, 1967, he was the co-pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105F) on a mission near Phy Tho, North Vietnam, where the aircraft was shot down by hostile fire. His remains were recovered on November 25, 1987 and identified on February 3, 1988. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
EDWARD WILLIAM LEHNHOFF, JR. - Air Force - LTC - O5
Age: 31
* 1955-1959, University of Missouri-Saint Louis. College
University of Missouri-Saint Louis. From Year 1955 To Year 1959 - Major: Aeronautical Engineering
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Mar 14, 1936
From: FT SCOTT, KS
Religion: METHODIST
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Edward William Lehnhoff,Sr., Born March 13, 1906, lives in Fort Scott, Kansas (Died Jan. 1976). Mother, Luceil Lehnhoff
** Your MOM - Luceil Winkelmeyer Lehnhoff (obit from Fort Scott Tribune) born May 3, 1911, in Carrollton, MO, the daughter of Charles and Ann Caddie Winkelmeyer. She married Edward William Lehnhoff June 15, 1935, in Salisbury, Mo. He preceded her in death Jan. 18, 1976. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Winkelmeyer; and a son, Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., whose plane was shot down over North Vietnam Nov. 18, 1967, and who was declared dead by the USAF in 1988. She was also preceded in death by a niece, Dorothy Barrett.
FAG Vol - Memorial Keeper (Thank you very much, Eddieb)
***** "United States Census, 1940"
Name: Edward Lehnhoff
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Ward 2, Marceline, Marceline Township, Linn, Missouri, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: Missouri
Birth Year (Estimated): 1906
Last Place of Residence: Salisbury, Chariton, Missouri
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Edward William Lehnhoff M 34 Missouri (Dad)
Wife Luceil Lehnhoff F 28 Missouri (Mom)
Son Billy Lehnhoff M 4 Missouri (Edward William)
*** Per FAG jason shuster
3 F-105d's and 1 F-105F were shot down. The F-105F was shot down by a Mig-21 Maj Dardeau and Capt Lehnhoff were killed. The next F-105 was shot down by a Mig-21 pilot rescued. The next two were shot down by SAMS 1 pilot KIA and the other POW-DIED.
LTC - O5 - Air Force - Regular
His tour began on Nov 18, 1967
Casualty was on Nov 18, 1967
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 30E - Line 16
Other Personnel in Incident: From nearby F105s: Leslie J. Hauer; Edward B. Burdett; Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. (all remains returned)
On November 18, 1967, three F105s were shot down over Vinh Phu Province.
The F105 was flown by Maj. Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. His co-pilot on the flight was Capt. Edward W. Lehnhoff, Jr.
Their aircraft was shot down about 10 miles north of the city of Phy Tho.
The fate of these two remains uncertain, but they were classified Missing in Action.
The Vietnamese "discovered" and returned their remains on November 25, 1987.
Edward W. Lehnhoff, Jr. was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. and Leslie J. Hauer were promoted to the rank of Colonel, during
the period they were maintained Missing in Action.
*************************************************
The Last Flight of Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., USAF
Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., Captain, United States Air Force was reported shot down over the Democratic Peoples Republic of Vietnam (DPRVN - North Vietnam) on November 18, 1967. The Air Force classified him and the other crew member of the aircraft as missing in action.
As a young Air Force 2nd Lieutenant, I was sent on a temporary duty (TDY) basis to Southeast Asia – Thailand and The Republic of Vietnam (RVN - South Vietnam) – on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1967. While at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) I learned of my cousin’s fate. Curious about the details of this incident I undertook the task of trying to learn what I could about Bill Lehnhoff’s last flight.
First some background.
Bill Lehnhoff was trained and assigned as a Navigator, Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) on a Republic Aviation F-105F Thunderchief “Wild Weasel” aircraft with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB.
The F-105, also called “Lead Sled,” “Thud,” and “Squash Bomber” was designed as a low level tactical nuclear bomber with an internal bomb bay. It was a large airplane, well in excess of 50,000 pounds maximum weight, tough as nails, and at low altitudes, or on the deck, faster than any other aircraft ever built – easily exceeding 800 MPH (Mach 1.1). The F-105 was the primary aircraft used in operation Rolling Thunder between 1965 and 1968 usually delivering up to 18,000 pounds of ordnance. The F-105F was a two seat version specifically modified for the Wild Weasel mission.
Wild Weasels were designed to counter surface to air missiles (SAMs) in Vietnam and subsequent wars. They carried special receivers that would identify when a SAM radar was searching for them and when tracking them. These receivers gave the crew various threat warnings from search, to track, to launch of a SAM. The aircraft also carried electronic countermeasures (ECM) to jam the ground radars although it was seldom used as the Weasel’s wanted to be seen and fired upon. They were armed with internal 20 mm M61A1 cannon, bombs, and AGM-45A Shrike missiles – which homed in on the SAM tracking radar. Under the “rules of engagement” in force at the time the Weasel crew could take no action until a SAM was actually launched. Unfortunately this meant they had to dance with the SAM – the crew could see the SAM rising from the ground (!), close with it (!!), and out maneuver the SAM (!!!) to avoid destruction. As soon as the SAM launched the Weasel driver got as close to the launch site as possible so the Bear could launch a Shrike. Then if the SAM had been eluded and burned off all its fuel to become a very expensive bomb, they would dive to the deck and bomb the offending SAM site. Complicating matters was the simple fact that the SAMs had a range of about 30 miles and the Shrike a range of only 12 miles. Additionally, the SAM sites were heavily defended by antiaircraft artillery (AAA). Never has the Air Force asked aircrews to perform a more dangerous mission, one many authors refer to as tantamount to suicide. Uncommon bravery was common among the Wild Weasel squadrons.
Because of the intense coordination required by the pilot, called the “Weasel driver,” and EWO, commonly referred to as a “Bear,” necessary to defeat a SAM they train and fly together as a team. It was usual for a crew to serve their entire tour of duty, one year or 100 missions, together.
Enough background, on with the story.
One evening in 1968 I was in the casual bar of the McClelland Air Force Base discussing work with some of my fellow officers when I noticed a Major dressed in his flight suit with Wild Weasel patches on his sleeve. He was sitting with a group of guys I knew in the flight test section. I believe the patches were the original “YGTBSM ” Wild Weasel patch, the more modern “Cave Putorium ” Weasel patch, a 44th TFS “Vampire” patch and a “100 Missions Over the North” patch. Maybe not all regulation, but the Weasel crews were often a tad bit unruly. By then I knew enough to realize this Major had been at Korat with the 44th TFS and probably knew Bill Lehnhoff.
I walked over to the table where the Major was talking to the flight test guys and introduced myself to Major Everett Z. (Ezz) Ott. I asked if by any chance he had known my cousin, Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., while he had been with the 44th.
Ezz’s response was immediate. “Tiny is your cousin! He’s one hell of a guy and one of the best damn Bears in the Air Force. Damn right I know your cousin! I was flight lead the day he was shot down. ”
I asked the guys from flight test if I could steal Major Ott for a while, asked Ezz if I could buy him a drink, and if he could fill me in on Bill and his last flight. Ezz was willing, and the guys from flight test pulled up chairs as they wanted to hear the story as well.
Ezz proceeded to tell me about Bill.
Bill Lehnhoff was a large man, standing about 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds, so of course he was called “Tiny.” This is a bit of a disadvantage even in the relatively roomy F105, because as big as the airplane is, the cockpit is a bit cramped, and on long missions - and they were all long, many exceeding four hours - the crew members tend to cramp up and have great difficulty in exiting the aircraft. As big as he was it took two large sergeants to help (actually pull) Tiny out of the cockpit after a mission.
Tiny was teamed with and flew 75 missions over North Vietnam with Captain Charles VanDriel. In August of 1967, Tiny broke his leg and was placed on “Duty Not to Include Flying” status while his leg healed. Captain VanDriel finished up his 100 missions and rotated back to the States in September.
After his leg healed Tiny was teamed up with Major Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and resumed flying missions over the North. Ezz claimed that Oscar and Bill made an exceptional team.
On November 18th the 388th TFW was going “downtown. ” Their mission was to bomb the Phuc Yen Airfield just north of Hanoi and the Paul Dormer Bridge over the Red River in Hanoi, DPRVN. Both the airfield and the bridge had been damaged in an attack two weeks earlier and this mission was to inflict more damage and prevent repairs on either the airfield or the bridge. Hanoi was the most heavily defended target in history. It was saturated with AAA emplacements - 37 mm, 58 mm, 85 mm, and 100 mm guns, many radar controlled, surrounded by SAMs, defended by three operational MIG bases (two, including Phuc Yen, were down from previous attacks), and every civilian in the city had guns they shot at U.S. aircraft. These defenses were abetted by the unreasonable (off time idiotic) rules of engagement President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara placed on the aircrews. Legitimate military targets were forbidden to be attacked as they might offer the risk of collateral civilian casualties. Far better to risk our aircrews than risk possible world censure!
The 388th fought its way into Hanoi. MIGs were in the area, AAA was intense and SAM radars were intermittently active. The 388th TFW was split into two groups that day, the first one under Colonel Edward Burke Burdett was to hit Phuc Yen, the second, including Bill Lehnhoff, was to strike the Paul Dormer bridge about 15 to 30 minutes later.
The strike against Phuc Yen was largely successful. Significant damage was done to the runway and attempts being made to repair previously inflicted damage. Colonel Burdett’s F-105D was hit by 58 mm AAA, regardless he pressed on dropping his bombs before the aircraft burst into flames and went uncontrollable. Due to cloud cover no one could see if he had ejected. There was no chance of rescue.
Colonel Burdett was placed in to missing in action (MIA) status. He was assumed to have been taken prisoner.
In the second group of aircraft, Oscar and Tiny (in F-105F tail number 63-8295(F)) had the task of trolling for SAMs - make yourself a big, fat, obnoxious, dumb target to get the North Vietnamese to launch a SAM and then evade the SAM and destroy the launch site; but there were no takers. About 10 miles from Hanoi, over the city of Phy Tho, a MIG 21 launched an RS3 “Atoll” air-to-air missile at the flight . It struck and destroyed Oscar’s and Tiny’s F-105F. The Thud disappeared into a cloud bank, someone thought he saw a parachute as it went through the clouds and maybe heard a beeper go off. The beeper only sounded a couple of seconds and then silence. Due to the location there was no chance of rescue.
Tiny and Oscar were placed in to missing in action (MIA) status. They were assumed to have been taken prisoner.
The target was attacked, considerable damage was done to the repair work on the Paul Dormer Bridge and the attack force exited the area in reheat (afterburner). At 900 MPH the force was safe from attack for a few minutes. The force climbed to altitude to continue the flight and fight out of North Vietnam. As on the way in there were MIGs in the area “a constant call of MIG warnings from CROWN, KING, and DISCO , SAM radars were constantly probing, and AAA was still intense.”
As the attack group formed up to exit North Vietnam, the F-105D piloted by Major Leslie John Hauer was hit by a SAM. Major Hauer ejected, got a good chute, made it to the ground where his rescue beeper sounded, and was taken presumably taken prisoner, although the DPRVN denied he was captured. Again, rescue was impossible due to the location. The 44th TFS attacked the SAMs in return and were treated to secondary explosions indicating they got some of the SAMs as well as the radar sites.
It was a bad day for the 388th. Three aircraft lost and four crew members, including the Wing Commander, shot down.
Major Ott had a tape recording of the mission and offered to play the tape for me. I took up his offer at a later date. While the entire mission lasted nearly six hours there is only about 45 minutes of voice on the tape. One hears plainly the calls of “MIG! Watch out! Oh shit! Is that a chute? SAM launch! Damn! Got you, you bastard!” The beeps of a rescue beeper, in both cases faint and far too short.
It was Bill Lehnhoff’s 98th mission over North Vietnam.
Aftermath.
Major Dardeau and Captain Lehnhoff were shot down by a MIG-21 piloted by Nguyen Van Coc. Nguyen was the leading ADPRV Ace, with 9 kills. Both Major Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr. were declared MIA November 18, 1967. On April 4, 1978, The DPRVN provided proof that Major Dardeau and Captain Lehnhoff had not survived the air-to-air missile strike on their aircraft and the USAF declared them killed in action (KIA). In 1987 the Vietnamese “discovered” the remains of an F-105 and two crew members. On November 25, 1987 the remains of Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr. were returned. In February 1988, there remains were positively identified.
Colonel Burdett was declared MIA November 18, 1967. On January 15, 1968, sufficient information was received for the Air Force to declare him a prisoner of war (POW). On March 26, 1974, the DPRVN returned his remains and provided evidence that Colonel Burdett had survived the ejection from his aircraft, was captured and died the same day from wounds received from the AAA hit his F-105D had taken. Confirmed identification of his remains were made April 4, 1974.
Major Leslie John Hauer was declared MIA November 18, 1967. In June 1977, the Vietnamese told U.S. officials they would return Major Hauer’s remains in September. In September 1990 they finally did keep their word and returned Leslie John Hauer’s remains.
In accordance with Air Force policy, service members in MIA status are promoted with their peers, Colonel Burdett to Brigader General, Majors Dardaeu and Hauer to Colonel, and Captain Lehnhoff to Lieutentant Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel Lehnhoff was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
*** Thank you Find a Grave Vol. Tom Reece for this letter.
************************************************
Find A Grave contributor Tom Reece has sponsored your memorial for Edward Lehnhoff.
Thank you Tom for your sponsorship.. Eddieb
***************************************************
Per; Fort Scott Kansas Genealogy News Letter
Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., Lt. Col., from Fort Scott, 35th Tac Ftr Sqdn, 44th Tac Ftr Wing, Korat AB, Thailand, U.S. Air Force, d. 18 Nov. 1967, flying as an Electronic Warfare Officer in an F-105F was shot down with pilot Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. over Phue Yen Airfield in North Vietnam. Was declared missing in action until his remains were recovered and returned to the U.S. on 25 Nov. 1987. Following positive identification, his remains were sent to Salisbury, Missouri, for buried next to his father in the Salisbury Cemetery.
In Loving Memory ... LTC. Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr..
*** Lieutenant Colonel Lehnhoff was a member of the Tactical Air Warfare Center. On November 18, 1967, he was the co-pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105F) on a mission near Phy Tho, North Vietnam, where the aircraft was shot down by hostile fire. His remains were recovered on November 25, 1987 and identified on February 3, 1988. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
EDWARD WILLIAM LEHNHOFF, JR. - Air Force - LTC - O5
Age: 31
* 1955-1959, University of Missouri-Saint Louis. College
University of Missouri-Saint Louis. From Year 1955 To Year 1959 - Major: Aeronautical Engineering
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Mar 14, 1936
From: FT SCOTT, KS
Religion: METHODIST
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Edward William Lehnhoff,Sr., Born March 13, 1906, lives in Fort Scott, Kansas (Died Jan. 1976). Mother, Luceil Lehnhoff
** Your MOM - Luceil Winkelmeyer Lehnhoff (obit from Fort Scott Tribune) born May 3, 1911, in Carrollton, MO, the daughter of Charles and Ann Caddie Winkelmeyer. She married Edward William Lehnhoff June 15, 1935, in Salisbury, Mo. He preceded her in death Jan. 18, 1976. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Winkelmeyer; and a son, Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., whose plane was shot down over North Vietnam Nov. 18, 1967, and who was declared dead by the USAF in 1988. She was also preceded in death by a niece, Dorothy Barrett.
FAG Vol - Memorial Keeper (Thank you very much, Eddieb)
***** "United States Census, 1940"
Name: Edward Lehnhoff
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Ward 2, Marceline, Marceline Township, Linn, Missouri, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: Missouri
Birth Year (Estimated): 1906
Last Place of Residence: Salisbury, Chariton, Missouri
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Edward William Lehnhoff M 34 Missouri (Dad)
Wife Luceil Lehnhoff F 28 Missouri (Mom)
Son Billy Lehnhoff M 4 Missouri (Edward William)
*** Per FAG jason shuster
3 F-105d's and 1 F-105F were shot down. The F-105F was shot down by a Mig-21 Maj Dardeau and Capt Lehnhoff were killed. The next F-105 was shot down by a Mig-21 pilot rescued. The next two were shot down by SAMS 1 pilot KIA and the other POW-DIED.
LTC - O5 - Air Force - Regular
His tour began on Nov 18, 1967
Casualty was on Nov 18, 1967
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 30E - Line 16
Other Personnel in Incident: From nearby F105s: Leslie J. Hauer; Edward B. Burdett; Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. (all remains returned)
On November 18, 1967, three F105s were shot down over Vinh Phu Province.
The F105 was flown by Maj. Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. His co-pilot on the flight was Capt. Edward W. Lehnhoff, Jr.
Their aircraft was shot down about 10 miles north of the city of Phy Tho.
The fate of these two remains uncertain, but they were classified Missing in Action.
The Vietnamese "discovered" and returned their remains on November 25, 1987.
Edward W. Lehnhoff, Jr. was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. and Leslie J. Hauer were promoted to the rank of Colonel, during
the period they were maintained Missing in Action.
*************************************************
The Last Flight of Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., USAF
Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., Captain, United States Air Force was reported shot down over the Democratic Peoples Republic of Vietnam (DPRVN - North Vietnam) on November 18, 1967. The Air Force classified him and the other crew member of the aircraft as missing in action.
As a young Air Force 2nd Lieutenant, I was sent on a temporary duty (TDY) basis to Southeast Asia – Thailand and The Republic of Vietnam (RVN - South Vietnam) – on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1967. While at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) I learned of my cousin’s fate. Curious about the details of this incident I undertook the task of trying to learn what I could about Bill Lehnhoff’s last flight.
First some background.
Bill Lehnhoff was trained and assigned as a Navigator, Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) on a Republic Aviation F-105F Thunderchief “Wild Weasel” aircraft with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB.
The F-105, also called “Lead Sled,” “Thud,” and “Squash Bomber” was designed as a low level tactical nuclear bomber with an internal bomb bay. It was a large airplane, well in excess of 50,000 pounds maximum weight, tough as nails, and at low altitudes, or on the deck, faster than any other aircraft ever built – easily exceeding 800 MPH (Mach 1.1). The F-105 was the primary aircraft used in operation Rolling Thunder between 1965 and 1968 usually delivering up to 18,000 pounds of ordnance. The F-105F was a two seat version specifically modified for the Wild Weasel mission.
Wild Weasels were designed to counter surface to air missiles (SAMs) in Vietnam and subsequent wars. They carried special receivers that would identify when a SAM radar was searching for them and when tracking them. These receivers gave the crew various threat warnings from search, to track, to launch of a SAM. The aircraft also carried electronic countermeasures (ECM) to jam the ground radars although it was seldom used as the Weasel’s wanted to be seen and fired upon. They were armed with internal 20 mm M61A1 cannon, bombs, and AGM-45A Shrike missiles – which homed in on the SAM tracking radar. Under the “rules of engagement” in force at the time the Weasel crew could take no action until a SAM was actually launched. Unfortunately this meant they had to dance with the SAM – the crew could see the SAM rising from the ground (!), close with it (!!), and out maneuver the SAM (!!!) to avoid destruction. As soon as the SAM launched the Weasel driver got as close to the launch site as possible so the Bear could launch a Shrike. Then if the SAM had been eluded and burned off all its fuel to become a very expensive bomb, they would dive to the deck and bomb the offending SAM site. Complicating matters was the simple fact that the SAMs had a range of about 30 miles and the Shrike a range of only 12 miles. Additionally, the SAM sites were heavily defended by antiaircraft artillery (AAA). Never has the Air Force asked aircrews to perform a more dangerous mission, one many authors refer to as tantamount to suicide. Uncommon bravery was common among the Wild Weasel squadrons.
Because of the intense coordination required by the pilot, called the “Weasel driver,” and EWO, commonly referred to as a “Bear,” necessary to defeat a SAM they train and fly together as a team. It was usual for a crew to serve their entire tour of duty, one year or 100 missions, together.
Enough background, on with the story.
One evening in 1968 I was in the casual bar of the McClelland Air Force Base discussing work with some of my fellow officers when I noticed a Major dressed in his flight suit with Wild Weasel patches on his sleeve. He was sitting with a group of guys I knew in the flight test section. I believe the patches were the original “YGTBSM ” Wild Weasel patch, the more modern “Cave Putorium ” Weasel patch, a 44th TFS “Vampire” patch and a “100 Missions Over the North” patch. Maybe not all regulation, but the Weasel crews were often a tad bit unruly. By then I knew enough to realize this Major had been at Korat with the 44th TFS and probably knew Bill Lehnhoff.
I walked over to the table where the Major was talking to the flight test guys and introduced myself to Major Everett Z. (Ezz) Ott. I asked if by any chance he had known my cousin, Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., while he had been with the 44th.
Ezz’s response was immediate. “Tiny is your cousin! He’s one hell of a guy and one of the best damn Bears in the Air Force. Damn right I know your cousin! I was flight lead the day he was shot down. ”
I asked the guys from flight test if I could steal Major Ott for a while, asked Ezz if I could buy him a drink, and if he could fill me in on Bill and his last flight. Ezz was willing, and the guys from flight test pulled up chairs as they wanted to hear the story as well.
Ezz proceeded to tell me about Bill.
Bill Lehnhoff was a large man, standing about 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds, so of course he was called “Tiny.” This is a bit of a disadvantage even in the relatively roomy F105, because as big as the airplane is, the cockpit is a bit cramped, and on long missions - and they were all long, many exceeding four hours - the crew members tend to cramp up and have great difficulty in exiting the aircraft. As big as he was it took two large sergeants to help (actually pull) Tiny out of the cockpit after a mission.
Tiny was teamed with and flew 75 missions over North Vietnam with Captain Charles VanDriel. In August of 1967, Tiny broke his leg and was placed on “Duty Not to Include Flying” status while his leg healed. Captain VanDriel finished up his 100 missions and rotated back to the States in September.
After his leg healed Tiny was teamed up with Major Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and resumed flying missions over the North. Ezz claimed that Oscar and Bill made an exceptional team.
On November 18th the 388th TFW was going “downtown. ” Their mission was to bomb the Phuc Yen Airfield just north of Hanoi and the Paul Dormer Bridge over the Red River in Hanoi, DPRVN. Both the airfield and the bridge had been damaged in an attack two weeks earlier and this mission was to inflict more damage and prevent repairs on either the airfield or the bridge. Hanoi was the most heavily defended target in history. It was saturated with AAA emplacements - 37 mm, 58 mm, 85 mm, and 100 mm guns, many radar controlled, surrounded by SAMs, defended by three operational MIG bases (two, including Phuc Yen, were down from previous attacks), and every civilian in the city had guns they shot at U.S. aircraft. These defenses were abetted by the unreasonable (off time idiotic) rules of engagement President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara placed on the aircrews. Legitimate military targets were forbidden to be attacked as they might offer the risk of collateral civilian casualties. Far better to risk our aircrews than risk possible world censure!
The 388th fought its way into Hanoi. MIGs were in the area, AAA was intense and SAM radars were intermittently active. The 388th TFW was split into two groups that day, the first one under Colonel Edward Burke Burdett was to hit Phuc Yen, the second, including Bill Lehnhoff, was to strike the Paul Dormer bridge about 15 to 30 minutes later.
The strike against Phuc Yen was largely successful. Significant damage was done to the runway and attempts being made to repair previously inflicted damage. Colonel Burdett’s F-105D was hit by 58 mm AAA, regardless he pressed on dropping his bombs before the aircraft burst into flames and went uncontrollable. Due to cloud cover no one could see if he had ejected. There was no chance of rescue.
Colonel Burdett was placed in to missing in action (MIA) status. He was assumed to have been taken prisoner.
In the second group of aircraft, Oscar and Tiny (in F-105F tail number 63-8295(F)) had the task of trolling for SAMs - make yourself a big, fat, obnoxious, dumb target to get the North Vietnamese to launch a SAM and then evade the SAM and destroy the launch site; but there were no takers. About 10 miles from Hanoi, over the city of Phy Tho, a MIG 21 launched an RS3 “Atoll” air-to-air missile at the flight . It struck and destroyed Oscar’s and Tiny’s F-105F. The Thud disappeared into a cloud bank, someone thought he saw a parachute as it went through the clouds and maybe heard a beeper go off. The beeper only sounded a couple of seconds and then silence. Due to the location there was no chance of rescue.
Tiny and Oscar were placed in to missing in action (MIA) status. They were assumed to have been taken prisoner.
The target was attacked, considerable damage was done to the repair work on the Paul Dormer Bridge and the attack force exited the area in reheat (afterburner). At 900 MPH the force was safe from attack for a few minutes. The force climbed to altitude to continue the flight and fight out of North Vietnam. As on the way in there were MIGs in the area “a constant call of MIG warnings from CROWN, KING, and DISCO , SAM radars were constantly probing, and AAA was still intense.”
As the attack group formed up to exit North Vietnam, the F-105D piloted by Major Leslie John Hauer was hit by a SAM. Major Hauer ejected, got a good chute, made it to the ground where his rescue beeper sounded, and was taken presumably taken prisoner, although the DPRVN denied he was captured. Again, rescue was impossible due to the location. The 44th TFS attacked the SAMs in return and were treated to secondary explosions indicating they got some of the SAMs as well as the radar sites.
It was a bad day for the 388th. Three aircraft lost and four crew members, including the Wing Commander, shot down.
Major Ott had a tape recording of the mission and offered to play the tape for me. I took up his offer at a later date. While the entire mission lasted nearly six hours there is only about 45 minutes of voice on the tape. One hears plainly the calls of “MIG! Watch out! Oh shit! Is that a chute? SAM launch! Damn! Got you, you bastard!” The beeps of a rescue beeper, in both cases faint and far too short.
It was Bill Lehnhoff’s 98th mission over North Vietnam.
Aftermath.
Major Dardeau and Captain Lehnhoff were shot down by a MIG-21 piloted by Nguyen Van Coc. Nguyen was the leading ADPRV Ace, with 9 kills. Both Major Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr. were declared MIA November 18, 1967. On April 4, 1978, The DPRVN provided proof that Major Dardeau and Captain Lehnhoff had not survived the air-to-air missile strike on their aircraft and the USAF declared them killed in action (KIA). In 1987 the Vietnamese “discovered” the remains of an F-105 and two crew members. On November 25, 1987 the remains of Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr. were returned. In February 1988, there remains were positively identified.
Colonel Burdett was declared MIA November 18, 1967. On January 15, 1968, sufficient information was received for the Air Force to declare him a prisoner of war (POW). On March 26, 1974, the DPRVN returned his remains and provided evidence that Colonel Burdett had survived the ejection from his aircraft, was captured and died the same day from wounds received from the AAA hit his F-105D had taken. Confirmed identification of his remains were made April 4, 1974.
Major Leslie John Hauer was declared MIA November 18, 1967. In June 1977, the Vietnamese told U.S. officials they would return Major Hauer’s remains in September. In September 1990 they finally did keep their word and returned Leslie John Hauer’s remains.
In accordance with Air Force policy, service members in MIA status are promoted with their peers, Colonel Burdett to Brigader General, Majors Dardaeu and Hauer to Colonel, and Captain Lehnhoff to Lieutentant Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel Lehnhoff was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
*** Thank you Find a Grave Vol. Tom Reece for this letter.
************************************************
Find A Grave contributor Tom Reece has sponsored your memorial for Edward Lehnhoff.
Thank you Tom for your sponsorship.. Eddieb
***************************************************
Per; Fort Scott Kansas Genealogy News Letter
Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., Lt. Col., from Fort Scott, 35th Tac Ftr Sqdn, 44th Tac Ftr Wing, Korat AB, Thailand, U.S. Air Force, d. 18 Nov. 1967, flying as an Electronic Warfare Officer in an F-105F was shot down with pilot Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. over Phue Yen Airfield in North Vietnam. Was declared missing in action until his remains were recovered and returned to the U.S. on 25 Nov. 1987. Following positive identification, his remains were sent to Salisbury, Missouri, for buried next to his father in the Salisbury Cemetery.
*** Lieutenant Colonel Lehnhoff was a member of the Tactical Air Warfare Center. On November 18, 1967, he was the co-pilot of a Thunderchief Fighter (F-105F) on a mission near Phy Tho, North Vietnam, where the aircraft was shot down by hostile fire. His remains were recovered on November 25, 1987 and identified on February 3, 1988. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in your family and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
EDWARD WILLIAM LEHNHOFF, JR. - Air Force - LTC - O5
Age: 31
* 1955-1959, University of Missouri-Saint Louis. College
University of Missouri-Saint Louis. From Year 1955 To Year 1959 - Major: Aeronautical Engineering
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Mar 14, 1936
From: FT SCOTT, KS
Religion: METHODIST
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Edward William Lehnhoff,Sr., Born March 13, 1906, lives in Fort Scott, Kansas (Died Jan. 1976). Mother, Luceil Lehnhoff
** Your MOM - Luceil Winkelmeyer Lehnhoff (obit from Fort Scott Tribune) born May 3, 1911, in Carrollton, MO, the daughter of Charles and Ann Caddie Winkelmeyer. She married Edward William Lehnhoff June 15, 1935, in Salisbury, Mo. He preceded her in death Jan. 18, 1976. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Winkelmeyer; and a son, Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., whose plane was shot down over North Vietnam Nov. 18, 1967, and who was declared dead by the USAF in 1988. She was also preceded in death by a niece, Dorothy Barrett.
FAG Vol - Memorial Keeper (Thank you very much, Eddieb)
***** "United States Census, 1940"
Name: Edward Lehnhoff
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Ward 2, Marceline, Marceline Township, Linn, Missouri, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: Missouri
Birth Year (Estimated): 1906
Last Place of Residence: Salisbury, Chariton, Missouri
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Edward William Lehnhoff M 34 Missouri (Dad)
Wife Luceil Lehnhoff F 28 Missouri (Mom)
Son Billy Lehnhoff M 4 Missouri (Edward William)
*** Per FAG jason shuster
3 F-105d's and 1 F-105F were shot down. The F-105F was shot down by a Mig-21 Maj Dardeau and Capt Lehnhoff were killed. The next F-105 was shot down by a Mig-21 pilot rescued. The next two were shot down by SAMS 1 pilot KIA and the other POW-DIED.
LTC - O5 - Air Force - Regular
His tour began on Nov 18, 1967
Casualty was on Nov 18, 1967
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 30E - Line 16
Other Personnel in Incident: From nearby F105s: Leslie J. Hauer; Edward B. Burdett; Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. (all remains returned)
On November 18, 1967, three F105s were shot down over Vinh Phu Province.
The F105 was flown by Maj. Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. His co-pilot on the flight was Capt. Edward W. Lehnhoff, Jr.
Their aircraft was shot down about 10 miles north of the city of Phy Tho.
The fate of these two remains uncertain, but they were classified Missing in Action.
The Vietnamese "discovered" and returned their remains on November 25, 1987.
Edward W. Lehnhoff, Jr. was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. and Leslie J. Hauer were promoted to the rank of Colonel, during
the period they were maintained Missing in Action.
*************************************************
The Last Flight of Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., USAF
Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., Captain, United States Air Force was reported shot down over the Democratic Peoples Republic of Vietnam (DPRVN - North Vietnam) on November 18, 1967. The Air Force classified him and the other crew member of the aircraft as missing in action.
As a young Air Force 2nd Lieutenant, I was sent on a temporary duty (TDY) basis to Southeast Asia – Thailand and The Republic of Vietnam (RVN - South Vietnam) – on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1967. While at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) I learned of my cousin’s fate. Curious about the details of this incident I undertook the task of trying to learn what I could about Bill Lehnhoff’s last flight.
First some background.
Bill Lehnhoff was trained and assigned as a Navigator, Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) on a Republic Aviation F-105F Thunderchief “Wild Weasel” aircraft with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat RTAFB.
The F-105, also called “Lead Sled,” “Thud,” and “Squash Bomber” was designed as a low level tactical nuclear bomber with an internal bomb bay. It was a large airplane, well in excess of 50,000 pounds maximum weight, tough as nails, and at low altitudes, or on the deck, faster than any other aircraft ever built – easily exceeding 800 MPH (Mach 1.1). The F-105 was the primary aircraft used in operation Rolling Thunder between 1965 and 1968 usually delivering up to 18,000 pounds of ordnance. The F-105F was a two seat version specifically modified for the Wild Weasel mission.
Wild Weasels were designed to counter surface to air missiles (SAMs) in Vietnam and subsequent wars. They carried special receivers that would identify when a SAM radar was searching for them and when tracking them. These receivers gave the crew various threat warnings from search, to track, to launch of a SAM. The aircraft also carried electronic countermeasures (ECM) to jam the ground radars although it was seldom used as the Weasel’s wanted to be seen and fired upon. They were armed with internal 20 mm M61A1 cannon, bombs, and AGM-45A Shrike missiles – which homed in on the SAM tracking radar. Under the “rules of engagement” in force at the time the Weasel crew could take no action until a SAM was actually launched. Unfortunately this meant they had to dance with the SAM – the crew could see the SAM rising from the ground (!), close with it (!!), and out maneuver the SAM (!!!) to avoid destruction. As soon as the SAM launched the Weasel driver got as close to the launch site as possible so the Bear could launch a Shrike. Then if the SAM had been eluded and burned off all its fuel to become a very expensive bomb, they would dive to the deck and bomb the offending SAM site. Complicating matters was the simple fact that the SAMs had a range of about 30 miles and the Shrike a range of only 12 miles. Additionally, the SAM sites were heavily defended by antiaircraft artillery (AAA). Never has the Air Force asked aircrews to perform a more dangerous mission, one many authors refer to as tantamount to suicide. Uncommon bravery was common among the Wild Weasel squadrons.
Because of the intense coordination required by the pilot, called the “Weasel driver,” and EWO, commonly referred to as a “Bear,” necessary to defeat a SAM they train and fly together as a team. It was usual for a crew to serve their entire tour of duty, one year or 100 missions, together.
Enough background, on with the story.
One evening in 1968 I was in the casual bar of the McClelland Air Force Base discussing work with some of my fellow officers when I noticed a Major dressed in his flight suit with Wild Weasel patches on his sleeve. He was sitting with a group of guys I knew in the flight test section. I believe the patches were the original “YGTBSM ” Wild Weasel patch, the more modern “Cave Putorium ” Weasel patch, a 44th TFS “Vampire” patch and a “100 Missions Over the North” patch. Maybe not all regulation, but the Weasel crews were often a tad bit unruly. By then I knew enough to realize this Major had been at Korat with the 44th TFS and probably knew Bill Lehnhoff.
I walked over to the table where the Major was talking to the flight test guys and introduced myself to Major Everett Z. (Ezz) Ott. I asked if by any chance he had known my cousin, Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., while he had been with the 44th.
Ezz’s response was immediate. “Tiny is your cousin! He’s one hell of a guy and one of the best damn Bears in the Air Force. Damn right I know your cousin! I was flight lead the day he was shot down. ”
I asked the guys from flight test if I could steal Major Ott for a while, asked Ezz if I could buy him a drink, and if he could fill me in on Bill and his last flight. Ezz was willing, and the guys from flight test pulled up chairs as they wanted to hear the story as well.
Ezz proceeded to tell me about Bill.
Bill Lehnhoff was a large man, standing about 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds, so of course he was called “Tiny.” This is a bit of a disadvantage even in the relatively roomy F105, because as big as the airplane is, the cockpit is a bit cramped, and on long missions - and they were all long, many exceeding four hours - the crew members tend to cramp up and have great difficulty in exiting the aircraft. As big as he was it took two large sergeants to help (actually pull) Tiny out of the cockpit after a mission.
Tiny was teamed with and flew 75 missions over North Vietnam with Captain Charles VanDriel. In August of 1967, Tiny broke his leg and was placed on “Duty Not to Include Flying” status while his leg healed. Captain VanDriel finished up his 100 missions and rotated back to the States in September.
After his leg healed Tiny was teamed up with Major Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and resumed flying missions over the North. Ezz claimed that Oscar and Bill made an exceptional team.
On November 18th the 388th TFW was going “downtown. ” Their mission was to bomb the Phuc Yen Airfield just north of Hanoi and the Paul Dormer Bridge over the Red River in Hanoi, DPRVN. Both the airfield and the bridge had been damaged in an attack two weeks earlier and this mission was to inflict more damage and prevent repairs on either the airfield or the bridge. Hanoi was the most heavily defended target in history. It was saturated with AAA emplacements - 37 mm, 58 mm, 85 mm, and 100 mm guns, many radar controlled, surrounded by SAMs, defended by three operational MIG bases (two, including Phuc Yen, were down from previous attacks), and every civilian in the city had guns they shot at U.S. aircraft. These defenses were abetted by the unreasonable (off time idiotic) rules of engagement President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara placed on the aircrews. Legitimate military targets were forbidden to be attacked as they might offer the risk of collateral civilian casualties. Far better to risk our aircrews than risk possible world censure!
The 388th fought its way into Hanoi. MIGs were in the area, AAA was intense and SAM radars were intermittently active. The 388th TFW was split into two groups that day, the first one under Colonel Edward Burke Burdett was to hit Phuc Yen, the second, including Bill Lehnhoff, was to strike the Paul Dormer bridge about 15 to 30 minutes later.
The strike against Phuc Yen was largely successful. Significant damage was done to the runway and attempts being made to repair previously inflicted damage. Colonel Burdett’s F-105D was hit by 58 mm AAA, regardless he pressed on dropping his bombs before the aircraft burst into flames and went uncontrollable. Due to cloud cover no one could see if he had ejected. There was no chance of rescue.
Colonel Burdett was placed in to missing in action (MIA) status. He was assumed to have been taken prisoner.
In the second group of aircraft, Oscar and Tiny (in F-105F tail number 63-8295(F)) had the task of trolling for SAMs - make yourself a big, fat, obnoxious, dumb target to get the North Vietnamese to launch a SAM and then evade the SAM and destroy the launch site; but there were no takers. About 10 miles from Hanoi, over the city of Phy Tho, a MIG 21 launched an RS3 “Atoll” air-to-air missile at the flight . It struck and destroyed Oscar’s and Tiny’s F-105F. The Thud disappeared into a cloud bank, someone thought he saw a parachute as it went through the clouds and maybe heard a beeper go off. The beeper only sounded a couple of seconds and then silence. Due to the location there was no chance of rescue.
Tiny and Oscar were placed in to missing in action (MIA) status. They were assumed to have been taken prisoner.
The target was attacked, considerable damage was done to the repair work on the Paul Dormer Bridge and the attack force exited the area in reheat (afterburner). At 900 MPH the force was safe from attack for a few minutes. The force climbed to altitude to continue the flight and fight out of North Vietnam. As on the way in there were MIGs in the area “a constant call of MIG warnings from CROWN, KING, and DISCO , SAM radars were constantly probing, and AAA was still intense.”
As the attack group formed up to exit North Vietnam, the F-105D piloted by Major Leslie John Hauer was hit by a SAM. Major Hauer ejected, got a good chute, made it to the ground where his rescue beeper sounded, and was taken presumably taken prisoner, although the DPRVN denied he was captured. Again, rescue was impossible due to the location. The 44th TFS attacked the SAMs in return and were treated to secondary explosions indicating they got some of the SAMs as well as the radar sites.
It was a bad day for the 388th. Three aircraft lost and four crew members, including the Wing Commander, shot down.
Major Ott had a tape recording of the mission and offered to play the tape for me. I took up his offer at a later date. While the entire mission lasted nearly six hours there is only about 45 minutes of voice on the tape. One hears plainly the calls of “MIG! Watch out! Oh shit! Is that a chute? SAM launch! Damn! Got you, you bastard!” The beeps of a rescue beeper, in both cases faint and far too short.
It was Bill Lehnhoff’s 98th mission over North Vietnam.
Aftermath.
Major Dardeau and Captain Lehnhoff were shot down by a MIG-21 piloted by Nguyen Van Coc. Nguyen was the leading ADPRV Ace, with 9 kills. Both Major Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and Captain Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr. were declared MIA November 18, 1967. On April 4, 1978, The DPRVN provided proof that Major Dardeau and Captain Lehnhoff had not survived the air-to-air missile strike on their aircraft and the USAF declared them killed in action (KIA). In 1987 the Vietnamese “discovered” the remains of an F-105 and two crew members. On November 25, 1987 the remains of Oscar Moise Dardeau, Jr. and Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr. were returned. In February 1988, there remains were positively identified.
Colonel Burdett was declared MIA November 18, 1967. On January 15, 1968, sufficient information was received for the Air Force to declare him a prisoner of war (POW). On March 26, 1974, the DPRVN returned his remains and provided evidence that Colonel Burdett had survived the ejection from his aircraft, was captured and died the same day from wounds received from the AAA hit his F-105D had taken. Confirmed identification of his remains were made April 4, 1974.
Major Leslie John Hauer was declared MIA November 18, 1967. In June 1977, the Vietnamese told U.S. officials they would return Major Hauer’s remains in September. In September 1990 they finally did keep their word and returned Leslie John Hauer’s remains.
In accordance with Air Force policy, service members in MIA status are promoted with their peers, Colonel Burdett to Brigader General, Majors Dardaeu and Hauer to Colonel, and Captain Lehnhoff to Lieutentant Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel Lehnhoff was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
*** Thank you Find a Grave Vol. Tom Reece for this letter.
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Find A Grave contributor Tom Reece has sponsored your memorial for Edward Lehnhoff.
Thank you Tom for your sponsorship.. Eddieb
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Per; Fort Scott Kansas Genealogy News Letter
Edward William Lehnhoff, Jr., Lt. Col., from Fort Scott, 35th Tac Ftr Sqdn, 44th Tac Ftr Wing, Korat AB, Thailand, U.S. Air Force, d. 18 Nov. 1967, flying as an Electronic Warfare Officer in an F-105F was shot down with pilot Oscar M. Dardeau, Jr. over Phue Yen Airfield in North Vietnam. Was declared missing in action until his remains were recovered and returned to the U.S. on 25 Nov. 1987. Following positive identification, his remains were sent to Salisbury, Missouri, for buried next to his father in the Salisbury Cemetery.
