THE WALL OF FACES

Colonel John Francis Dudash, Served with the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.

Dear Colonel John Francis Dudash, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

The F-105 Thunderchief ("Thud"), in its various versions, flew more missions against North Vietnam than any other U.S. aircraft. It also suffered more losses, partially due to its vulnerability, which was constantly under revision. Between 1965 and 1971, the aircraft was equipped with armor plate, a secondary flight control system, an improved pilot ejection seat, a more precise navigation system, better blind bombing capability and ECM pods for the wings. While the D version was a single-place aircraft, the F model carried a second crewman which made it well suited for the role of suppressing North Vietnam's missile defenses. Eighty-six F-105Ds fitted with radar homing and warning gear formed the backbone of the Wild Weasel program, initiated in 1965 to improve the Air Force's electronic warfare capability. Upon pinpointing the radar at a missile site, the Wild Weasel attacked with Shrike missiles that homed on radar emissions. The versatile aircraft was also credited with downing 25 Russian MiGs. Thirteen of these modified F's were sent to Southeast Asia in 1966. Most of the F-105s flown by the U.S. Air Force were based in Thailand, their flights into North Vietnam guided by ultra-secret U.S.-operated radar installations in Laos. During the mid-sixties, both Navy and Air Force jets descended on military targets in North Vietnam as part of Operation Rolling Thunder. At the coastal city of Haiphong, Navy bombers were running successful bombing missions aimed at vital supply stores and storage facilities. One bomber was flown by Michael Estocin, who was shot down on this mission and who was awarded the Navy's only Congressional Medal of Honor for his valor on this mission and those of days previous over Haiphong. Several F-105's were lost northwest of Hanoi on this day. One, an F-105F, flown by CAPT John F. Dudash, with MAJ Alton B. Meyer in the rear seat, was hit by enemy fire in northwest of Hanoi in Vinh Phu Province. Meyer, as the rear-seater, ejected first and was captured immediately. He landed about 45 miles northwest of Hanoi, and the aircraft continued in a southeasterly direction with Dudash still at the controls. While Meyers watched, the plane disintegrated in mid-air. Although the Air Force later located the precise location of the downed aircraft, the fate of Dudash was uncertain. The pieces fell to earth about 5 miles from the ejection coordinates of Meyer and finally crashed. Whether Dudash successfully ejected was doubtful, but he was classified Missing in Action. Sixteen years later, the Vietnamese "discovered" and returned the remains of John F. Dudash. The U.S. accepted this humanitarian gift without question. [Taken from pownetwork.org]

If you have any additional information about this hero or are a relative, please contact the Foundation at [email protected] or 1-800-648-8387.

John is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.