THE WALL OF FACES

My father flew with Ray Tiffin, and I remember the Tiffins were our neighbors at the time he was lost. I remember riding somewhere with my mother and Judy Tiffin, who had just received a letter from Ray, in the summer of '65 or '66. She was very pretty and much younger than my mother. As she read parts of the letter aloud to us, she was delighted by the comments Ray made about things she had written to him in an earlier letter, and she just beamed or laughed out loud as she read. I remember in particular that Ray was very proud to learn that their youngest child had started drinking from a cup. It has stuck with me all these years what a loving husband and father he must have been and how much his wife loved him.

I also have Major Rainford Tiffin's POW/MIA bracelet. I have had it since the mid 70"s. I had always hoped to meet him and give it to him. If any family members read this, please know that I have treasured this bracelet with his name on it and have the utmost respect for him and his family that lost him in service to our country. If family members would like his bracelet, I will respectfully and happily get it to you. Please email me at: [email protected]. Thank you Tiffin family! LuAnn

I wear Major Tiffin's Vietnam bracelet all the time. I especially prayer for him on days such as these.

Rainford Tiffin
As William Tiffin lay dying, the fate of his son Ray
remained unknown.
Rainford “Ray” Tiffin was born on March 4, 1938, in San
Francisco, California, to William and Alice Tiffin. In addition
to Ray, the Tiffin family included an older son, William.
Ray grew up in a home on Anderson Street in Santa Cruz,
attended a nearby elementary and junior high school and in
1952, entered Santa Cruz High School. In addition to his
studies and student activities, he worked at a local Chevron
service station. Upon graduation from high school Tiffin
began a two-year program at Monterey Peninsula College.
In 1961 Rainford Tiffin was accepted into the US Air
Force air cadet program and was sent to Webb Air Force
Base in Big Springs, Texas, where he began pilot training.
After graduating, he was awarded his wings and commissioned
a second lieutenant.
While stationed at Luke AFB in Phoenix, Arizona, in
1962, Ray married Judith Woodley. Following additional
training, he was assigned to the US airbase at Itazuki Japan,
and began ferrying jets from the US to the Far East. Judith
joined him and it was at this location that their two sons
were born.
In 1965, as a member of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing,
12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tiffin was placed on temporary
duty at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. Korat,
located approximately 157 miles northeast of Bangkok,
became his home for the next year. During that period, his
squadron flew strikes against North Vietnamese and Viet
Cong installations.
While fl yang a strike on the La Banh POL storage site,
ten miles north of Cho Ngoc, Yen Bai, in North Vietnam,
on July 21, 1966, Captain Rainford Tiffin’s plane was hit
by anti-aircraft fire. Other planes accompanying him on the
mission reported that they did not observe an ejection from
his plane before it crashed near the village of Cam Nhan.
Rainford Tiffin was initially classified as MIA/POW and
later promoted to the rank of Major.
With the absence of his body or prisoner of war status by
the North Vietnamese, Tiffin was re-classified as killed in
action in 1973. His remains have never been recovered.
Source
Remembering our Own
The Santa Cruz County Military Roll of Honor 1861-2010
By Robert L Nelson
The Museum of Art & History @ The McPherson Center
2010
Page 208

Dear Major Rainford Tiffin, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter