THE WALL OF FACES

You were my Grandfather’s brother. I know he carried much guilt after your death that im just now finding out about. Im glad there is so much that is written about you.

You were my Grandfather’s brother. I know he carried much guilt after your death that im just now finding out about. Im glad there is so much that is written about you.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. That you died five days before your scheduled return home is especially tragic. May you rest in eternal peace.

On October 25, 1967, a U.S. Air Force Republic F-105D Thunderchief (#59-1737) from the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron was landing in marginal weather on runway 25L at Tan Son Nhut Air Base when it collided with a USAF C-123K Provider (#54-0667) from the 310th Air Commando Squadron. The Provider was about to take off for its return flight to Phan Rang when the pilot saw a huge thunderstorm directly in its path and decided to abort the flight. He was observed to taxi along the runway to return to the parking area and had covered about 2,000 feet when the tower warned him to clear the runway immediately. However, before the Provider could turn off the runway, it was hit by the Thunderchief as it landed in poor visibility. The F-105's starboard wing sliced through the left side of the C-123's fuselage, the jet's fuselage tearing off both the Provider's engines from its port wing. The Thunderchief pilot, MAJ Aquilla F. Britt, was unable to eject and died in the crash as his F-105 cart-wheeled 5000-feet down the runway. MAJ Britt, who had just completed his 100th mission, was 5 days from returning to the U.S. The C-123 crew survived the collision, but one crewmember died a few days later. Loadmaster SSGT Curtis E. Stieferman exited the Provider which was engulfed in flames; however, he reportedly returned to the blazing wreck to save a crewmember and inhaled flames and was extensively burned. He died November 4, 1967. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org, baaa-acro.com, c123sinsea.org, and aviation-safety.net]

Aquilla Friend Britt

Air Force Cross
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Air Force
Battalion: 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Division: Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand
GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Major Aquilla Friend Britt (AFSN: 0-3065105), United States Air Force (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as commander of a strike force of twenty F-105 Thunderchiefs of the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action against a heavily defended target in North Vietnam on 25 October 1967. Through extremely heavy barrages of surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft fire, Major Britt, with undaunted determination and indomitable courage, safely guided the strike force on a devastating attack against the primary target. His superb planning, leadership, and gallantry, displayed under intense conditions, were the key factors that led to the destruction of this highly significant military target. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Major Britt reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.