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Very little is known regarding the circumstances of Ronald King's loss. Hobson's Vietnam Air Losses contains a brief entry:
"A Thunderchief crashed in the Gulf of Tonkin when it ran out of fuel returning from a mission. The pilot was killed in the accident."
Jim Baugher's compilation of USAF aircraft procurements and dispositions contains an even briefer note, "[F-105D 59-]1824 shot down 10/3/1967. Pilot KIA.", but one with perhaps less accuracy. With this exception, available records indicate it was not a hostile loss but rather an operational loss.
Even his squadron assignment is somewhat uncertain; Hobson places him with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, a component of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, as does the 355th TFW Honor Role. On Monday, December 27, 1999, Howard Plunkett (plunkett-abq@worldnet.att.net) placed the following on thewall-usa.com:
"Maj Ronald King was the pilot of an F-105D that caught fire on 3 October 1967 enroute to a target in North Vietnam. After ejecting, Maj King died from becoming entangled in his parachute when he landed in water with waves 20 feet high. He was a member of the 333 TFS from Takhli RTAB, Thailand."
The Air Force's Vietnam casualty list says he was assigned to the 333rd TFS, a different squadron within the 355th TFW. At the time of his loss, LTC King held the rank of Maj. and was promoted after his loss. LTC King remains listed as BNR. ( Body Not Recovered)
Other Comments:
This Veteran has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California.
