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SSgt Harry McCown (Mac)
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Garrison, Vermont, Col.
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Vermont Garrison was born on October 21, 1915, in Mount Victory, Kentucky. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on March 17, 1941, but before finishing training he joined the Royal Air Force, where he served until July 13, 1943, when he rejoined the U.S. Army Air Forces. After transition training in the P-47 Thunderbolt, Lt Garrison was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group in Europe where he was credited with shooting down 7.33 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. Garrison was shot down on March 3, 1944, and taken as a Prisoner of War by the Germans. He was liberated by the Russians on May 1, 1945, and remained in Europe as part of the Army of Occupation until 1946. Captain Garrison served in serveral fighter squadrons from 1947 to 1950 and was serving with the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing when it was sent to Japan in support of the Korean War in early 1951. The Wing was moved from Japan to Korea in the Spring of 1951, and Garrison was credited with the destruction of 10 enemy aircraft between February and July 1953, for a two-war total of 17.33, which also made him one of only 7 men to become an ace in both World War II and Korea. Colonel Garrison again flew in combat during the Vietnam War, where he served as Vice Wing Commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing from August 1966 to July 1967, flying 97 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom II. He next served as Commanding Officer of the 408th Fighter Group at Kingsley Field, Oregon, from July 1967 to August 1968. Col Garrison served as Vice Commander of the 26th Air Division at Adair AFS, Oregon, from August 1968 to June 1969, when he became Wing Commander of the 4780th Air Defense Wing at Perrin AFB, Texas, serving until July 1971. Col Garrison's final assignment was as Commander of the 4661st Air Base Group at Hamilton AFB, California, from July 1971 until his retirement from the Air Force on March 1, 1973. Col Garrison wears Command Pilot Wings and was credited with destroying 17.33 aircraft in aerial combat during WWII and Korea, with another 3 probables and 8 damaged. He died on February 14, 1994.
Other Comments:
His Distinguished Service Cross Citation reads:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Vermont Garrison, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Pilot with the 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, FIFTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea on 5 June 1953. On that date, while leading a flight of four F- 86 aircraft near the Yalu River, Colonel Garrison sighted a formation of ten MIG-15s far below. Diving down, Colonel Garrison pressed dangerously close behind the lead MIG in order that the remainder of his formation could assume attacking positions. With one long burst of his guns, Colonel Garrison caused the MIG to explode and disintegrate. Then, at great risk to his life, Colonel Garrison flew directly through the debris from the explosion, in order to attack another enemy MIG and fully exploit the tactical advantage already gained. Courageously disregarding a hail of enemy fire from behind him, and in the face of heavy odds, Colonel Garrison, after violent maneuvering, closed on the second MIG, scoring hits which caused it to explode and crash. As a result of Colonel Garrison's intrepidity and keen flying skill, his flight was able to engage other MIGs in the forefront of the enemy formation, successfully destroying three of them. The enemy, having lost one-half of his force in less than two minutes, and thoroughly demoralized by the heroic and telling attack of Colonel Garrison and his formation, turned and withdrew from the scene of action in defeat. Through Colonel Garrison's selfless courage and inspiring leadership, the tide of battle was turned and his flight was credited with the destruction of five MIGs, two of which were destroyed by Colonel Garrison.
1966-1967, F-4 Phantom
From Year 1966
To Year 1967
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
F-4 Phantom Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
From Wikipedia: The F-4 Phantom was designed as a fleet defense fighter for the U.S. Navy, and first entered service in 1960. By 1963, it had been adopted by the U.S. Air Force for the fighter-bomber role. When production ended in 1981, 5,195 Phantom IIs had been built, making it the most numerous American supersonic military aircraft.[7] Until the advent of the F-15 Eagle, the F-4 also held a record for the longest continuous production with a run of 24 years. Innovations in the F-4 included an advanced pulse-doppler radar and extensive use of titanium in its airframe.[8] Despite the imposing dimensions and a maximum takeoff weight of over 60,000 pounds (27,000 kg),[9] the F-4 had a top speed of Mach 2.23 and an initial climb of over 41,000 ft per minute (210 m/s).[10] Shortly after its introduction, the Phantom set 15 world records,[11] including an absolute speed record of 1,606.342 mph (2,585.086 km/h), and an absolute altitude record of 98,557 ft (30,040 m).[12] Although set in 1959?1962, five of the speed records were not broken until 1975 when the F-15 Eagle came into service.[11] The F-4 could carry up to 18,650 pounds (8,480 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and unguided, guided, and nuclear bombs.[13] Since the F-8 Crusader was to be used for close combat, the F-4 was designed, like other interceptors of the day, without an internal cannon;[14] In a dogfight, the RIO or WSO (commonly called "backseater" or "pitter") assisted in spotting opposing fighters, visually as well as on radar. It became the primary fighter-bomber of both the Navy and Air Force by the end of the Vietnam War. Due to its distinctive appearance and widespread service with United States military and its allies, the F-4 is one of the best-known icons of the Cold War. It served in the Vietnam War and Arab?Israeli conflicts, with American F-4 crews achieving 277 aerial victories in South East Asia and completing countless ground attack sorties.[15] The F-4 Phantom has the distinction of being the last United States fighter to attain ace status in the 20th century. During the Vietnam War, the USAF had one pilot and two WSOs,[16] and the USN one pilot and one RIO,[17] become aces in air-to-air combat. It was also a capable tactical reconnaissance and Wild Weasel (suppression of enemy air defenses) platform, seeing action as late as 1991, during Operation Desert Storm.[4][5] The F-4 Phantom II was also the only aircraft used by both of the USA's flight demonstration teams.[18] The USAF Thunderbirds (F-4E) and the USN Blue Angels (F-4J) both switched to the Phantom for the 1969 season; the Thunderbirds flew it for five seasons,[19] the Blue Angels for six.[20] The baseline performance of a Mach 2-class fighter with long range and a bomber-sized payload would be the template for the next generation of large and light/middle-weight fighters optimized for daylight air combat. The Phantom would be replaced by the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the U.S. Air Force. In the U.S. Navy, it would be replaced by the F-14 Tomcat and the F/A-18 Hornet which revived the concept of a dual-role attack fighter.[21]