This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Giraudo, John Charles, Maj Gen USAF(Ret).
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In WWII he flew B-17's and B-24's until his aircraft was shot down and he was taken as a POW Feb 25, 1944. He was held at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia, until freed in Apr 1945. During the Korean War he was shot down and AGAIN taken as a POW in May 1953. Before being shot down, he was credited with destroying 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1.5 probables and 1 damaged. He was one of very few men to be a POW in two different wars. He also flew combat missions in a third war, Vietnam. He retired from the AF Nov 1, 1977.
The location of his remains is unknown.
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Colonel John C. Giraudo (AFSN: FR-16296), United States Air Force, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while Commanding the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing in Southeast Asia, on 5 November 1967.
General Orders: Headquarters, 7th Air Force, Special Order G-10 (January 2, 1968)
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Republic F-84F Thunderjet Length 37.43 ft | 11.41 m Width 36.42 ft | 11.10 m Height 14.99 ft | 4.57 m Engine(s) 1 x Wright J65-W-3 turbojet engine generating 7,220lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 13,830 lbs | 6,273 kg MTOW 28,001 lbs | 12,701 kg Max Speed 695 mph | 1,118 km/h | 604 kts Max Range 860 miles | 1,384 km Ceiling 45,997 ft | 14,020 m | 8.7 miles Climb Rate 7,400 ft/min (2,257 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 24 x 5in rockets
Up to 6,000lbs of external ordnance. Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-84 Thunderjet - First prototype model (1946); General Electric J35-GE-7 turbojet engine. * XP-8A Thunderjet - Prototype (25 total); Allison J35-A-15 * P-84B Thunderjet - XP-8A porduction model. * P-84C Thunderjet - Revised electrical system; J35-A-13C engine; Later redesignated as the F-84C. * F-84 Thunderjet * YF-84A Thunderjet - First swept-wing variant * F-84D Thunderjet - J35-A-17D engine; Re-engineered landing gear system; thicker wing systems. * F-84E Thunderjet - Post-Korean War model featuring improved system components; Enlarged cockpit; Lengthened fuselage. * F-84G Thunderjet - J35-A-29 engine * F-84F Thunderstreak - Swept wing; Wright J65-W-1 turbojet engine (later models with Wright J65-W-3 engines). * RF-84F Thunderflash - Final development model of F-84 series; Reconnaissance variant with J65-W-7 engine.