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-105D Thunderchief Length 64.24 ft | 19.58 m Width 34.94 ft | 10.65 m Height 19.59 ft | 5.97 m Engine(s) 1 x Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W turbojet engine generating 24,500lbs of thrust with afterburn capability. Empty Weight 27,500 lbs | 12,474 kg MTOW 52,838 lbs | 23,967 kg Max Speed 1,390 mph | 2,237 km/h | 1,208 kts Max Range 920 miles | 1,480 km Ceiling 41,207 ft | 12,560 m | 7.8 miles Climb Rate 34,400 ft/min (10,485 m/min) Hardpoints 4 Armament 1 x 20mm cannon
Internal bomb load capacity of up to 8,000lbs (3,629 kg) with an overall capacity of 12,000lbs (5,442 kg) of munitions (with the inclusion of the external hardpoints).
Mission-specific armament can include AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, mine dispensers, air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods, fuel tanks, nuclear-tipped weapons and conventional dumb bombs. Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* YF-105A - Initial prototypes of which two produced; Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25 turbojet. * YF-105B - Second prototype of which four produced; J75-P-3 powerplant. * F-105 - Base model designation * F-105B - First production rate model * F-105D - All-Weather Attack Variant * F-105F - Final production designation; Two-seat conversion trainer model. * EF-105F - Wild Weasel conversion with special radar detection equipment and anti-radar air-to-surface missiles. * F-105G - Later designation of same EF-105F Wild Weasel Variant.
