This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Feuerriegel, Karl Theodore, Col USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Phoenix, Arizona
Last Address Prescott, Arizona
Date of Passing Mar 04, 2008
Location of Interment Prescott National Cemetery (VA) - Prescott, Arizona
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Karl T. Feuerriegel (AFSN: 0-762299), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller of the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam, in action at Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam, on 30 January 1968. On that date, in conjunction with the Tet Offensive, a large, well-equipped hostile force entered the city, intent on overrunning military installations and releasing a large contingent of hostile captives from the local prison. The hostiles' entrenched positions prevented reinforcements from reaching the battle areas where friendly forces were in dire need of support. Lieutenant Colonel Feuerriegel, despite great personal risk from heavy automatic weapons fire, repeatedly attacked hostile positions in an O-2 aircraft armed with high explosive rockets. He systematically silenced three machine gun positions and neutralized two fortified hostile companies, thereby preventing the annihilation of beleaguered friendly units. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness, Lieutenant Colonel Feuerriegel reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
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.