Talk:563rd Electronic Warfare Squadron

Corvette Sting Ray
Pilots of the 23rd Wing (the 561st, 562nd, 563rd) would typically drive Corvette Sting Ray sports cars. The power surge was similar to that of an F-105 taking off with full afterburners. 63.192.100.247 (talk) 04:17, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

Missing Cross of Gallantry
The U.S. did not admit it had combat planes in Thailand until 1966, so the sorties of the 561st, 562nd and 563rd in 1965 when the 563rd and 562nd were awarded three Combat "V" devices, are in a gray area. It was Hot City back then but apparently these squadrons haven't been awarded their Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citations yet, as far as I can see--they fully qualify, it's just that they were a secret so nobody can admit that they were there. The 561st later was awarded a Cross of Gallantry in 1972 for Linebacker I and II. The first F-105 was officially downed on Aug. 14, 1964 over Laos, made its way back to the airbase but had to be scrapped. The F-105's were pulling Top Secret missions in support of CIA operations in Laos, supporting the Loyalists against the North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao. The first F-105 that flew into North Vietnam was on Feb. 8, 1965. Lucky guy. Don't know whose squadron he was from. I think the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry should be added to the "Decorations" template; more research of the matter is needed. Any Wiki editors got a line on missing awards procedures? Individuals file a SF-180, combat Squadrons, who knows?