Ronald Runyan King
Lieutenant Colonel
333RD TAC FTR SQDN, 355TH TAC FTR WING, 7TH AF United States Air Force Santa Cruz, California November 01, 1926 to October 03, 1967 RONALD R KING is on the Wall at Panel 27E, Line 44 |
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REMEMBEREDHe received the Silver Star.I'd like to know more.
From a friend of his son, Robert King. |
Notes from The Virtual WallVery little is known regarding the circumstances of Ronald King's loss.Hobson's Vietnam Air Losses contains a brief entry: "A Thunderchief crashed in the Gulf of Tonkin when it ran out of fuel returning from a mission. The pilot was killed in the accident."Jim Baugher's compilation of USAF aircraft procurements and dispositions contains an even briefer note, "[F-105D 59-]1824 shot down 10/3/1967. Pilot KIA.", but one with perhaps less accuracy. With this exception, available records indicate it was not a hostile loss but rather an operational loss. Even his squadron assignment is somewhat uncertain; Hobson places him with the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron, a component of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, as does the 355th TFW Honor Role. On Monday, December 27, 1999, Howard Plunkett (plunkett-abq@worldnet.att.net) placed the following on thewall-usa.com: "Maj Ronald King was the pilot of an F-105D that caught fire on 3 October 1967 enroute to a target in North Vietnam. After ejecting, Maj King died from becoming entangled in his parachute when he landed in water with waves 20 feet high. He was a member of the 333 TFS from Takhli RTAB, Thailand."The Air Force's Vietnam casualty list says he was assigned to the 333rd TFS, a different squadron within the 355th TFW. What is beyond dispute is that then-Major Ronald King, a veteran of 22 years' service and two wars, departed Takhli RTAFB on 03 Oct 1967 in F-105D serial 59-01824, did not return, and has not been recovered. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after his loss. |
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