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Taylor, Robert
Rolling Thunder
"... I led that mission as I wanted to, ignoring all details of altitude, airspeed, and heading given to me by some administrator who knew nothing of Hanoi.. it made good flying sense. We flew a smooth mission, everybody did good work... " Colonel JACK BROUGHTON
The date: March 12, 1967. The target: The large thermal power plant at Viet Tri, on the Red River, a short distance to the northwest of Hanoi. 100- and 85-mm. gun positions, missile sites and the usual barrage of ground-fire encountered on any mission "downtown" heavily defended the area. The task of the leading flight was to hammer the guns and clear the way for the closely following strike force to lay their bombs squarely on the power plant. They would all have to contend with the ever-present likelihood of MiG interception on the way out.
Leading the 355th TFW F-105 Thunderchiefs out of Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, Colonel Jack Broughton took the familiar route, approaching the target area flying down Thud Ridge. As the high ground fell away he pushed his flight of four ships down to the deck and, "going like hell", Broughton swung the leading Thuds southwest, just enough to give those on the ground the impression they were headed somewhere south of Viet Tri.
This print is individually autographed by:
Lt. Col. Harold W. Bingaman
Lt. Col. Max C. Brestel
Colonel Jacksel M. Broughton
Colonel Leo K. Thorsness (Medal of Honor Recipient and six year POW)
Print size: 32 5/8"w X 23 5/8"h
Limited edition of: 850 signed and numbered
