Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen
| Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen | |
|---|---|
 
Colonel Merlyn Dethlefsen
|
|
| Born |
June 29, 1934 Greenville, Iowa |
| Died | December 14, 1987 (aged 53) |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1953 - 1977 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 333rd Fighter Squadron |
| Commands held | 96th Bombardment Wing |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Air Force Commendation Medal |
Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen (June 29, 1934 – December 14, 1987) was a United States Air Force officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Dethlefsen was born June 1934 in Greenville, Iowa. After attending Iowa State University for two years, he joined the Air Force from Royal, Iowa in 1953, and was commissioned through the aviation cadet program in 1955. After his commissioning as an Air Force officer, he attended undergraduate pilot training and was eventually assigned to fighter assignments. In 1965, he earned his college degree from University of Nebraska at Omaha, with a major in business
By March 10, 1967 had risen to the rank of Captain. On March 10, 1967, then-Capt Merlyn H. Dethlefsen refused to fly his badly damaged F-105 Thunderchief back to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. Instead, he stayed in the skies above the steel works at Thai Nguyen and completely destroyed a SAM-site before limping home. His courage in the face of a maelstrom of enemy fire earned him the third Medal of Honor given to an airman in the Vietnam War.
Dethlefsen, flying the number three aircraft, and three other F-105s of Lincoln flight, flew ahead of a strike force of 72 fighter-bombers (F-105s from Korat and Takhli, and F-4s from Ubon) heading to the Thai Nguyen iron and steel works. Their job was to attack the surface-to-air missile complex, antiaircraft guns and a ring of automatic weapons guarding the target. On the first pass, his flight leader (F-105F 63-8335, piloted by Maj. David Everson and Capt. Jose Luna, both POW) was shot down by 85mm AAA fire and his wing man was forced to withdraw with severe damage. Capt. Dethlefsen then took command of the flight while fending off MiG attacks and responding to his own battle-damaged aircraft.
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