1965
Factory deliveries in January included at least 20 aircraft, enough to fully equip a third squadron:
06 January: 63-7659, 63-7666
07 January: 63-7670
08 January: 63-7667
13 January: 63-7677, 63-7678
14 January: 63-7679, 63-7685
18 January: 63-7675, 63-7668 (probable 18/1: 63-7671)
23 January: 63-7673, 63-7682
26 January: 63-7688
28 January: 63-7676, 63-7681
30 January: 63-7680, 63-7689, 63-7691, 63-7695, 63-7703
31 January: 63-7692
February factory deliveries included at least 17 aircraft, enough to flesh out the fourth F-4C squadron. Deliveries after this were to complete the inventories and provide the maintenance spares.
04 February: 63-7693, 63-7696,
14 February: 63-7701, 63-7702, 63-7700, 63-7708
17 February: 63-7687, 63-7712,
12 February: 63-7686, 63-7694, 64-0655, 64-0661, 63-7710
18 February: 63-7684, 63-7698
19 February: 63-7713, 64-0659
Two aircraft, 63-7634 and 63-7649 were transferred to the 366 TFW, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, on 17 February.
Three aircraft were acquired from the factory in late May: 64-0717 and 64-0720 on 23 May; 64-0735 on 25 May. Six aircraft were acquired from the factory during the first week of June: 64-0730 and 64-0735 on 2 June; 64-0731, 64-0732, 64-0739, and 64-0742 on 4 June.
In June the Wing transferred the headquarters flag (but not assignment) and two squadrons, 433 TFS and 497 TFS, to Naha Air Base, Okinawa. The 68 TFS and 431 TFS remained behind, being attached to the 831 Air Division command structure. While deployed the two F-4C squadrons shared the local area air defense duties with F-4C squadrons forward deployed from the 12 TFW, MacDill AFB, Florida.
On 31 July F-4C 63-7519 and 63-7530 were temporarily transferred to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, California. These aircraft returned to George AFB on 20- August but the stay was short as both were then transferred on 20 September to the 4453 Combat Crew Training Wing (4453 CCTW) at David Monthan AFB, Arizona.
In late August the 68 TFS became the first Wolf Pack squadron to deploy to the combat theater in Southeast Asia. The squadron made a transpac deployment with 21 F-4C to Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, on and about 27 August. Aircraft identified from the USAF microfilm of aircraft movements involved with this deployment included: 64-0830 may have been part of the deployment, being transferred in from the 33 TFW, Eglin AFB, Florida, on 26 August and immediately added to the 68 TFS roster for the movement (however, other records indicated this aircraft did not leave the factory until 13 October). F-4C: 63-7538, 63-7626, 63-7642, 63-7647, 63-7650, 63-7659, 63-7667, 63-7668, 63-7677, 63-7685,(possible, noted transferred to 479 TFW 30/11), 63-7681, 63-7695, 64-0717, 64-0720, 64-0730, 64-0732. 64-0735, 64-0736, 64-0739. While at Korat RTAFB the 68 TFS was attached to the Second Air Division (2 AD), 24 August through 6 December. As aircraft received combat damage they would as often as not be sent to the 6200 Material Wing (6200 MW), Clark AB, Philippines, for repair work.
Apparently the orders had already been issued for the 8 TFW to deploy to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. On and about 2 September numerous 8 TFW F-4C, not from the 68 TFS, were listed at Ubon RTAFB: 63-7641, 63-7643, 63-7644 (Clark AB on 9/10), 63-7645, 63-7652, (6200 MW, Clark AB 2-26/9), 63-7656, 63-7654, 63-7665 (to Hill AFB depot on 22 October), 63-7673, 63-7680, 63-7683 (>Clark AB on 18/10), 63-7686, 63-7687, 63-7694, 63-7700, 63-7710, 63-7712, 64-0863 (6200 MW 1/9-), 64-0731 (> Clark AB on 9/10).
Four aircraft were transferred to the 4453 CCTW at Davis Monthan AFB on 20 September: 63-7519, 63-7530, 63-7675 and 63-7708. F-4C 63-7702 was transferred to the 4520 CCTW at Nellis AFB on 7 September; two other F-4C were reacquired from the 4520 CCTW in late September; 64-0655 returned on 29 September. F-4C 64-0659 was transferred back to the 4520 CCTW before the end of the year.
F-4C 64-0725 was transferred from the 12 TFW to the 68 TFS on 23 September.
On 16 October the 68 TFS/2 AD lost F-4C 64-0730, call sign Argon, during 1500-hours ROLLING THUNDER 35 Strike mission against a bridge in south-central North Vietnam (later designated Route Package II). During the first dive on the target (18°-05’N/105°-48’E) the aircraft was hit by unknown gunfire (small arms during a low altitude strafing run). CAPT. T.E. Collins and 1LT E.A.Brunds safely ejected and were captured—becoming the first of many Wolf Pack Prisoners of War (POW) over the next seven years. This was the sole combat loss for the 68 TFS while deployed.
For their part in the combat during the year the 68 TFS earned a share of the Air Force Association’s prestigious H.H. Arnold Award, presented to those USAF air elements deployed in theater for 1965.
When the 68 TFS began packing up for the trip home they did so without most of the aircraft. Effective 24 November numerous aircraft were transferred to Ubon RTAFB (63-7642, 63-7647, 63-7650, 63-7659, 63-7668, 63-7677, 63-7681, and 64-0739) and Clark AB, Philippines (64-0720, 64-0732, 64-0735). Two straggler transfers to Ubon RFAFB were F-4C 63-7667, on 2 December; 64-0717, on 4 December. Two aircraft are listed as transferred to the 51 FIW in December; 63-7626 on 19 December and 63-7538 on 23 December. When the 68 TFS returned to George AFB they took custody of a squadron of 8 TFW aircraft left behind when the rest of the Wing deployed in-theater.
Effective 30 November the 8 TFW transferred no fewer than 38 F-4C to the 479 TFW.
63-7618, 63-7620, 63-7621, 63-7632, 63-7636, 63-7646, 63-7648, 63-7653, 63-7655, 63-7657, 63-7658, 63-7661, 63-7663, 63-7666, 63-7669, 63-7670, 63-7671, 63-7672, 63-7674, 63-7675, 63-7679, 63-7682, 63-7684, 63-7685, 63-7689, 63-7691, 63-7692, 63-7693, 63-7696, 63-7698, 63-7701, 63-7703, 63-7713, 64-0661, 63-7663 and 64-0655 were transferred, dates uncertain, though definitely prior to the end of the year.
On 6 December the 68 TFS and 431 TFS were transferred to the 831 AD, with subsequent attachment to the 479 TFW, now the tenant wing at George AFB. Effective 8 December the 8 TFW raised their headquarters flag over Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, with 433 TFS and 497 TFS fully equipped with the F-4C.
F-4C 63-7561 was transferred on 15 December from the 366 TFW to the 8 TFW unit at Clark AB.