435 tfs thailand and 10th oms england

```html • 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS), Thailand • The 435th TFS was a part of the United States Air Force and operated primarily out of Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. • The squadron was equipped with the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, a powerful multi-role fighter-bomber. • It played a significant role in Operation Rolling Thunder, the sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam. • Pilots from the 435th TFS were involved in numerous air-to-air engagements, including some of the early jet dogfights over Vietnam. • The squadron participated in Operation Bolo in January 1967, a successful mission to lure and destroy North Vietnamese MiG-21s. • One of the squadron's F-4 crews, Captains Merlyn Dethlefsen and Kevin "Mike" Gilroy, received the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross for a daring strike against heavily defended targets in 1967. • The 435th TFS flew more than 24,000 combat sorties during its Vietnam deployment. • The unit's tail code during its time in Thailand was "FG". • The squadron suffered losses, but its pilots and crews became known for their professionalism and bravery under fire. • The 435th TFS was inactivated in 1974, but its legacy continues through the 435th Fighter Training Squadron, which currently trains USAF pilots. • 10th Operational Maintenance Squadron (OMS), England • The 10th OMS was part of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, based at RAF Alconbury, England, during the Cold War. • This unit was responsible for the maintenance and operational readiness of reconnaissance aircraft, including the RF-4C Phantom II. • RAF Alconbury was a key base for USAF operations in Europe, supporting NATO during periods of heightened tension with the Soviet Union. • Personnel of the 10th OMS maintained aircraft that conducted vital intelligence-gathering missions across Europe and sometimes along the borders of the Eastern Bloc. • The squadron played a crucial support role during exercises such as REFORGER and Able Archer, simulating large-scale NATO mobilizations. • 10th OMS airmen had to maintain high levels of readiness, often responding to short-notice alert launches and real-world reconnaissance taskings. • The squadron's work ensured that the 10th TRW could provide timely photo intelligence to commanders, impacting Cold War planning and decisions. • RAF Alconbury became famous for its "Alconbury Air Tattoo," which showcased both maintenance and flying skills of 10th OMS and related units. • Many veterans of the 10th OMS recall the camaraderie and unique challenges of maintaining high-tech aircraft in England's often damp and chilly climate. • The 10th OMS was inactivated in the early 1990s as part of the post–Cold War drawdown, but its legacy is remembered by former personnel and aviation enthusiasts. ```