Richard D. "Dick" Vogel

Dick Vogel enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force on July 27, 1953. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Bryan AFB, Texas, on February 7, 1955, and then attended F-84F Thunderstreak training and Gunnery training from February to September 1955. Captain Vogel next served as an F-84F and then F-100 Super Sabre pilot with the 614th Fighter Bomber Squadron (redesignated 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron on July 1, 1958) at England AFB, Louisiana, from September 1955 to September 1960, followed by service as an F-100 and then F-105 Thunderchief pilot with the 22nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Bitburg AB, West Germany, from September 1960 to October 1963. His next assignment was as an F-105 pilot with the 562nd Tactical Fighter Squadron and then the 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at McConnell AFB, Kansas, from October 1963 to August 1965. Major Vogel attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1965 to August 1966, and then attended F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training from August to December 1967. His next assignment was as an F-4 pilot with the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from January 1967 until he was forced to eject from his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on May 22, 1967.