Leo K. Thorsness

By zthanson, 9 December, 2022
First Name
Leo
Middle Name
K.
Last Name
Thorsness
Birthdate
Hometown
Walnut Grove, Minnesota
Rank
Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in a decorated U.S. Air Force uniform. Medal of honor in the top right corner of the image.
PreCapture Description

Leo Thorsness enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on January 5, 1951, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the Air Force in January 1953. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings in April 1954. Lieutenant Thorsness flew fighters for Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command before flying combat missions in Vietnam. He flew 92 and a half Wild Weasel missions in the F-105 Thunderchief and was shot down over North Vietnam and taken as a Prisoner of War on April 30, 1967, just 11 days after a mission for which he would later be awarded the Medal of Honor. Colonel Thorsness was also credited with shooting down one enemy fighter and one probable on that same mission.

Post Release Image
Older man wearing a suit and medal speaking into a microphone in front of an American flag.
Post Release Description

Colonel Thorsness was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He retired from the Air Force on October 24, 1973. Colonel Thorsness is a command pilot with 5,000 flying hours in L-21, T-6 Texan, T-28 Trojan, T-33, F-84B and D Thunderjet, F-84F Thunderstreak, F-100C and D Super Sabre, and F-105B, D, and F Thunderchief aircraft. Leo Thorsness served as a Washington State Senator from 1988 to 1992. He met Gaylee Anderson the first day of college and they were married in 1953 and have one daughter, Dawn, and two granddaughters. Leo Thorsness Flew West on May 2, 2017, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Medal of Honor

​​​​​​​Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness was operating a F- 105 aircraft. Although critically short on fuel himself, he helped to avert further possible loss of life and a friendly aircraft by recovering at a forward operating base, thus allowing an aircraft in emergency fuel condition to refuel safely. 

  • Silver Star (2)
  • Distinguished Flying Cross (6)
  • Bronze Star (2)
  • Prisoner of War Medal
Additional Asset 1
Thorsness (at hanoi hilton).jpeg (60.97 KB)
Asset 1 Caption
Man in a POW uniform walking with a prison gaurd.
Passed away before release
Post Release