Richard H. McDow

Lieutenant McDow was released during Operation Homecoming on March 28, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and then left active duty on July 6, 1973. Captain McDow returned to active duty on May 13, 1974, and completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings at Craig AFB, Alabama, in May 1975. After completing F-4 Combat Crew Training, he served as an F-4 pilot with the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Woodbridge, England, from May 1976 to July 1978, followed by service as an A-10 Thunderbolt II instructor pilot at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona, from July 1978 to June 1979. Major McDow next completed Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada, from June to October 1979, and then served as an A-10 pilot, Weapons Officer for the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron, and then Weapons Officer for the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters, England, from November 1979 to November 1982. His next assignment was as Chief of Wing Weapons with the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, from November 1982 to August 1984, followed by Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1984 to August 1985. Colonel McDow served as Operations Officer for the 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron and on the staff of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters from August 1985 to June 1988, and then as Operations Officer for the 353rd Fighter Squadron, Commander of the 355th Fighter Squadron, and finally as Commander of the 354th Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach AFB from June 1988 to September 1992. During this time, he deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield from August 1990 to January 1991, and then flew 42 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm from January to March 1992. His final assignment was as Deputy Commander of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Group at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from September 1992 until his retirement from the Air Force on September 1, 1994.