Kenneth W. North

Ken North enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 17, 1947, was honorably discharged on September 18, 1951, and then was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Connecticut on July 18, 1953. Lieutenant North went on active duty beginning August 26, 1953, and then completed pilot training, earning his pilot wings at Williams AFB, Arizona, in August 1954. He then served as an Air Defense Command pilot at Truax Field, Wisconsin, from August 1954 to August 1956, followed by service in the Air Force Reserve from August 26, 1956, until he returned to active duty on September 12, 1957. His next assignment was with the 6308th Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron at Itazuke AB, Japan, from October 1957 to April 1959, and then as an F-100 Super Sabre pilot with the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Itazuke from April 1959 to December 1960. Captain North served as an F-100 pilot with the 523rd and then 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, from January 1961 to June 1963, and during this time deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey, in support of the Berlin Crisis from June to October 1961. His next assignment was on the staff of Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, from June 1963 to June 1965, followed by F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training at Nellis AFB, Nevada, from June to September 1965. Captain North served as an F-105 pilot with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from October 1965 to June 1966, and then with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from June 1966 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on August 1, 1966.