A piece of history: Wing dedicates F-4, honors past crew

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AFB, La. --  Wing personnel were witness to part of their history at a dedication ceremony held in the shadow of the F-4 Phantom II static display during the May unit training assembly. 

Retired Maj. Fred Holmes, a former 47th Fighter Squadron member, was guest speaker for the event. Major Holmes was a member of the 47 FS from December 1964 until July 1966, and served with Col. Richard "Pop" Keirn, whose name is displayed as pilot on the plane. Also displayed are the names of Lt. Col. Roscoe "Ross" Fobair (weapons system officer), and Senior Master Sgt. O.J. Neal (dedicated crew chief). 

Colonel Keirn could hold the record for total time as a prisoner of war - 277days in World War II, 2,760 days in Vietnam, a total of eight years, four months as a POW. 

During the ceremony, Major Holmes spoke of his time with the 47 FS as well as some experiences with Colonel Keirn. "He was solid, steady, no-nonsense, encouraging and always professional. With Pop, it was mission first," said Major Holmes. 

Some other officers who served with Colonel Keirn made statements through Major Holmes. 

"Dick was just one of those nondescript neat guys. He was always there to lend a hand; both personally and professionally. He was loyal to a fault, some said. I don't think he could tell a lie if he tried. I didn't know Ross very well. He somehow seemed to fit with Pop," wrote Retired Lt. Col. Richard Hamilton, former 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron pilot. 

During the Vietnam War on July 24, 1965, then Capt. Richard Keirn and his co-pilot Capt. Roscoe Fobair were providing combat air patrol cover for a F-105 strike against a munitions factory west of Hanoi when they were shot down by a surface-to-air missile.
Captains Keirn and Fobair were the first known U.S. losses to be shot down during the Vietnam War by Soviet supplied SAMs. Although, Captain Keirn was able to eject from the plane, Captain Fobair was not, and he died when the plane crashed into the side of a mountain some 80 miles west of Hanoi. Captain Keirn was captured and held as a POW for seven and a half years. 

"Pop was injured when shot down, but not terribly, and I don't recall anything major in the way of scarring or disability by the time I lived with him in 1972 and early 1973. Most of us in the camp and all of us in Pop's building were junior officers, mostly 0-2s. I remember Pop as being a good SRO (senior ranking officer). He always had a smile on his face, and he was quick to tell a story or joke," wrote Retired Lt. Col. Thomas Barrett, former Vietnam POW. 

Major Holmes reverently closed the ceremony by calling out the names of 47 FS members left behind in Vietnam.