Last of 917 WG heritage goes to Gilmer
Master Sgt. John Kane, electronic environmental systems technician, 307th Maintenance Squadron, Lt. Col. James Marks, A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, Retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Capt. Steve Dean and Master Sgt. Eric Swaim, aircraft hydraulic systems mechanic, 307 MXS, pose for a photo alongside a flatbed truck loaded with an F-4 Phantom fuel tank destined for Gilmer, Texas, at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Nov. 13, 2013. The 600-gallon drop tank from the F-4 Phantom days of the 47th Fighter Squadron, which until 2011 was part of the 917th Wing at Barksdale, will soon be part of a prime museum display at the Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum at Fox Stephens Field in Gilmer. In July 1965, the 47 FS deployed to Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, and compiled 1,743 combat missions over Southeast Asia. This fuel tank very likely flew on combat missions during the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Master Sgt. Jeff Walston)