On April 19, 1967, Major Leo K. Thorsness flew his F-105 Thunderchief on an extremely dangerous mission over North Vietnam that inscribed his name in the register of military heroism. Major Thorsness had been assigned to suppress SAM sites, and he and his EWO, Captain Harold Johnson, displayed the highest bravery and tactical acumen.
The mission began with Thorsness detecting a SAM site and destroying it with a Shrike missile. A second site was almost immediately detected. In the heavy antiaircraft fire, undaunted, Thorsness laid down a precise strike with cluster bombs that wiped out the threat. On the second strike, his wingman was hit; the crew had to bail out. As Thorsness circled the descending parachutes, a MIG-17 appeared. He engaged the enemy fighter and sent it into a tight spin and crash.
Low on fuel, Thorsness searched for a KC-135 Stratotanker, only to be told two SH-3 helicopters were waiting for an escort to rescue the downed crew. Although he was very low on fuel, Thorsness still went back to the area where he engaged four MIG-17s, denting one, and then drew the others away with a low-altitude run. Finally, he told another F-105 to refuel first, diverting to a forward base where he landed with only a 10-minute fuel supply remaining.
For this extraordinary heroism, Thorsness was given the Medal of Honor. Eleven days later, he was shot down and taken prisoner for nearly six years. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon on October 15, 1973.
The official citation terminated the valor of Thorsness as it went further to praise his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” His actions not only silenced sites with SAMs but also destroyed enemy MIGs, hence guaranteeing the safety of other fellow airmen.
Thorsness’ military career started in 1951. He had already flown 92 Wild Weasel missions before his capture. His tactics were applied to both SAM threats and air-to-air combat with enemy aircraft. He also served after his release, retiring as a Colonel in 1973 with close to 5,000 flying hours.
Subsequently, Colonel Thorsness served as a Washington State Senator to continue his efforts to secure the release of information regarding soldiers still listed as prisoners of war or missing in action. He died on 2 May 2017 at age 85, leaving behind the legacy of his valor and commitment to his country.