Original Items: Only One Lot Available. This collection includes an impressive assortment of Theater/In-Country-made items for Major General Fred Haeffner. It comprises (3) Theater-Made silk-like flying scarves and (3) In-Country-made squadron patches, all associated with the Major General and in fantastic condition. Fred Haeffner was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at North Dakota Agricultural College. While serving in Vietnam, he successfully shot down one MiG-17 and was credited with assisting in the downing of another one, as well as achieving two probable MiG kills. He retired on September 1, 1987, as a U.S. Air Force Major General.

The Items In This Lot:
- 4” x 2” Velcro Name Tag: The name tag itself is in wonderful condition with all details still present. The tag features an embroidered Command Pilot Insignia, Jump Wings and the silhouette of an F-15 Eagle.

- 3 ⅝” x 2 ⅞” Velcro 67th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Cocks” Squadron Patch: The patch is a lovely In-Country made type featuring a rooster wearing boxing gloves in a fighter’s stance. The 67th Fighter Squadron is one of two McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle squadrons in the Asian-Western Pacific area of operations, supporting Pacific Command operational plans and headquarters-directed contingency operations.

- 6 ¼” x 5 ½” US Navy Heavy Attack Squadron VAH-8 Patch: This is an interesting patch, especially because Haeffner was Air Force, making this an excellent research opportunity. The patch is for VAH-8, a Heavy Attack Squadron of the U.S. Navy, based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. It was established on 1 May 1957 and disestablished on 17 January 1968. The squadron primarily flew the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior aircraft.

- 47” x 6 ½” 435th Fighter Training Squadron Scarf: A lovely baby blue scarf with printed American Eagle shooting a machine gun design. The bottom of the scarf has 435 TFTS printed in black for the 435th Fighter Training Squadron. The 435 FTS conducts initial instructor and student flying training for over 130 U.S. Air Force and international pilots and Weapon System Operators annually in Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals. The squadron develops students' proficiency, confidence, discipline, judgment, and situational awareness of basic fighter employment. Additionally, the squadron deploys to support fighter syllabus/operational training requirements for Dissimilar Air Combat Training.

- 40 ½” x 5” Jolly Roger Embroidered Scarf: A fantastic dark blue scarf embroidered with (4) Jolly Rogers embroidered in white with Fred A. Haeffner embroidered at the bottom of the right side.

- 57” x 7” Embroidered Blue Scarf: Another fantastic piece of flying accessory embroidered with two white stars for a Major General and FRED HAEFFNER embroidered beneath it.

All 6 items are in wonderful condition with signs of honest wear, age toning and are otherwise presented without any extensive damage. We were fortunate enough to find an account on the day General Haeffner scored his first aerial victory against an enemy MiG while in Vietnam.

The following details are in regards to his aerial victory:

Date: May 13, 1967
Squadron: 433rd TFS
Aircraft: F-4C
Weapon: AIM-7
Pilot: Lt. Col. Fred Haeffner
Radar Intercept Officer/Weapons System Officer: 1st Lt M. Beaver
Aircraft Destroyed: MiG-17

Lt. Col. Fred A. Haeffner and 1st Lt. Michael R. Beaver had observed a successful AIM-9 attack on a MiG just before Haeffner dove after two MIG’s chasing the Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs. Haeffner attempted to fire only two AIM-7 missiles from an overhead position, but inadvertently fired three. Dropping below the nose and out of sight, the first missile failed to guide and missed the MiG by about 100 feet. The second fired from a slightly lower altitude, dropped out of sight, but reappeared. Haeffner and Beaver saw it hit the MiG on the fuselage just behind the canopy. The MIG disintegrated. The third missile was last seen guiding to the vicinity of the destroyed MIG-17. Maj. Ronald E. Catton, flying in aircraft position 4, also saw the action. “The MIG seemed to blow up on the spot," he commented. “The second missile powdered the MIG; it broke up into many disorganized pieces”.

Haeffner was assigned to the 390th TFS, 366th TFW at the time of this aerial victory. However, he was serving a one-week exchange TDY with the 433d TFS, 8th TFW, and that squadron and wing earned the victory credit, rather than his parent squadron and wing.

This is a spectacular grouping attributed to a genuine fighter pilot with confirmed victories! Comes more than ready for further research and display.

MAJOR GENERAL FRED A. HAEFFNER

General Haeffner was born in 1930, in Fargo, N.D. He earned a bachelor of science degree from North Dakota Agricultural College in 1953 and a master's degree from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1971. He graduated from Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in 1965 and the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1970.

After receiving his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at North Dakota Agricultural College, he graduated from pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas. He then attended aircraft maintenance school at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill., and later fighter aircraft gunnery school at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flying T-33s and F-86H's.

From 1956 to 1962, General Haeffner flew F-86H's and F-100s with the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France; Hahn, Furstenfeldbruck and Sembach air bases, Germany; and the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. He also flew Mark 6 Sabres with the Royal Canadian Air Force's 434th Squadron at Zweibrucken Air Base, Germany. During this period, the general also served at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in Officer Training School and flew T-33s in the slot position with the Warhawks aerial demonstration team. From July 1965 to June 1966, he served in fighter operations at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.

He qualified in F-4Cs at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., in December 1966 and was subsequently assigned to the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, where he commanded the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron. During his tour of duty in Southeast Asia, General Haeffner downed one MiG-17 and was credited with an assist and two probable MiG kills.

In February 1968 General Haeffner transferred to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii, as chief, Fighter Operations Division. In July 1970 he moved to the Pentagon in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and he later served as chief of the Congressional Hearings Division.

From May 1972 until July 1977, General Haeffner was assigned to Davis-Monthan and Luke Air Force Bases, Ariz., where he commanded the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing and the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, respectively.

The general then served as vice commander of 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. He later returned to Langley Air Force Base as deputy chief of staff for plans. In August 1980 he became commander of U.S. Air Forces Korea, United Nations Air Forces, 314th Air Division. In July 1983 he moved to Hickam Air Force Base as the vice commander in chief, Pacific Air Forces.

He was a command pilot and has flown F-4s, F-5E's, F-8s, F-15s, F-86Hs, F-100s, F-101s, F-102s, F-104s, A-7s, T-33s and Sabre 6s. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit (Gugseon Medal), Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and silver star and the Honor Medals, and the North Dakota Legion of Merit.

He was promoted to major general June 1, 1977, with date of rank Dec. 1, 1973.