Air Force pilot flew over 100 bombing missions over North Vietnam

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – George Avila joined the Air Force at the tail end of the Korean War. What he missed in that war, he more than made up for in the Vietnam War. He flew over 100 bombing missions over North Vietnam, a feat not many pilots can say they accomplished.

Avila was born in Van Nuys, California, in 1933. He had a favorite uncle he looked up to who was in the Air Force.

Avila attended Fresno State and joined the ROTC. He graduated with a degree in physics in 1955. He immediately reported for boot camp, followed by flight training in early 1956. By December of 1956, Avila had earned his wings at Laredo, Texas.

“I always wanted to fly, and that was the easiest way in the Korean War to get into pilot training and to also finish college,” said Avila.

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Avila spent his first eight years in the Air Force as an instructor pilot. He also attended the school aviation medicine, and in 1964, he was transferred to Alaska to the 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base.

In 1967, Avila was sent here to McConnell Air Force Base to fly the “Thud” – the F-105D.

“The F-105 is a Thunderchief, and it’s a fighter bomber,” Avila explained. “It was designed in the early ’50s as a nuclear strike bomber. They could carry a nuclear weapon internally in a bomb bay.”

The F-105 was a one-seater cockpit, which meant the pilot was much more than the pilot.

“That particular model, called the D model, only had one position to fly it. You were the pilot, the navigator, the radio operator, the bombardier. You did the whole thing,” he said.

It was loaded with an arsenal of 20 mm cannon rounds, 2.75-inch rockets, Bullpup and Sidewinder missiles, general-purpose bombs, cluster bombs, flares, chaff dispensers, and drop tanks.

“The standard load at that time that we carried to North Vietnam was six Mark-117 750-pound general purpose bombs.”

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Between March of 1968 and October of ’68, a span of 180 days, Avila flew 117 missions over North Vietnam. His assignment was to cut supply chains by dropping bombs on strategic places such as major roadways, trails, bridges, and on North Vietnamese weapons.

“They had a very sophisticated supply system with supplies coming out of China, and also things arriving in the port of Haiphong by ship. And they were transporting them south over quite a transportation system,” said Avila. “Our job was to try and cut the choke points and destroy the weapons that were on the ground. Whatever they’re sending south.”

When his assignment in North Vietnam ended, Avila returned to the states.

“When I returned from Southeast Asia, my next assignment on my return home was instructing pilot training and the T-37 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.”

Over the next few years, Avila was selected to go to the University of Southern California and was named the Chief of Safety of the Air Force safety program. Then in ’73, he was transferred back to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska and assigned to the Alaska Air Command.

Avila remained in Alaska until he retired in 1977.

He served in the Air Force for 22 years.

“In December of ’78, Lockheed offered a position as a senior Safety Engineer in Saudi Arabia.”

So, Avila was off to Saudi Arabia for the next six years, leading the Royal Saudi Air Force safety program.

In late 1984, he moved back home to San Antonio and worked in Northeast School District school bus transportation department. He even drove a school bus for a period of time. He also received his Masters Degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Avila moved to Wichita in 1985 to manage school bus leasing for USD 259. He also served as a safety supervisor and an accident investigator until he retired in 2003.

When asked about his proudest moment during his days in the Air Force, Avila recalls being diverted away from his formation to rescue a downed F-105 pilot. The North Vietnamese were ready for his arrival with anti-aircraft weapons. As Avila puts it, it was a “dicey” situation.

The rescue mission was a success.

“And that’s probably the greatest mission I flew. Yeah, we got one guy home. Came home to his family.”

And when asked what it means to be a veteran, Avila says pride. He mentions the American privilege of having a passport to travel wherever we want to and being proud of his country.

He also says it’s important to remember the sacrifices made by our men and women in the military.

“Let’s not forget.”

Over 600 F-105D aircraft entered service for Vietnam. More than half of those were lost in combat in Southeast Asia. Avila gave his Thunderchief fighter jet the name “Honey Babe,” and it survived Vietnam. In fact, “Honey Babe” is on display at an air museum in Slaton, Texas.

Avila and his wife, Kay, have been married since 1995.

If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, email KSN reporter Jason Lamb at jason.lamb@ksn.com.

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