| Roger D. Ingvalson |
|
| |
| Rank, Service |
| Col O-6, U.S. Air Force |
| Veteran of: |
U.S. Air Force 1950-1976
Cold War 1950-1976
Vietnam War 1968-1973 (POW)
|
|
| Tribute: |
Roger Ingvalson was born in 1928 in Austin, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on August 3, 1950, and after completing basic training went on to attend Airborne Electronics School and then became a Radar Mechanic. Roger was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program and upon graduation on April 15, 1953, he was awarded his pilot wings and was commissioned a 2Lt in the Air Force. He was trained in the F-80 and F-86 but did not make it to Korea before the war ended there. Ingvalson next flew F-94's in the Air Defense Command and later flew F-100's where he lead the Air Force Demonstration Team to demonstrate precision weapons delivery throughout the Air Force. Col Ingvalson also participated in weapons testing on the F-105. After a tour of alert duty on Okinawa, Ingvalson began flying combat missions out of Thailand in January 1968. While flying his 87th combat mission he was shot down in an F-105 on May 28, 1968. Roger spent the next 1,751 days as a Prisoner of War. He was released on March 14, 1973, and resumed his flying career with the Air Force in the A-7 Corsair II. Col Ingvalson retired from the Air Force on September 1, 1976 and then started and directed a Prison Ministry in Tennessee.
His Silver Star Citation reads:
Major Roger D. Ingvalson distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force over North Vietnam on 14 February 1968. On that date, Major Ingvalson exhibited extroardinary courage as a member of a surface to air missile suppression flight of F-105 Thunderchiefs assigned to protect a large strike force. Despite electronic equipment malfunctions, his aggressiveness and skill enabled him to successfully decoy numerous surface to air missiles as well as intense, accurate antiaircraft fire away from the main force and to his own aircraft. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Ingvalson has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. |
| |
|
|
