Video: ‘Thunderchief’ On Display At Veteran’s Park

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – A piece of history from the Vietnam War is on display at Tupelo’s Veteran’s Park.  As WCBI’s Allie Martin reports, the fighter jet will be part of a tribute to those who sacrificed so much in the nation’s fight against Communism.

For several hours, the F 105 Thunderchief was suspended by a huge crane, as workers put the final touches on a base that will hold the 22 thousand pound Vietnam era fighter jet.

“Oh , I think it’s absolutely great,” said Smitty Harris, who has looked forward to this day since plans for the memorial were announced more than 2 and a half years ago.   The Tupelo resident is a retired Colonel from the U S Air Force, who was flying an F 105 Thunderchief over North Vietnam in April of 1965.

“The target was a large bridge.  I had eight, 750 pound bombs, I went into a very steep dive bomb run,  released all eight, bombs together, started a real hard pull out, some lucky Vietnamese, hit me with an exploding anti aircraft round,” Harris said.

Colonel Harris was captured, and spent nearly eight years as a Prisoner Of War, in Vietnam, some of that time was in the infamous Hanoi Hilton.

Now,  Colonel Harris says the newest attraction at Veteran’s Park helps tell the story of freedom’s cost.

“Young people, who can come out here, see the sacrifices represented by the monuments out here, the flags, this airplane, it just gives them a sense of history and meaning of this country,” Harris said.

The project also means a lot to Sammie Robinson, president of the Haralson County Veteran’s Association.  Two F 105s are displayed in his hometown and his group played a huge role helping Tupelo get this plane from Texas to its new location.

“What got me into this, to begin with, we also have a man by the name of Wayne Waddell, who was shot down flying one of these, that’s where we got started,  it is simply to let people know never forget your veterans,” Robinson said.

Colonel Harris and Robinson helped tighten the final bolt securing this Thunderchief, to its pedestal.

A public dedication for the “Thunderchief” is set for Veteran’s Day.

The next major project for Veteran’s Park is the Vietnam Memorial Replica.  That wall will measure 60 percent of the size of the original.   Fundraising efforts are underway.