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Gen. Thyng is one of six USAF pilots and seven U.S. pilots overall who achieved ace status as both a piston-engined pilot in World War II and as a jet pilot in a later conflict (the others are Col. Francis S. Gabreski, Col. James P. Hagerstrom, Major William T. Whisner, Col. Vermont Garrison, Major George A. Davis, Jr., and Lt.Col. John F. Bolt, USMC), and the only one to achieve flag-general officer rank. His credited victories:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Colonel Harrison R. Thyng, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations while leading a Squadron of F-86 type aircraft from the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, FIFTH Air Force, on 28 November 1951. On a counter air mission in the area of Naechongjong, North Korea, Colonel Thyng spotted ten enemy MIG-15s, flying toward friendly fighter bombers attacking rail supply lines in the area. Colonel Thyng, displaying a high degree of courage, leadership and tactical skill, immediately initiated an aggressive attack on the formation. His wingman called that his aircraft had been hit and that he was still being fired upon. Although outnumbered, Colonel Thyng disregarded personal safety and remained to fight aggressively until he could bring his guns to bear upon the MIG that had downed his wingman. Firing a short burst from close range and obtaining strikes on the enemy fuselage, Colonel Thyng continued to press his attack in such a manner at low altitude as to cause the enemy aircraft to crash. Immediately, Colonel Thyng opened fire on another MIG-15 observing several strikes on the left wing. Although extremely low on fuel, alone, and with approximately fifty MIG-15s still in the area, Colonel Thyng, remained for several minutes attempting to locate his wingman. The high personal courage, superior flying ability and leadership displayed by Colonel Thyng reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.
General Orders: Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 373 (July 30, 1952)
Base, Fort or City Bluethenthal Field (413th Fighter Group)
State/Country North Carolina
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USAAF 3rd Army Air Force Details
One of the four original numbered air forces, Third Air Force was activated as the Southeast Air District of the GHQ Air Force on 18 December 1940, at MacDill Field, Florida. It was redesignated Third Air Force on 26 March 1941 with a mission for the defense of the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico regions of the United States.
Other Memories Thyng was promoted to full colonel at the age of 26 and returned to the United States, where on November 1, 1944, he was made commander of the 413th Fighter Group at Bluethenthal Field, North Carolina. This group, consisting of Republic P-47N Thunderbolt fighters, trained for long-range escort operations for B-29 bombers of the Twentieth Air Force.
