Fred A. Haeffner
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Fred A. Haeffner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1930 Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Air Force |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands held | 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1967) 355th Tactical Fighter Wing (1972–1974) 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing (1974–1977) U.S. Air Forces Korea (1980–1983) Air Force Inspection and Safety Center (1985–1986) |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (4) Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Air Medal (12) |
Fred A. Haeffner (born 1930) was a United States Air Force officer who retired in the rank of major general. Commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at North Dakota Agricultural College in 1953, he served more than three decades in the Air Force, flying combat in the Vietnam War, commanding at squadron and wing level, and holding senior positions in the United States and Pacific theater.
During his 1967 combat tour with the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, Haeffner commanded the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron and shot down one Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, receiving credit for an assist and two probable kills. He was a member of the weapons section that developed tactics for the 20 mm gun pod installation on the wing's F-4C Phantoms, a program that produced eleven MiG kills for the 366th TFW between April and June 1967. His decorations include two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and twelve awards of the Air Medal.
Following Vietnam, Haeffner commanded the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. At Luke in November 1974, he presided over the delivery of the first McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle to a Tactical Air Command unit, a ceremony attended by President Gerald Ford. In later assignments he served as vice commander of 9th Air Force, commander of United States Air Forces Korea and United Nations Air Forces, vice commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces, and commander of the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton Air Force Base, California.
Early life and education
Haeffner was born in 1930 in Fargo, North Dakota.[1] He earned a bachelor of science degree from North Dakota Agricultural College in 1953 and a master's degree from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1971.[1] His professional military education included the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1965, and the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1970.[1]
Military career
Early training and European assignments (1953–1965)
After receiving his commission through the Air Force ROTC program at North Dakota Agricultural College, Haeffner completed pilot training at Webb Air Force Base, Texas.[1] He subsequently attended aircraft maintenance school at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, and fighter aircraft gunnery school at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, flying T-33s and F-86Hs.[1]
From 1956 to 1962, Haeffner flew F-86Hs and F-100s with the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Toul-Rosières Air Base, France, and at Hahn, Fürstenfeldbruck, and Sembach in West Germany, and with the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.[1] He also flew Mark 6 Sabres with the Royal Canadian Air Force's 434th Squadron at Zweibrücken Air Base, Germany, served at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in Officer Training School duties, and flew T-33s in the slot position with the Warhawks aerial demonstration team.[1]
From July 1965 to June 1966, Haeffner served in fighter operations at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.[1]
Vietnam War (1966–1968)
Haeffner qualified in F-4Cs at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, in December 1966 and joined the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam.[1] He commanded the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron from 20 June to 23 November 1967.[2]
In early 1967, the 366th TFW undertook a program to equip its F-4Cs with 20 mm gun pods for air-to-air combat. Colonel Frederick C. Blesse, the wing's deputy commander for operations, assembled a weapons section — including Haeffner, Majors Sam Bakke, Bob Dilger, Ed Lipsey, and Jerry Robinette, and Captains Cox, Craig, and Novak — to develop and validate the new configuration throughout April 1967, working through gun system problems, munitions loads, and air-to-air procedures.[3] The program contributed to eleven MiG kills by the wing between April and June 1967, four of them by gun pod.[3]
During his Southeast Asia tour, Haeffner shot down one Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 and was credited with one assist and two probable kills.[1][4]
In February 1968, Haeffner transferred to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, as chief of the Fighter Operations Division.[1]
Pentagon assignment (1970–1972)
In July 1970, Haeffner moved to the Pentagon in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., where he later served as chief of the Congressional Hearings Division.[1] He completed his master's degree from George Washington University in 1971 during this assignment.[1]
Wing commands (1972–1977)
In May 1972, Haeffner assumed command of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.[1] He was promoted to brigadier general with a date of rank of 1 December 1973.[1]
On 15 August 1974, Haeffner took command of the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, which trained United States and allied aircrew in the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, F-4 Phantom II, and, from November 1974, the F-15 Eagle.[5] In November 1974, the wing received the first F-15 Eagle delivered to a Tactical Air Command unit; President Gerald Ford attended the delivery ceremony at Luke.[5] Haeffner relinquished command on 1 April 1977.[5] He was promoted to major general effective 1 June 1977.[1]
Senior leadership (1977–1986)
After the 58th TFTW, Haeffner served as vice commander of 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and later returned to Langley Air Force Base as deputy chief of staff for plans.[1]
In August 1980, he became commander of United States Air Forces Korea, United Nations Air Forces, and the 314th Air Division.[1] In July 1983, he moved to Hickam Air Force Base as vice commander in chief, Pacific Air Forces.[1] In July 1985, Haeffner assumed command of the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton Air Force Base, California.[1]
A command pilot, Haeffner was qualified in the F-4, F-5E, F-8, F-15, F-86H, F-100, F-101, F-102, F-104, A-7, T-33, and Sabre 6 aircraft.[1]
Awards and decorations
| Error creating thumbnail: | Distinguished Service Medal |
| Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster | |
  |
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters |
 |
Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster |
|
Bronze Star Medal |
|
Meritorious Service Medal |
| Air Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters | |
|
Joint Service Commendation Medal |
| Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster | |
| File:ROK Order of National Security Merit (Gugseon) Ribbon.png | Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit (Gugseon Medal) |
| File:Presidential Unit Citation (South Korea).svg | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation |
| File:Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and silver star |
| North Dakota Legion of Merit |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 "Major General Fred A. Haeffner". United States Air Force. March 1986. Retrieved 18 May 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Haulman, Daniel L. (17 April 2017). "Factsheet 390 Electronic Combat Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 18 May 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Anderson, Stanley E. "How the Gunfighters Got Their Name". 366th Fighter Group Association. Retrieved 18 May 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Fred Haeffner". Military Times Hall of Valor. Retrieved 18 May 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "58 Special Operations Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External links
- Major General Fred A. Haeffner — United States Air Force biography
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- Use American English from May 2026
- 1930 births
- People from Fargo, North Dakota
- North Dakota State University alumni
- George Washington University alumni
- United States Air Force generals
- United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War
- American military personnel of the Vietnam War
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Air Medal
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