Jefferson County Veteran of the Month: Vernon Pfaff

Service biography written by Vernon Pfaff's family

Video by News Channel Nebraska

Vernon joined the ROTC program while attending college at Indiana University his sophomore year. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in United States Air Force. While still in college he received his private pilot's license, so it was only fitting they he applied for flight school.

The requirements he needed to be accepted, included a bachelor's degree, meet officer qualifications, attend officer training school, pass initial flight training (IFT), complete undergraduate pilot training (UPT), where he learned learn navigation, aerobatics, formation flying, and how to rely on aircraft instruments.

Vernon received his UPT at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. In December of 1968, he received his Aeronautical Rating. The journey through flight school began with T-48's, after two months of intense training he tested out number one in his class. The next five months of training with the T-37 (twin-jet, non-supersonic) he tested out number two in his class. The last six months he trained on the T-38 Talon a two-seat, twin-jet supersonic aircraft and again tested out number two in his class.

Vernon recalls testing out well that day. He received a score of 99 out of the possible 100, however his fellow officer scored 100. As Vemon smiled he said "l thought I had him that day"

During flight school Vernon exhibited and proved he had the aptitude needed to become a good pilot as well as instruct those with similar attributes. Vemon was assigned to the Air Training Command as an instructor pilot utilizing the T-38 aircraft at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas. It was there he earned a Master's Degree in flight instruction, and was selected for membership in "Check Section" an honor group for instructor pilots.

In October 1971 Vernon volunteered for an overseas assignment in the Republic of South Vietnam. He was assigned to the 362nd. TE,WS (Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron). Vernon has logged 2,700 hours throughout his career. It includes 150 hours in light aircraft, 850 hours in the EC-47, and a majority of his time spent in the T-38, where he logged 1,700 hours.

The 850 hours spent in the EC-47 included 137 reconnaissance missions flown over Vietnam with a 10 member crew trying to intercept radio communication from the North Vietnamese.

While on a mission Vernon recalls that the right engine had caught fire while some 400 miles from base, the crew was north of Laos over unfriendly territory. The mountains were as high as 5,000 feet and the plane could only fly at altitudes of 10,000 feet because the cabin was not pressurized. This made the situation even more uneasy. Vernon had no choice but to shut the engine off, and believe in his heart he had prepared himself for a situation of this nature. That was one mission he would never forget.

Vernon was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for participating in an extremely hazardous aerial flight over Southeast Asia, on February 8, 1972.

Vernon often reflects to his time spent in the service and his time during the war and said at 27 years old he must have been just naive enough that he thought nothing bad was going to happen to him. Vernon would now say "lt was a little luck and the grace of God," that allowed him to return home. However; he did say "I had fun and truly enjoyed my days flying in-spite of all the danger."

A career that began on September 10,1967 and ended on November 22, 1972 when Vernon received an honorable discharge from the USAF as a permanent Captain. In total Vernon served 5 years, 5 months, and 11 days of which 11 months and 27 days were in foreign territory.

 "You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."