USAF MAJOR RICHARD H. DEFER, RAVEN 20
October 9, 1931—October 18, 1971
Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross,
Bronze Star (with Clusters)
Killed in Action, Plain of Jars, Laos
USAF MAJOR RICHARD H. DEFER, RAVEN 20
October 9, 1931—October 18, 1971
Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross,
Bronze Star (with Clusters)
Killed in Action, Plain of Jars, Laos
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Captions—Dick Defer’s Raven Photos
Photos 1, 2 and 3—Three views of Dick’s O-1, taken at Pakse after the
aircraft was hit by NVA 37mm AAA fire in March of 1971, near Attapeu (or
the Western Ford, as it was called by the Covey FACs flying out of South
Vietnam). Raven 41 Larry Ratts recalls that Dick crabbed the aircraft--which
should have been unflyable--back to Pakse with his rudder pedal jammed
to the floor. Raven Jim Roper had warned Dick several months earlier that
the Western Ford gunners were among the best in SEA. Dick became a believer
after this experience. Shown with Dick is Pakse’s Number One Backseater,
Phanthy, who flew with Dick that day. Both had good reason to smile.(Sadly,
Phanthy was also killed in action later that year. A Raven FAC provided
support for Phanthy’s family from 1972-1975.)
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4, 5 and 6—These photos were taken in May 1971, at the Lao Armed Forces
Day parade and celebration. Dick is shown near the center, with his sunglasses
pushed up. Talking with Dick is Raven 42, Lloyd (Dunc) Duncan; Raven Frank
Kricker is at right in the short-sleeve white shirt. The other American
is Lt. Col. Jack Spey, the USAF Special Ops commander at Pakse. The Lao
officer in the front row (in camo) is the Pakse base commander and T-28/helicopter
pilot, Colonel Khouang, one of the Ravens’ Good Guys. Dunc recalled that
the colonel threw a big party when his daughter was married, which all
the Ravens attended. Other Lao T-28 pilots are also in the photos, along
with Kong Le’s Neutralists in the red berets.
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7—Dunc Duncan flying his O-1 out of Pakse, March 1971. This photo was taken by Raven Frank Kricker.
8—Dick and a chopper crew debrief after inserting an infiltration team to harass the enemy near PS22, April 1971.
9—A nice shot of the Pakse Ravens in formation over Laos. Frank Kricker
took this photo of Larry Ratts, Dunc Duncan and Jim Hix returning to Pakse,
when they formed up after a hard day’s work. They landed after sunset (against
orders from Vientiane) in formation and on a parking area because of stiff
crosswinds blowing across the runway.
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10—Here are the remains of Dick’s O-1 after he tried to land in a treetop.
This was in Vietnam, in 1967. His wife, Mary, had given him a purple
“Snoopy” scarf, which he wore on every flight. The scarf nearly strangled
him when he tried to climb down the tree. He cut himself free and fell
hard to the ground. “That landing was harder”, he said later, “than the
aircraft ‘landing’ in the treetops!” That was the end of the scarf-wearing--and
the beginning of a good butt-chewing from his CO for loss of aircraft.
11 and 12—Dick’s BDA shots of an M-76 tank killed by Raven 42, Dunc
Duncan. Dick’s note on the backside of the photo reads, “Two men chained
inside?”
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14—An enemy CP Dick hit near Paksong, rainy season flying.
15—Rainy-season view of a friendly Paksong.
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17—Dick’s shot of a “friendly” village with evidence of heavy NVA truck traffic right through it. They made their own roads when necessary.
18—Another rainy-season photo (dated June 1971) of NVA roads leading
to Paksong.
Raven 40 Dick and some of the Pakse
Ravens contemplate
borrowing a Jeep, which Ravens almost never did because
someone might get the mistaken impression that they actually
stole the Jeep. From left are Lloyd (Dunc) Duncan, Larry
(Pepsi) Ratts, Dick, and Frank Kricker.
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19—Flying through a rain squall “on a good day”. Rock-filled clouds
wait on the other side.
21—Dick’s 1,000-mission patch.
22 This photo shows the approximate location on the Plain of Jars where Dick crash landed and was killed after being hit by enemy groundfire on 18 October 1971.
These photos may trigger memories of places, actions and people that would help me and the Defer family (and all who see them) better understand and appreciate what Dick and all the Ravens did to help the valiant Hmong and Lao peoples in their fight for freedom. If you would like to share these memories, please e-mail me at jojala@brewer-associates.com, and I’ll add your stories to the photo captions.
The result will be a more complete and accurate documentation
of the Ravens’ courage and flying skills, one that will help future generations
better understand and appreciate what these brave men accomplished against
terrible odds.
Special thanks to Ravens Jim Roper, Lloyd Van Zee, Larry Ratts, Mike Cavanaugh, Larry (Sandy) Sanborn, Lloyd (Dunc) Duncan, Mike Byers, Joe Smith, Greg Wilson, and Frank Kricker for their understanding and patience in helping me in my search for information about a war that must never be forgotten. These men, along with Dick and all the Ravens, have taught us lessons in courage that are needed today, perhaps more than ever before.
And a very special thanks to a very courageous lady, Dick’s wife, Mary Defer. Mary opened her files and her heart to share these photos with us.
28 April 2002
John Ojala
Friend of the Ravens
I thought you'd like to see this school paper, done by
Dick's grand-nephew Eric, along with the portrait that was
done by the boy's dad. While some of his information is
incorrect, there's no mistaking his heart.
Best regards,
John
Friend of the Ravens
