Tribute to Colonel Thomas Gardner Derrickson, USAFA Class of 1959
Updated: Jul 13
This reflection, submitted by Colonel James Reed of the USAFA Class of 1959, offers a deeply personal glimpse into the life and legacy of Colonel Thomas Gardner Derrickson. Their friendship grew through pilot training, test flights over Death Valley, and shared dinners and family playdates—moments of ordinary closeness that became extraordinary in hindsight.
In October 1967, during a mission over North Vietnam, Colonel Derrickson’s aircraft was struck and he was declared Missing in Action. His wife, Dorothy, faced the unbearable strain of uncertainty and unimaginable grief, a burden intensified by earlier family tragedy and the isolation that often shadows military life. Despite the support of friends like Colonel Reed, the weight became overwhelming, and in on January 25, 1968, Dorothy died in the wake of her husband’s disappearance.
Their daughter, Lorraine, was embraced by extended family, and Tom’s name now rests among the honored on the Vietnam Memorial.
Dorothy’s suffering, though unmarked by monuments, remains a solemn reminder that the cost of war reaches far beyond the battlefield — carried quietly by the families who wait, hope, and endure.
This tribute is not only a remembrance of Colonel Derrickson’s valor, but also a recognition of the unseen sacrifices borne by military families, and the essential role of community in moments of profound loss.
by Colonel James Reed
I didn’t know Tom Derrickson well while we were in school. We were in different squadrons and participated in different activities. After graduation, he went to pilot training at Bartow and Reese, while I went to Bainbridge and Vance AFB. He was then assigned to fighters—first the F-100, then the F-105 at Spangdahlem AB, Germany—while I flew KC-135s at Wurtsmith.
I became better acquainted with Tom and his wife, Dorothy, when we were together at the Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB. He must have done well early on in his career, as he was one of the fighter pilots selected to be in the first group to be trained for the military space program. I flew with him several times at Edwards, including a memorable flight when we tried to get the altimeter to read below zero while flying through Death Valley.
We became pretty good friends, and the Reeds and Derricksons would occasionally go out or meet at each other’s homes for dinner and conversation. They had a lovely daughter, Lorraine, and sometimes our children would play together while the adults talked. We learned of some family tragedies which the Derricksons had endured, including the loss of their son in May 1963 at the age of six months.
After graduation, Tom went to Eglin as a test pilot, while I went to Canada. But it wasn’t very long before his flight test career was interrupted by a Vietnam assignment flying F-4s with the 557th TFS at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. On October 12, 1967, during an air mission over North Vietnam, Tom’s airplane was struck, and he was listed as Missing in Action (MIA).
At that time, I was frequently travelling between Ottawa, Canada, and Edwards AFB on a special project. As soon I learned that Tom was MIA, I made a stop in Florida to see if I could help Dorothy. In fact, I made two stops—first immediately after Tom went missing, and again shortly afterward when Dorothy needed additional support. Dorthy was overwhelmed by grief and strain, and she was admitted to the base hospital during a second visit. I offered what support I could until I had to return to Canada, though the circumstances were beyond anyone's ability to ease.
After a few days, Dorothy was released from the hospital. But on January 25, 1968, she died in the wake of her husband's disappearance. We contacted her family and offered to adopt Tom and Dorothy’s daughter but were told she was being taken care of.
Tom’s name is on the Vietnam Memorial. Dorothy Derrickson was another casualty of the Vietnam War's unseen toll—a person who was tortured and died—a loss without a monument, but no less profound. Her suffering reminds us that the cost of war extends far beyond the battlefield.
In Honor of Colonel Thomas Gardner Derrickson
As we remember Colonel Derrickson’s sacrifice, we also reflect on the turbulent chapter of history in which he served. In October 1967, during the height of Operation Rolling Thunder—a sustained U.S. aerial campaign over North Vietnam—American pilots faced some of the most intense air defenses of the Cold War. It was during one of these missions that Colonel Derrickson’s aircraft was struck, and he was declared Missing in Action.
His story is not only one of valor, but of quiet leadership, deep friendship, and personal tragedy. We invite you to learn more about his life and service through the Class of 1959 biography, which includes his pioneering role in the military space program and his time as a test pilot under General Chuck Yeager.
Abbreviated Bio
Highest Rank: Colonel (O-6)
Aero Rating: Pilot
Medals & Awards: Purple Heart
Career Highlights: Selected for early space flight training; served as a test pilot before deployment to Vietnam.
557th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS)
The 557th TFS was part of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, deployed to Cam Ranh Bay Air Base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
They flew F-4C Phantom II aircraft, a two-seat, supersonic jet known for its versatility in air-to-air combat and ground attack missions.
By 1967, the squadron was conducting armed reconnaissance and strike missions over North Vietnam, often targeting supply routes, enemy convoys, and infrastructure.
On October 12, 1967, Colonel Derrickson and 1 Lt. John K. Hardy were flying lead in a two-plane mission over Quang Binh Province, just north of the DMZ. After identifying a target and radioing “rolling in,” their aircraft was struck by enemy fire and lost. (P.O.W. Network)
The region was heavily defended with radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles, making missions extremely dangerous.
Operation Rolling Thunder in 1967
Operation Rolling Thunder was a sustained U.S. bombing campaign over North Vietnam from March 1965 to November 1968.
Its goals included:
Disrupting North Vietnam’s supply lines and industrial capacity.
Pressuring Hanoi into peace negotiations.
Boosting morale in South Vietnam.
By late 1967, the campaign had intensified, with U.S. aircraft striking deeper into North Vietnam, including areas near Dong Hoi, where Derrickson’s mission took place.
North Vietnam’s air defenses had become highly sophisticated by this time, supported by Soviet and Chinese technology. Pilots faced MiG interceptors, SAMs, and dense flak zones.
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