Tribute to Colonel Thomas Gardner Derrickson, USAFA Class of 1959
- Christina DeSantis
- Oct 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 23
This reflection, submitted by a fellow member of the USAFA Class of 1959, Colonel James Reed, offers a poignant glimpse into the life and legacy of Colonel Thomas Gardner Derrickson. From pilot training and test flights over Death Valley to shared dinners and family playdates, their friendship unfolded quietly—until war intervened.
In October 1967, during a mission over North Vietnam, Colonel Derrickson’s aircraft was struck. He was declared Missing in Action. His wife, Dorothy, endured unimaginable grief, and in January 1968, she took her own life. Their daughter, Lorraine, was cared for by extended family.
This tribute reminds us that the cost of war is not only measured in battlefield losses, but in the heartbreak carried by those left behind.
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 was able to make two stops—one just after Tom went missing, and another a short time later. Unfortunately, the second visit was because Dorothy had been so tormented that she was admitted to the base hospital. I tried to offer help, but there was little I could do, and I returned to Canada.
A few days later, Dorothy was released from the hospital. But on January 25, 1968, she took her own life. 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 is another person who was tortured and killed by the Vietnam War but will never have a monument to her sacrifice.
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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