WADDELL, DEWEY WAYNE


Name: Dewey Wayne Waddell
Rank/Branch: O4/United States Air Force
Unit: 354th TFS  355 TFW Tahkli RTAFB
Date of Birth: 12 September 1935
Home City of Record: Bremen GA
Date of Loss: 05 July 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 213200 North  1063300 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105D
Missions: 47
Other Personnel in Incident: none

 


2020, Branson, MO

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews. 2023

REMARKS: 730304 RELEASED BY DRV


In 1975, Wayne was assigned to DoD as AF member of AMRAD, the Joint service
committee on weapon systems R&D.  Later, he became acting chairman and sat
on a NATO weapons systems committee.  He moved to Dobbins AFB, GA in early
1979 as Director of National Emergency Programs and served as President of
NAM-POWs, 1981-84.

Single once again, he met Barbara Jeter of Shreveport, LA, a flight
attendant with Eastern Air Lines.  They were married in the base chapel on
New Year's Day, 1983.  Space-A allowed for lots of trips to Europe,
Thailand/China, South America, etc.  The Friendship Force arranged for
'Soviet' Georgia and Vietnam.

Since his retirement In October 1987, Wayne plays at golf and works
part-time on emergency management for Argonne National Laboratory.  After
EAL days, Barbara taught English as Second Language and was the editor for a
local marketing research firm.

Greg has worked on Capitol Hill since Princeton graduation (on Purolator's
scholarship).  He and Tamara, language teacher, have a son, Alden.  Jennifer
and Bill Combs married after graduation from Emory; she works there and he
has oral surgery practice.

 

After his completing studies at the Air War College in 1974, Wadell spent 3 1/2
years at the Pentagon (DoD) and then 8 1/2 years at Dobbins AFB, Georgia,
working with AF Emergency Preparedness Plans. Dewey Waddell retired from the
United States Air Force as a Colonel in 1987. Among his awards and
decorations were 2 Silver Stars. Since his retirement, he works part time as
a consultant for Argonne National Laboratory. He and Barbara live in
Georgia, and have traveled extensively in Europe, Thailand, China, "Soviet"
Georgia, and South America. He visited Vietnam just a few years ago.
 
Wayne Waddell Honored by Hometown
 
Borrowing a phrase from a commander in SEA who was selected as one of USA's 'badass pilots,' I had very humble pride on July 4. (2014)
 
The veterans in my hometown/county worked for 18 months on project to dedicate two F-105D's that day...[maybe only place with 2??]
 
Weather [rains] and mechanical snags prevented completion of all they planned but work continues...i.e., the planes will be repainted camouflage with names plus plaques and paved walkways....
 
B/G Winn was 355TFW/Ass't-DO...one of his sons attended and told couple 'war stories' about his dad....one was that he took a Thud to Death Valley and got it up to 880 knots! Reportedly, the airplane's crewchief was not happy as the paint was 'burned off' on leading edges of wings and empannage ...Jerry Jackson was his crewchief when shotdown for second time.

 
Cheers,
Wayne

 
RIVER RATS IN THE NEWS
D. Wayne Waddell Honored
 
D. Wayne Waddell was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame 5 November. In the picture above, GA State Senator Ed Harbison (Sgt, USMC) presents him with the medal and certificate.

 
Dewey Wayne Waddell (VALOR) (POW) Colonel, Air Force, Bremen, GA. On 5 Jul 1967 on his 47th combat mission in an F-105 Thunderchief jet over North Vietnam he was shot down, captured, and held as a POW for five years, eight months, and ten days, suffering greatly at the hands of the enemy. During the attack, even though his aircraft received several hits from flack, he continued the attack until he had to eject. He served on active duty for over thirty years with honor, distinction, courage, and conviction. His combat awards are: Prisoner of War Medal, Air Medal (6), Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Silver Star (2).

 
Robert G. Certain
Ch, Col, USAFR-Ret
Bio update: 08/03/2020
Wayne Waddell was shot down on about 1600 on 5 July 67 by Chicom AAA on NE RR near 
Chinese Buffer Zone and spent 24 hours with them.  "The Commandant said if I cooperated 
with them, I would be taken to Beijing and treated well.  I declined his kind offer and asked 
to go to Hanoi.  The next day I was taken to several gun sites in the complex to be shown 
off plus a trip to a larger Chicom complex before turnover to NVA for truck, jet helo and 
truck rides to Hoa Lo."  GB, Oa't

 
https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/north_fulton/four-pows-recall-their-times-in-vietnamese-prison-camps/article_f628bb90-fc47-11ea-91b7-57708ec76d7e.html

Four Vietnam Prisoners of War visited north Fulton to tell their stories of captivity in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Vietnam veterans ...

 

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