Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Operation Kingpin

Dedicated to the participants in the Son Tay mission

— Planners--Supporters--Operators —

Operation Kingpin Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

1. Operation Kingpin Marker

Inscription.
On 20 November 1970, U.S. Air Force Special Operations Forces and the U.S. Army Special Forces made a daring raid deep in North Vietnamese territory on the Son Tay prison camp 23 miles west of Hanoi. The mission was to rescue 70 American POWs being held at Son Tay and to convey a message to American POWs that their country had not forgotten them. The 27-minute mission was a brilliant military success. The Son Tay raiders comprised of 56 U.S. Army and 92 U.S. Air Force men, 1 HH-3, 5 HH-53s, 1 HC-130P, 2 C-130s, 5 A-1s, 10 F-4s, and 5 F-105s all returned safely, but no prisoners were found. The raid resulted in improved living conditions for American POWs in North Vietnam.
The U.S. Navy supported the raid by conducting an effective diversionary raid from the Tonkin Gulf Carrier Task Force with 116 aircraft from 7 bases and 3 aircraft carriers.
The men of this Joint Task Force earned the admiration of their countrymen for risking their lives and freedom in an attempt to bring freedom to others.

Erected by by the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in

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these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is November 20, 1970.

Location. 30° 24.832′ N, 86° 42.06′ W. Marker is in Hurlburt Field, Florida, in Okaloosa County. It can be reached from Cody Avenue. Located at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park and access to the base is restricted. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 Independence Road, Hurlburt Field FL 32544, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: MH-53 Pave Low (a few steps from this marker); HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" (a few steps from this

Operation Kingpin Marker (in foreground) between the MH-53 (left) & HH-3 helicopters. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

2. Operation Kingpin Marker (in foreground) between the MH-53 (left) & HH-3 helicopters.

marker); A-26 Counter-Invader (within shouting distance of this marker); A-1E Skyraider (within shouting distance of this marker); Major Bernard Francis Fisher (within shouting distance of this marker); Lieutenant Colonel William Atkinson Jones, III (within shouting distance of this marker); 1st Air Commando Group B-25 Medium Bomber (within shouting distance of this marker); Combat Talon Aircrew S-59 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hurlburt Field.

Marker is on far left, middle between the MH-53 (left) and HH-3 helicopters. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016

3. Marker is on far left, middle between the MH-53 (left) and HH-3 helicopters.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 635 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 23, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.