Rock County, WisconsinBiographies"John Albert DeBock" |
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MAJOR JOHN ALBERT DeBOCK Major John DeBock, US Air Force, had been flying F105's out of Bitburg Air Force Base in Germany when he was rotated to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam as one of the first group of replacement pilots. He arrived in-country on 9 December 1966 and assigned to the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On August 3, 1967, Major DeBock was piloting an F-4C (64-0719) fighter jet on another mission carrying six 750 pound bombs and a full load of ammunition (1200) 20mm rounds. Just as the plane was to become airborne, it experienced some type of equipment malfunction and crashed onto the approach lighting array in a ball of flames. Detonation of the bombs plus the full load of fuel completely destroyed the aircraft, therefore preventing any reasonable chance to determine by investigation the cause of the accident. A second pilot on board, LT Ronald R. Flake sustained major injuries. Major John DeBock died at the age of 34 while serving his country. He was married in 1956 to Ann Stobel, and his tragic death left her alone to rear four children until her death in 1998. Editors Note: During the Vietnam War, Rock County only lost two men that were in the US Air Force; the other being Captain Donald Downing - who crashed and was listed as Missing in Action on September 5, 1967 - only weeks after the death of Major DeBock. By coincidence both of these brave pilots were assigned to the same Tactical Air Unit, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 557 Tactical Fighter Squadron. Sources: 12th Tactical Fighter Wing Web Page, AF Safety Agency, Colonel George Devorshak (retired), family members.  |
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