Lieutenat Colonel Joseph W. Kittinger II, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, in the cockpit of a McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, Udorn RTAFB, 1972. (U.S. Air Force)
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Lieutenat Colonel Joseph W. Kittinger II, 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, in the cockpit of a McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, Udorn RTAFB, 1972. (U.S. Air Force)
Lt. Col Kittinger was our squadron commander and a really decent one! After you marshaled him out and gave him a salute, he would salute you back and in a continued motion hold up his right arm with all five fingers raised, to complete the Triple Nickel Salute! And, he was the one who came up with that salute. He got shot down while I was still there as well. In fact, I was stationed there when this picture was taken. I don’t know if I knew the Crew Chief strapping them in.