Bird Dog O-1G of Capt Hilliard Wilbanks Low Top Canvas Shoes
This design is based on Cessna Bird Dog O-1 (serial Number 51-5078) flown by Medal of Honor recipient Captain Hilliard Wilbanks. Hilliard Almond Wilbanks was a career officer and pilot in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life on February 24, 1967, while supporting a unit of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) at Di Linh, near Da Lat, South Vietnam. During that action, he flew a series of strafing runs against the advancing Viet Cong at about 100 feet (30 m) to delay their advance. During these strafing runs, he fired an M-16 through the side window of his aircraft and reloaded it between passes. Whilst he managed to momentarily delay the Viet Cong, they began to target his low flying Bird Dog and on his third pass he was severely wounded and crashed in the battle area. He was pulled unconscious from the wreckage however died while being evacuated to a hospital. He was 33 years old, had flown 487 combat missions, and had earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and 17 Air Medals. This design includes a small M-16 silhouette on each toe in recognition of this action.