Mike McElhanon was born on January 6, 1934, in Fort Worth, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on October 6, 1953, and entered pilot training as an Aviation Cadet on May 22, 1954. McElhanon was commissioned a 2Lt in the Air Force and awarded his pilot wings on May 16, 1955, at Craig AFB, Alabama. He remained at Craig AFB as an instructor pilot with the 3615th Flying Training Squadron until March 1959. From March 1959 to March 1963, McElhanon served as an instructor pilot with the 3510th Flying Training Group at Randolph AFB, Texas. After receiving fighter interceptor training, he served in Air Defense Command with the 29th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, from October 1963 to November 1965, when he was transferred to the 6214th Support Group at Tainan AB, Taiwan. After checking out in the F-100 Super Sabre, Major McElhanon began flying combat missions as a MISTY Fast FAC in Southeast Asia in March 1968. He was declared Missing in Action when he did not return from a mission on August 16, 1968. McElhanon was listed as MIA until he was declared Killed in Action on February 6, 1979, and he was promoted to Colonel during this time. His remains have never been recovered. Col Mike McElhanon was MISTY 46.