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Minutes after sunrise, with small patches of fog still sticking like dirty cotton to deep green-black mountains, the howl of an Air America Pilatus Porter turboprop signals the start of another day in the “secret” war fought so bitterly in the mountains of Northern Laos. This “non-war” raged throughout the country whose neutrality had been agreed to a few years earlier. CIA case officers and logistics specialists are “the customer.” Air America and Continental Air Services haul cargo and troops. Gen. Vang Pao’s outnumbered Meo guerrillas fight for their mountains and their way of life against an invading army. United […]
Treetop Warfare – A Bird Dog FAC in Raven territory
Minutes after sunrise, with small patches of fog still sticking like dirty cotton to deep green-black mountains, the howl of an Air America Pilatus Porter turboprop signals the start of another day in the “secret” war fought so bitterly in the mountains of Northern Laos. This “non-war” raged throughout the country whose neutrality had been agreed to a few years earlier. CIA case officers and logistics specialists are “the customer.” Air America and Continental Air Services haul cargo and troops. Gen. Vang Pao’s outnumbered Meo guerrillas fight for their mountains and their way of life against an invading army. United […]
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A carrier flight deck is a crowded, noisy, dangerous place. There, the young deck crew of the USS Constellation works furiously to prepare “Showtime 105”—an F-4J Phantom of the famous Fighting Falcons, VF-96—for yet another mission over North Vietnam. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was widely used in Vietnam. It took on MiGs in the high, cold skies nearly out of sight of the earth, and then dived back into the humid, hot, green world that looked so familiar to the troops they supported. No matter the environment, the versatile Phantom mastered every mission to which it was assigned. […]
“It’s Showtime!” Fighting Falcons F-4J
A carrier flight deck is a crowded, noisy, dangerous place. There, the young deck crew of the USS Constellation works furiously to prepare “Showtime 105”—an F-4J Phantom of the famous Fighting Falcons, VF-96—for yet another mission over North Vietnam. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was widely used in Vietnam. It took on MiGs in the high, cold skies nearly out of sight of the earth, and then dived back into the humid, hot, green world that looked so familiar to the troops they supported. No matter the environment, the versatile Phantom mastered every mission to which it was assigned. […]
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Editor’s note: The North American T-28 “Trojan” trainer is one of the least-known combat aircraft of all time. This is because it was designed as a trainer and history has failed to properly recognize its other roles. It was an unglamorous airplane and fought in even more unglamorous, sometimes officially denied wars. However, it earned its stripes and deserves to be better recognized. It was a dark night over The Ho Chi Minh Trail. “Zorro-16, Nail-43. I have you approximately seven thousand above terrain. You are on fire. What are your intentions?” “Roger, Nail-43. Understood—on fire.” Air Force Captain Charles […]
Zorro Strikes – The T-28’s secret war in Southeast Asia
Editor’s note: The North American T-28 “Trojan” trainer is one of the least-known combat aircraft of all time. This is because it was designed as a trainer and history has failed to properly recognize its other roles. It was an unglamorous airplane and fought in even more unglamorous, sometimes officially denied wars. However, it earned its stripes and deserves to be better recognized. It was a dark night over The Ho Chi Minh Trail. “Zorro-16, Nail-43. I have you approximately seven thousand above terrain. You are on fire. What are your intentions?” “Roger, Nail-43. Understood—on fire.” Air Force Captain Charles […]
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From 2,000 feet above the triple-canopy jungle, the Ashau Valley was deceptive in the early morning light through the clouds to the east. Twenty-two miles long and less than six miles from Laos, Ashau was one of two strongholds for the North Vietnamese Army in South Vietnam, the other being the U Minh Forest north of Saigon. Known to the North Vietnamese as Base Area 611, it was Charlie’s personal territory: a major hub on the Ho Chi Minh Trail for the infiltration of personnel and supplies into Thua Thien Province and northern I Corps, the launch point for the […]
Mohawk vs. MiG – An unusual air battle over North Vietnam
From 2,000 feet above the triple-canopy jungle, the Ashau Valley was deceptive in the early morning light through the clouds to the east. Twenty-two miles long and less than six miles from Laos, Ashau was one of two strongholds for the North Vietnamese Army in South Vietnam, the other being the U Minh Forest north of Saigon. Known to the North Vietnamese as Base Area 611, it was Charlie’s personal territory: a major hub on the Ho Chi Minh Trail for the infiltration of personnel and supplies into Thua Thien Province and northern I Corps, the launch point for the […]
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Before I joined the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1955, I was just a “good ol’ boy” from Macon, Georgia. But flying a jet fighter only enhanced some of those Southern traits. Less than 12 years later over Vietnam I become a MiG killer with the Triple Nickel-555th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Early jet days My first jet assignment was with the 309th Strategic Fighter Squadron flying a fighter called the F-84F Thunderstreak. Nothing could beat an F-84 going downhill, that was until the F-100 Super Sabre came along. My first thought of the F-100 was, “Boy, it sure has […]
Wolfpack Assassin – Confessions of a MiG killer
Before I joined the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1955, I was just a “good ol’ boy” from Macon, Georgia. But flying a jet fighter only enhanced some of those Southern traits. Less than 12 years later over Vietnam I become a MiG killer with the Triple Nickel-555th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Early jet days My first jet assignment was with the 309th Strategic Fighter Squadron flying a fighter called the F-84F Thunderstreak. Nothing could beat an F-84 going downhill, that was until the F-100 Super Sabre came along. My first thought of the F-100 was, “Boy, it sure has […]
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Marine Air was as overworked and effective during the great Tet Offensive of 1968 as it had been at any other time in its proud history. Without it, even greater numbers of Marine infantrymen would have died. But it was an endless source of frustration to all concerned that weather conditions over Hue prevented all forms of air support for all but the first few and last few days of the month-long struggle by three Marine battalions to eject two reinforced North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regiments from the city. For all of three weeks, while Marines on the ground in […]
Going for it! – A-4 Skyhawks strike hard in the Tet Offensive
Marine Air was as overworked and effective during the great Tet Offensive of 1968 as it had been at any other time in its proud history. Without it, even greater numbers of Marine infantrymen would have died. But it was an endless source of frustration to all concerned that weather conditions over Hue prevented all forms of air support for all but the first few and last few days of the month-long struggle by three Marine battalions to eject two reinforced North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regiments from the city. For all of three weeks, while Marines on the ground in […]
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In 1967, the U.S. Navy established Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three, commonly known as HA(L)-3, unclassified call sign: “Seawolf.” The in-country formation and disestablishment in 1972 was a historic first. Seawolf formation In 1967, the U.S. Navy established Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three, commonly known as HA(L)-3, unclassified call sign: “Seawolf.” The in-country formation and disestablishment in 1972 was a historic first. The Navy stood up three “brown-water” task forces to combat communist infiltration along the coast and interior waterways. Operation Market Time operated “Swift Boats” patrolling along the coast and initially the large rivers. Operation Game Warden operated “patrol […]
Seawolves Unleashed – Attack of the Navy’s little-known Hueys
In 1967, the U.S. Navy established Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three, commonly known as HA(L)-3, unclassified call sign: “Seawolf.” The in-country formation and disestablishment in 1972 was a historic first. Seawolf formation In 1967, the U.S. Navy established Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three, commonly known as HA(L)-3, unclassified call sign: “Seawolf.” The in-country formation and disestablishment in 1972 was a historic first. The Navy stood up three “brown-water” task forces to combat communist infiltration along the coast and interior waterways. Operation Market Time operated “Swift Boats” patrolling along the coast and initially the large rivers. Operation Game Warden operated “patrol […]
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As the jet age emerged after World War II, it became a rat race between Russia, England and the United States as to who had the most effective fighter interceptor. This was especially important to the Russians because they had always put their emphasis on defense. In this realm, it was about even, with the U.S. always dominant in long range bombers. However, in the early 1960s, Lockheed’s Skunk Works came up with a reconnaissance airframe that the Soviets would never have an answer to, and it became known as the SR-71A Blackbird. With a crew of two, its superior […]
BLACKBIRD IN TROUBLE – At Mach 3, all emergencies are serious
As the jet age emerged after World War II, it became a rat race between Russia, England and the United States as to who had the most effective fighter interceptor. This was especially important to the Russians because they had always put their emphasis on defense. In this realm, it was about even, with the U.S. always dominant in long range bombers. However, in the early 1960s, Lockheed’s Skunk Works came up with a reconnaissance airframe that the Soviets would never have an answer to, and it became known as the SR-71A Blackbird. With a crew of two, its superior […]
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