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Remembering the Wild Weasels, and all those who went "Up North."
The musings & rants of 3 retired military (2 USAF, 1 USN), 1 former WSO, and 1 AF brat. Old AF Sarge, Juvat, Tuna, LUSH, and Beans.
The musings & rants of 3 retired military (2 USAF, 1 USN), 1 former WSO, and 1 AF brat. Old AF Sarge, Juvat, Tuna, LUSH, and Beans.
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It all started with the Huns. Yes, Thuds and Phantoms followed on, but it took a guy whose brass ballz clanked when he walked to be a Wild Weasel. They deserve your tribute and more - the best among us.
ReplyDeleteThe F-100F was the Hun Wild Weasel version if I rightly recall.
DeleteAbsolutely correct LL, they most definitely clanked.
It's a good time to remember and reflect. As Angry Staff Officer points out, it's also an excellent time to reflect on what the fallen fell in service of, and to embrace that which the fallen gave up.
ReplyDeletehttps://angrystaffofficer.com/2016/05/26/mil-splaining-memorial-day-stop-it/
Little kids scurrying around on bikes here, diving headlong into summer vacation.
Good stuff, I've added that to my blog list. Thanks Shaun.
DeleteI loved the 105's although since I was used to seeing the regular 105's, I thought the Weasels with the double cockpit looked a little odd. And LL is correct, those guys had big ones!!!
ReplyDeleteYuge.
DeleteSomehow in my mind I got the idea that the Thud is beautiful. Kind of like a 200 pound ballerina. But still, such a graceful plane in the air.
ReplyDeleteMy first real introduction to the Thud was reading the book "Thud Ridge" by Jack Broughton, and then doing further research on the plane. The book is a well-written descent into the insanity of the White House controlled Air War. Frightening. That the great pilots and crews worked under such horrible constraints against such a powerful enemy and still managed to succeed is truly a testament to the American spirit (and, of course, makes you wonder who the bigger enemy was at the time, the Norks or the WH and Congress...)
I still love the Thud. They have one at Udvar-Hazy and it's a big beautiful bird. That whole "eye of the beholder" thing.
DeleteI read Thud Ridge as a youth, an excellent book. Many of those who flew up north still hate Johnson and McNamara to this day. With good reason.
Most, if not all, of us who flew in the south have no higher regards of the two either. A somber, reflective, respectful, and enjoyable Memorial Day to all, regards, Alemaster
DeleteWe all have many to remember.
DeleteThe part where the Thud driver goes in low and blows up a SAM site, and then the disciplinary notice arrives at the same time he's shot down, that, there, was a perfect example of everything wrong with that war.
DeleteGod, to have a time machine and go back and fight that war the way it should have been, how different things would have been.
I have such tremendous respect for anyone who got near the insanity of that war. Thank you all who survived for what you did.
And for those gone too early, May God hold those lost and fallen in his hands forever. May He hold to his bosom those lost afterwards from effects of that war.
Yup, all too true.
Delete(I had to pull you out of the spam filter Andrew, that's why your comment didn't show up immediately. I shall have a word with Cerberus about who he should let in, he should know better.)
Had a ride in "F" one time at George AFB, in Victorville CA. Quite something on the range and down by the ground at 500K. Stable as a rock below 20K', but a little wobbly higher. The "Farmingdale Squat Bomber" knew what it was doing, it had been designed as low level take the nuke on in, and it did it in a spectacular way.
ReplyDeleteHad three "roomies" at Itazuke who upgraded to the Thud in '63-'64. Many funny stories about the "socialist JNs" protesting at the departure end of the runway with tall bamboo timbers with red flags on them. Nice target for the burner exhaust if you forget to initiate much of a climb before departing the aerodrome. But I can't say anything about that. They saw some great low-level passes.
Never had a Weasel on my trips to the North. They came later.
You got a ride in a Thud? Awesome.
DeleteAh yes, the socialist JNs. Saw a few of those on Okinawa. When they held protests at the main gate of Kadena it was great sport to watch them wet their kimonos (so to speak) when the Japanese riot police showed up. Tough little bastards those!
No Weasel support? Dang.
CW has a nice picture of your vehicle in today's Friday Open Road BTW!
ReplyDeleteAh, CW's Friday Open Road has long been a favorite. (I'm guessing the beer cooler is in the front?)
DeleteWell....Yes, you drink beer more often, so must be more accessible.
Delete:)
DeleteThanks for the post. I totally agree about the courage of American and allied aircrew who flew in that AO. I was involved in some of the training that the USAF ones received before going overseas. I know what kind of men they were/are.
ReplyDeletePaul L. Quandt
I will never forget them.
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