Basco 3

Isn't the internet interesting? So many distractions, so much information (some of which is factual), so many answers to questions we never knew we had. I mean, who knew I needed to know about Neanderthal Burial Rituals?  

I was sitting at my computational device a few days ago (right about the time, Sarge went all in with Bayonet Week on the Chant Channel.) and happened to be researching a topic ("Any topic, just get me something to write about!" which, of course, is the prayer offered every Sunday by mois.) when I happened upon a YouTube video from Dogfights on the History Channel.

Relax, Beans, I'm building suspense.  The video is at the bottom of the post.  

That series was one of my favorites and had some very realistic renditions/simulations of the engagements they were reporting on.  Engagement being the military term for Dogfight.  One "engages" the enemy aircraft rather than "attacks", "fights" or "shoots at".  I don't know...Someone made Colonel coming up with that term.

But, engaging as the term is, engagement is the word for an air to air furball.

However, as Sarge often reminds me, at this point, I digress.

So, I'm watching the video of Showtime 100 with  Cunnigham and Driscoll "engaging" Col Tomb.  Pretty well done video simulation along with some analytical graphics to better explain the maneuvering.  The episode was filmed before Cunningham's fall from grace, so he, Driscoll and Steve Richie are providing analysis.

As I'm watching it, I can feel my stomach muscles tightening as I subconsciously strain against the G's.  Yes, I do that whilst flying my computer simulations also.  Helps the aircraft turn better.  Besides...Mrs J says it's got to help with my waistline.  

Whatever!

The video's over, and I'm back on my YouTube Homepage when Google/YouTube quickly analyzes my browsing history and pops up a new series of recommendations.  Another Vietnam era air to air engagement documented on the History Channel.  Realizing that I really should be actively processing activities on the "Honey-Do" list, I click play.

I'm treated to an excellent video, and as it begins to play, I recognize the name of one of the pilots in the engagement and I'm fairly positive, I've flown the jet mentioned in the clip.

The Pilot was Dan Cherry and his backseater was Jeff Feinstein.  At the time of the engagement Cherry was a Major. Later, I met him at Moody and called him Colonel or "Sir".  He was the Vice Wing Commander.

I Knew that he'd flown in Vietnam.  Everybody in my Squadrons up to that point (1980) above the rank of Captain had flown in Vietnam, so it was not unexpected.  However, Col Cherry's claim to fame, as far as I knew, was that he'd commanded the Thunderbirds.

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Which was cool, but at that point in my career, I was more interested in employing my aircraft to do what it was supposed to do (drop bombs, shoot missiles and cannons etc) rather than in flying pretty formations.  Formation flying is important when you're coming down initial and everybody on base is evaluating your flight.  But other than that, it's just a method of getting several aircraft somewhere without using a lot of airspace.

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I do remember flying on his wing on a range ride to Eglin.  (For those who don't know, Eglin AFB is near Ft Walton Beach and has a very large weapons range to the northeast of the base.  I expended a LOT of ordinance there.)  As Beans is no doubt aware, the Southeastern part of the country, during the afternoon in the Summer has these things that pop up with disturbing regularity.  They're called Cumulo-Nimbus and flying through them is not for the faint of heart.

So, I'm the element lead on Col Cherry's wing with two Lt's in the front seat of #2 and #4.  I'm a seasoned F-4 guy now with 5 or 6 hundred hours in the jet.  Ok, somewhat seasoned, with a lot or room for more seasoning.  

In any case, due to scheduling issues, we had to hold for a while before entering the range, so we're a tad low on fuel.  We've dropped our bombs and are headed home, but Thunderstorms are building a wall across where we need to go.  Going above them is not an option with the configuration we have, and we can't find a hole on radar.  (It says something about thunderstorms that you can get a radar return from them in a 1970's model aircraft.  Maintained by the finest radar technicians in the world, Sarge, of course.)

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We're coming into the squall line and Col Cherry rocks us in to close formation.  I close in and align the wingtip light with the star on the fuselage, and lign up the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer.  That triangle puts my wingtip slightly behind and below and about 3' out of #1's wingtip.  My WSO confirms that my wingman (#4 ) is in formation, but bobbling a bit.  Which is normal, if a little bit concerning.  It's going to get rough enough, no need to bounce in clear air.  

But that's Lead's issue.  I've just got to keep the light in the star.  

Which is unbelievably easy.  Apparently, his aircraft is not moving although a quick look at my instruments still show us at about 400K and the Distance to Moody is still decreasing.

As we enter the thunderstorm, Col Cherry starts talking, "ok, coming right.  ready, ready, now."

"Rolling out, ready, ready, now"

This goes on for forever, (If you've flown formation in the weather, you know what I mean.)   Finally, we break out on the far side of the storm.  #2 is still in formation.  I ask the WSO about, #4.

"He didn't move an inch."

 I guess Thunderbird Lead was good practice.

However, at no point in my association with him (Mrs J at the time was the Wing Commander's Executive Officer, so we interacted regularly) did I know he'd shot down a Mig-21 in Vietnam.

So,  I watched this video with a lot of interest.  

I think there are a few take away's of interest.

1.  This was April of '72 for all intents and purposes, the War is going to be over for the US in 9 months.  We've been fighting Air to Air over North Viet Nam for several years, and of the 10 missiles on Basco 3 and 4 (2 x Aim 7's and 3 X Aim-9's each) , 6 were launched at the Mig and only 1 worked.  That's just wrong!  

2.  Again, we've been in the War for quite some time.  We're still using Fighting Wing as the tactic.  This tactic involves the wingman being very close (relatively speaking, he's about 1500'-3000' away from his lead) and is supposed to be protecting his 6.  In reality, he's trying to avoid hitting his lead and isn't watching squat else. It speaks well for the wingman that he's in that formation and spots the pop-up Mig-21 in front and above Col Cherry (that only could have happened because #4 was low and outside the formation looking up at Col Cherry. Spread formation had been developed and tested (Robin Olds) well before this fight.  WWII generals far from Vietnam dictating tactics?

3.  I liked the thought process that went through Col Cherry and his wingman's minds when it became obvious that #3 had a weapons problem.  Without much coordination, #4 took the lead and continued to press the attack until having weapons and radio problems of his own.  Col Cherry was then able to regain the lead and fire the kill shot without endangering his wingman.

Enough about debriefing the engagement.  They did thing's right, made the best of some interesting obstacles and got the kill.

So, after watching the video, I wondered what had happened to Col Cherry after I left Moody.  Well, he went on the become the Wing Commander of the 8TFW at Kunsan AB ROK, former home to your's truly and Sarge.  Was promoted to Brigadier General, retiring in 1989 as Commander of AF Recruiting Service.

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He also met the MiG-21 pilot he'd shot down and wrote a book about it. (It's fairly short, only took me about an hour to read.)

 He also arranged for the preservation of the F-4D he'd scored the victory in, Tail # 66-7550.  The Aircraft is restored and is at Aviation Heritage Park in Bowling Green Kentucky.  As I said earlier, I'm pretty sure I've flown that aircraft.  I remember one of the 80th TFS jets had a single star on it and the tail number seems familiar.  Got to find where I stashed my flight records and see.