quote:

Originally posted by Andcommande:
I was not expecting the "bug eyed" picture,

Nor was I. I was familiar with the photo having seen it before thought I don't recall where, but never knew the story behind it.

I was a big fan for 28 years ,
then I read a book and watched a documentary about the air craft from that era.

One pilot called it a pretty whistle, as it was made initially for one or two purposes , then they made it do two other things,

because of what they wanted it to do , it did three things , just ok , and one thing very well.

it hauled the mail

a pilot in west phoenix told me that many skipped right over too the F4's w/o any regret at all.

enjoyed it

the way the one pilot 'matter-of-factly' described getting shot down TWICE ... incredible

one jungle rescue - one water rescue

all at the ripe old age of 24-25...


wow

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I've been singing that stupid song all week.

I finally got to watch the film this weekend, and it was excellent.

Another good documentary about military aviation, that I just watched, and is available on Prime is:

SPITFIRE

Thanks for the heads up. I will check it out!

This was a very good documentary, but I am interested that they focused particularly on how LBJ and Macnamara fucked up running the war. They pulled no punches on that.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
This was a very good documentary, but I am interested that they focused particularly on how LBJ and Macnamara fucked up running the war. They pulled no punches on that.

yes I can imagine losing many close friends and skilled aviators left a VERY bitter taste in their mouths

another example of the US fighting a war with 'one hand tied behind its back'

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And lied to us the whole time, knowing they couldn’t win the war.

BTW I like the Wild Weasel motto “YMBSM”.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
And lied to us the whole time, knowing they couldn’t win the war.

BTW I like the Wild Weasel motto “YMBSM”.

IF you are interested in the history of the Wild Weasels, I highly recommend the book, LINK: "The Hunter Killers: The Extraordinary Story of the First Wild Weasels, the Band of Maverick Aviators Who Flew the Most Dangerous Missions of the Vietnam War," by Dan Hampton

Finally watched it tonight. Now I know why there is a building at Maxwell AFB named "Richter Hall". Very humbling. I was only a small boy during Vietnam and don't remember much about the war, but it infuriates me everytime I read or see how politicians hamper our military.

Great show, these pilots were studs.

quote:

the way the one pilot 'matter-of-factly' described getting shot down TWICE ... incredible

So many of these guys are like that... Iknow a guy who got shot down once in Korea, again in Nam, and rode one all the way into a corn field in Kentucky, because if he punched out it would have taken out half the small town. Then went on to a full career flying airline. Amazing dude.

I had the opportunity to attend a presentation this past Tuesday by USAF Col (Ret) Thomas H. Kirk Jr, a Thud pilot who'd also flown F86 fighters in the Korean War. Col Kirk was shot down over North Vietnam and held in the "Hanio Hilton" for more than five years, before being released. Quite a story, with an even more impressive character that lived to tell it.

He's an incredible guy. At 90+ years of age, still working out six days a week, playing golf regularly, and making appearances like this one, he's active physically as well as mentally. I believe he was involved in the documentary too.