This is part I of the story of the Air Force Wild Weasel SAM suppression mission. I was an F-4G Wild Weasel instructor in the Air force and Loved showing the documentary to my students.
My great uncle completed over 200 missions and was a wild weasel. He passed last week. I cannot believe the stories and his accolades. These men are true heroes. Thank you all for your service. Rest In Peace Colonel John “Tom” Halley.
My father Edward Larson was a Wild Weasel pilot with the first F-105 squadron. His EWO was Mike Gilroy until they were shot down Aug. 7,1966. Mike went on to become the first EWO to complete 100 missions. God rest both their souls!
Vincent, I just looked your father up and noticed that he was KIA in November of 66. That kills me to hear that. I hope it makes you proud to be his son and carry on his name. My father finished his 100th and fortunately returned home alive just 5 days earlier, the ninth to complete his 100th. He would eventually return home in the last F105 out of Korat on 30 Nov. 1974. These guys were tough as nails. God Bless your dad.
My father was a Wild Weasel pilot. Ewo in Vietnam. Stationed at George afb for most of his career, accept for a short stint at Red Flag as 2nd in command at Nellis.
I watch this everytime I feel I might be losing focus on what's important in life. Thank you, and thank the courageous men and women and great minds that saved us and still give us hope for a better future. Cheers from Lebanon.
Went and seen an F-105G Wild Weasel last weekend at an ANG base where they have a bunch of Vietnam era jets. The Thud is absolutely massive, you truly cannot imagine how big they are until your standing beside one, absolutely beautiful and absolutely massive.
I was stationed at George AFB from 75-79. Was one of the 'weather weenies" who regularly was choppered up to Cuddeback AGGR in order to provide upper level wind info. for their bombing wind drift adjustments. Obtained by use of pibal balloons & a theodolite. Had many relaxed conversations with both the Thud pilots & EWO's. Very honorable & brave men who will always have my utmost respect for doing a very hazardous mission. Too bad our country didn't provide the level of support they, and all Vietnam vets deserved.
We carried a POW bracelet for Jose David Luna a rear seater in an F104 wild weasel. Returned it to him on the flightline at Travis AFB when he stepped off the C-141.
9:18 This is how it happens with all crews. I was a crewmember on B-52-H models and it was the same for me. Five officers who I had not met before, (but we went through Survival School together), and I was responsible for keeping them alive from a MiG attack from the rear.
Among USAF pilots, as in most other professions, there is a definite pecking order. In the Vietnam era the top rung of that pecking order was reserved for F-105 pilots. I would put the Weasel EWO's right beside them. Dedecation to their task of taking the fight to the N Vietnamese heartland against the SAM's and AAA every day while flying under the stupid rules of engagement dictated by Johnson and McNamera earned many of them death or a long stint in the Hanoi Hilton. As an example, they could not attack a SAM site under construction. Only when it was operational and a threat. They could not attack MIG's on the ground, only in the air. Johnson would call a bombing halt, which only served to give the N Vietnamese time to build and equip more SAM sites and transport men and ammunition to S Vietnam to kill American soldiers. We understood this stupidity, we bitched and complained, but we still flew and did our jobs against the odds stacked against us by our own government. It was not until Nixon was elected President that the gloves finally came off and we were allowed to use the full might of our forces to devastate the N Vietmanese defenses.
I heard that from my Dad, too, except he'd list the ranking a bit differently, of course. This declassified report might interest you. Covers a lot of the sickening politics behind the scenes. nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB248/ I follow the history because my Dad flew the F-100 out of Da Nang in early June of 1963 taking out the AAA sites. He flew the F4C Phantom later in 1965-66. His missions were mostly in Laos.
It takes 9 months to train a SAM operator. The USA controlled the Vietnamese skies in 1965 so the Russians sent SAM's and their troops to man the sites until North Vietnamese could be trained. Read "F-105 Wild Weasel vs SA-2 Guideline SAM". A Russian Lt. SAM operator was one of the top North Vietnamese aces of the war, he shot down a bunch of US planes, his name was Lt. Vadim Petrovich Shcherbakov, credited with between 6 to 12 kills. Fedor Ilinych is credited with 13 SAM kills of US aircraft. Read the Wiki article "Surface-to-air missile".
My dad is Jack Donovan of YGBSM fame. Thanks for posting.
We lived down the street from you years ago. My father was a weasel pilot in Vietnam
My great uncle completed over 200 missions and was a wild weasel. He passed last week. I cannot believe the stories and his accolades. These men are true heroes. Thank you all for your service. Rest In Peace Colonel John “Tom” Halley.
My father Edward Larson was a Wild Weasel pilot with the first F-105 squadron. His EWO was Mike Gilroy until they were shot down Aug. 7,1966. Mike went on to become the first EWO to complete 100 missions. God rest both their souls!
every u tube warrior
Bob Trier was my cousin. Unfortunately I never got to meet or know him. But what a hero for the family..............
I was superised to not only see my Father's Name in this Doc, but to see his Squadron picture also... Thank You
Vincent, I just looked your father up and noticed that he was KIA in November of 66. That kills me to hear that. I hope it makes you proud to be his son and carry on his name. My father finished his 100th and fortunately returned home alive just 5 days earlier, the ninth to complete his 100th. He would eventually return home in the last F105 out of Korat on 30 Nov. 1974. These guys were tough as nails. God Bless your dad.
My father was a Wild Weasel pilot. Ewo in Vietnam. Stationed at George afb for most of his career, accept for a short stint at Red Flag as 2nd in command at Nellis.
F -4G that is
I watch this everytime I feel I might be losing focus on what's important in life. Thank you, and thank the courageous men and women and great minds that saved us and still give us hope for a better future. Cheers from Lebanon.
I met Bob at Luella Trier's funeral, the first and last time I saw the man; he was a true Hero!
Went and seen an F-105G Wild Weasel last weekend at an ANG base where they have a bunch of Vietnam era jets. The Thud is absolutely massive, you truly cannot imagine how big they are until your standing beside one, absolutely beautiful and absolutely massive.
We would have lost a lot more pilots and aircraft without the brave weasels. My hats off to you
I was stationed at George AFB from 75-79. Was one of the 'weather weenies" who regularly was choppered up to Cuddeback AGGR in order to provide upper level wind info. for their bombing wind drift adjustments. Obtained by use of pibal balloons & a theodolite. Had many relaxed conversations with both the Thud pilots & EWO's. Very honorable & brave men who will always have my utmost respect for doing a very hazardous mission. Too bad our country didn't provide the level of support they, and all Vietnam vets deserved.
Great video. Brave men,amazing stuff.
Excellent video! Enhanced by the interviewees . . . impressive array of folks from the EWO community. Thank you!
God bless those weasel crews and a congrats to EWO Major Stan Goldstein and his pilot Major Revanek on completing 100 missions with their F-105!!
We carried a POW bracelet for Jose David Luna a rear seater in an F104 wild weasel. Returned it to him on the flightline at Travis AFB when he stepped off the C-141.
Nice Documentary. Thanks Joe!
This is awesome! Do you happen to have the second part?
I was an EW troop for 12 years...Ended up teaching the courses for the APR-38/47...
Great video. Saw the "World Greatest Fighter Pilot"
Outstanding!
Very cool vid. Thanks very much.
9:18
This is how it happens with all crews. I was a crewmember on B-52-H models and it was the same for me. Five officers who I had not met before, (but we went through Survival School together), and I was responsible for keeping them alive from a MiG attack from the rear.
Among USAF pilots, as in most other professions, there is a definite pecking order. In the Vietnam era the top rung of that pecking order was reserved for F-105 pilots. I would put the Weasel EWO's right beside them. Dedecation to their task of taking the fight to the N Vietnamese heartland against the SAM's and AAA every day while flying under the stupid rules of engagement dictated by Johnson and McNamera earned many of them death or a long stint in the Hanoi Hilton. As an example, they could not attack a SAM site under construction. Only when it was operational and a threat. They could not attack MIG's on the ground, only in the air. Johnson would call a bombing halt, which only served to give the N Vietnamese time to build and equip more SAM sites and transport men and ammunition to S Vietnam to kill American soldiers. We understood this stupidity, we bitched and complained, but we still flew and did our jobs against the odds stacked against us by our own government. It was not until Nixon was elected President that the gloves finally came off and we were allowed to use the full might of our forces to devastate the N Vietmanese defenses.
Thank you, Max, for that comment. The F-105 guys, front seat or back, deserved a lot more credit than they got.
I heard that from my Dad, too, except he'd list the ranking a bit differently, of course. This declassified report might interest you. Covers a lot of the sickening politics behind the scenes.
nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB248/
I follow the history because my Dad flew the F-100 out of Da Nang in early June of 1963 taking out the AAA sites. He flew the F4C Phantom later in 1965-66. His missions were mostly in Laos.
this music is totally badass... demon music put to country-time step
Guys have balls of neutronium to fly F-100s to be a Wild Weasel.
hope you will show up at Dayton for the 50th reunion of the Wild Weasels OCT8th
Damn RUclips blocked part 2! Bullshit! I’d pay for it if it was available anywhere else!
I use this film when I do my WW pitch. Am WW #425
Don’t forget,, David and Goliath. 😊
Thanks everyone, I'll try to get more videos up this weekend.
If you want to read all about the start and reason for the wild Weasels go to Amazon and get a copy of Hunter-Killers
+Stan Goldstein my grandfather was Capt. Charles E. Morgan. did you know him?
Stan Goldstein great book, highly recommended, I just finished it, ww are very brave, thank you sir
Excellent upload. Well done.
In 1965 the Russians sent 17,000 Russian troops to man the SAM sites in Vietnam. That's right, we were fighting the Russians.
+gallantrycross Where did you get that ?
It takes 9 months to train a SAM operator. The USA controlled the Vietnamese skies in 1965 so the Russians sent SAM's and their troops to man the sites until North Vietnamese could be trained. Read "F-105 Wild Weasel vs SA-2 Guideline SAM". A Russian Lt. SAM operator was one of the top North Vietnamese aces of the war, he shot down a bunch of US planes, his name was Lt. Vadim Petrovich Shcherbakov, credited with between 6 to 12 kills. Fedor Ilinych is credited with 13 SAM kills of US aircraft. Read the Wiki article "Surface-to-air missile".
Is there a Part 2 ?
This operation has the highest loss of personel the airfortce ever had... Hop in, nothing will happen to you, trust me!!!!!!!
we are ready for "limited engagement" with Putin/Russia
what is the song at 25:19?
thanks