Posted on 09/20/2014 7:42:38 PM PDT by DemforBush
Part 1 of a very interesting, early 1980s, documentary about the creation and development of the Wild Weasel SAM hunting missions, from the earliest missions against Russian missiles in Vietnam with F-100's to the planes and equipment of the(then) present day.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
BTW, here is part 2
Bump for Col William Gibson.....my wing commander in Aviano Italy in 76/78 era ....he was a Vietnam Wild Weasel.
Stories he shared were epic .....
Add to that Lt. Col. Ralph Van Brunt, also was head of Detachment 490 of Air Force ROTC at New Jersey Institute of Technology
I was stationed at Nellis with the TEWTS and helped to train the WW. We had RADAR sets modified to act like SovBloc systems scattered around Lincoln County on the UT NV border.
Great fun and a decent TDY assignment.
Weasel pilots are crazy brave.
As a former Assistant Shop Chief, of the 37th AMS Calibration Docks, George AFB, CA., I was involved with the operational check-outs of F-4E-converted to F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft, of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, which also operated the venerable F-105g Wild Weasel, the F-4E aircraft, and F-4F models of the (then) West German Air Force.
The most recognizable photographs of F-4g Wild Weasel aircraft, are of tail number 562, which was an operational aircraft of the 37th TFWg.
I had the privilege of working with several Senior engineers who worked for TI in the early HARM days.
Good video. I flew as a WSO in the 90th TFS in the Philippines.
A great book on Nam WW is called termite hill.Authors name was Wilson IIRC.Couldnt put it down.
Knowing the bastards were down there in the dark and wet, waiting for you..............
One of the best is G.I. Basel’s Pak Six...an F-105 pilot who was shot down, survived and rescued by the Jolly Greens.
The greatest Weasel of all times was Billy Sparks — Sparky was kind enough to share with me all of his stories about life at Takhli — these stories really helped me when I wrote a script based on on G.I. Basel’s book. I have called the movie version, Operation Rolling Thunder. Unfortunately, although I have had scripts option in Hollywood before, I can’t get to the right people with this exciting story. It would take Bellisario or Bruckheimer to do it—and they would both understand the importance of the F-105 pilots, who have been forgotten because that was what LBJ wanted. Also tried John Travolta, who is a pilot himself...still no luck. But I keep slogging away at it. Starting every morning at 05:00!
Don had “retired” again I think.
“But I keep slogging away at it. Starting every morning at 05:00!”
Those are the ones that get done. Like everything else in life it’s an act of WILL.
That would make a really cool movie! Don’t give up. These men deserve to have their stories told.
Thanks for the encouragement! I’m not giving up. I love these guys—not only have the pilots been forgotten, but their amazing ground crews have been terribly neglected. So many of them developed serious health problems and have gotten the run around.
I was honored that Leo Thorsness, awarded the Medal of Honor, contacted me and also encouraged me. He has been a great source of inspiration...as have all the other F-105 pilots I have had the honor of meeting or becoming email pals.
It is an emotional journey for me...to hear their stories...to feel their frustration that their bravery has not been recognized.
Speaking as a Thud Drivers daughter, I have to agree with you. Thud Drivers, single seat and the Wild Weasel teams, have not received the recognition they deserve. Their story needs to be told before they are all gone. There is also absolutely no excuse for denying the Collins Foundation the opportunity to get a Thud flying again. My dad has taken his final flight west, but I have many dear friends associated with the Thud. Only those in the Thud Family truly understand how exceptional these men are/were. God bless them all.
You are right! It has been an emotional roller coaster for me since I started this project. I knew nothing about F-105s...and when I met G.I. Basel’s daughters asked me to write a script based on their father’s book, Pak Six, I never expected to become so involved. I love all of those who served and hope I can get something done to honor both the pilots and their incredible ground crews.
I had forgotten that one.My favorite jet is the F-105.
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