“...I personally knew F-4 pilots at Mountain Home, who said they also provided close air support to Khe Sanh....”
I did too. At least, they said they did and I never corroborated their stories.
Each B-52 could drop 50,000-60,000 pounds of munitions on one sortie. Each F-4 could drop 6,000-8,000 pounds. B-52s had better CEAs. Do your own math to decide which platform was more effective.
I did too. At least, they said they did and I never corroborated their stories.
So, I guess you must have been stationed at Mountain Home, where you knew those F-4 pilots. Maybe I saw you there, and didn’t know it. Did you fly F-4Ds and Es with the 10th or 22nd or the 417th? I suspect that might be about the only way you could verify that those fighter pilots actually did provide close air support at Khe Sanh, unless you have a hotline to the Almighty. I agree with Gingis, that is entirely possible.
Outside of about 5 miles, I would like Buffs, but closer inside, when I need someone to get down in the weeds, I prefer the fast movers.
By the way, Dragonflys do not have afterburners. They were just Tweets with Talon engines, but you knew that, right?
“...Each B-52 could drop 50,000-60,000 pounds of munitions on one sortie. Each F-4 could drop 6,000-8,000 pounds....”
Additional research indicates my memory was fuzzy: I beg forgiveness from the forum.
F-4s carried ordnance weights from 8,000 to 18,000 pounds depending on model.
B-52s carried ordnance weights from 38,000 pounds (E, F) to 60,000 pounds (B-52D).
Doesn’t affect the conclusion, either way.