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Posted on 11/02/2014 3:14:47 AM PST by Timber Rattler
As a combat pilot, Air Force Col. Jack Broughton was celebrated for bravery and tactical brilliance during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He received promotions and important assignments and seemed headed to become a general.
But a high-profile court-martial during the Vietnam War for allegedly violating the rules of engagement that ruled certain targets off limits ended his career.
After leaving the Air Force, Broughton was free to speak out about what he saw as the incompetence of President Lyndon Johnson and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in micromanaging the war. Pilots couldn't bomb an enemy outhouse without their approval, Broughton once complained.
(snip)
In a modern era where political and military objectives are intermixed, Broughton was "something of an anachronism. A swashbuckling skyjock of the old school, he wanted nothing more than to roll out his fighter jet every day and 'go to work,'" David Gelman, who covered the Vietnam War for Newsday, wrote in his review of "Going Downtown."
(snip)
In June 1967, as the war intensified, a pilot under Broughton's command told him that he may have fired at a Soviet freighter in the North Vietnamese port of Cam Pha while attacking an anti-aircraft site. The Soviet Union complained bitterly to Washington.
To protect his pilots from criticism by civilian and military officials far removed from the realities of the war, Broughton ordered the destruction of the gun-camera film so that no evidence could exist.
(snip)
"It seemed to be that the whole world was out of focus," Broughton later wrote. "Old friends were turning against us and common sense was not to be found."
(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...
The Colonel seems to have been an eagle forced to soar with turkeys.
The Colonel seems to have been an eagle forced to soar with turkeys.
The Colonel seems to have been an eagle forced to soar with turkeys.
The Colonel seems to have been an eagle forced to soar with turkeys.
The Colonel seems to have been an eagle forced to soar with turkeys.
The Colonel seems to have been an eagle forced to soar with turkeys.
You got a 7-banger!
That ties my personal record for viewing repetitive posts on FR.
Robin Olds & Steve Ritchie - MIG Killers in Vietnam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ezJLuUsdI
I think Broughton was charged with destruction of govt. property, but effectively ended his military career.
A shame...
Great story indeed!
R.I.P, Colonel Broughton and God bless vetvetdoug’s father for his service!
SirL
That was my understanding as well, that the Soviet freighter fired on them first. And that there was camera footage from other aircraft in the flight to back it up.
Uh, that was the end of WWII.
Sorry for the multiple posts;not sure what happened.
RIP.
Please ping me to aviation and aerospace articles. Thank you.
If you want added to or removed from this ping list, please contact EveningStar or Paleo Conservative.
See WWII and Patton.
IIRC from my reading of "Thud Ridge", he does relate seeing a uniquely painted Mig-21 come in on an intercept that he was sure was piloted by a Russian.
Thanks for the ping. May he rest in peace.
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