4. Vietnam II Read Free

wingman. 
    When the formation detected the MiG missile lock, one of the F-15Es immediately fired and missed with an AIM-9 Sidewinder.  Every other F-15E in the ten formation flight simultaneously engaged the lone MiG-21, but they were unable to get the kill.  The closest they came to shooting the MiG down was when one F-15E flew past the Vietnamese jet and maneuvered behind him for the kill.  The pilot hesitated to fire his Sidewinders because during maneuvering he lost track of his wingman and feared fratricide.
    Watching the MiG get away on my scope I could only think that there was enough suck going around for everyone.
     
    Lieutenant Colonel Carol Madison
    U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer
     
    “10 V 2.  F-15s engaging two MiG-21s outside of Hanoi.”  The weapons director told me over the phone.  “Splash one.”
    “Ordinance?  Altitude?”  I asked.  Every time another senior officer came in the room they wanted more data from each engagement.
    “Not really and none.  The PAV pilot flew his plane into the ground.  The other one got away.”  Lydecker said over the phone.
    I felt like there was more to it, but there was already another engagement going down.

AIR ENGAGEMENT #6
    USAF EF-111 vs. VPAF MiG-21
     
    Captain Billy Peters
    EF-111 Electronic Weapons Officer
     
    An EF-111 got a kill on the first night of the war without firing a shot.  While conducting electronic warfare and flying ahead of a strike package we became the target of a MiG-21.  Several Vietnamese MiG-21s had come in and engaged the group of jets during their bombing run.  One of them locked on and fired at our unarmed EF-111.  In order to avoid certain death Captain Rand, our aircraft commander, immediately executed a tight turn and launched chaff.  He was successful in avoiding the missile.  The pursuing MiG locked on for another shot and Captain Rand reacted by piloting our EF-111 to the deck in order to shake the interceptor.  As the EF-111 approached the ground he pulled the aircraft up hard and recovered.  The MiG followed him, but I lost sight of him.
    “Do you see him?” I asked desperately searching outside the canopy.
    “No,” Rand said over the static on the interphone.  “I see smoke.”
    “You guys alright.  Say status.”  Came over the radio. 
    It was our F-15 escort.  They had engaged and lost the MiG 21s buddies.  They had finally caught up with us after losing sight of us in the engagement.
    “We’re okay.”
    “Did you see that MiG 21 we smoked?”  The F-15 pilot said.
    I couldn’t believe my ears.  They were trying to take credit for the shoot down.
    “Fuck you!”  Rand said before I could.
     
    Lieutenant Colonel Carol Madison
    U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer
     
    “AWACs is saying a MiG-21 flew into the ground after engaging an F-111 bomber flight with F-15 escorts.”  I called out to the floor.  “They are saying…”
    The weapons director was dealing with some kind of crisis over the phone patch.
    “What is it?”  Dickens asked.
    Two Colonels and an Admiral were behind him giving me hard looks.
    “He says there is a lot of chatter on the radio.”  I said.
    “Problems?”  The Air Boss asked over the phone.  It surprised me.  I forgot about the other receiver against my ear.  The four star on the other end was so quiet.
    “Wait.  No.  AWACs says that the F-111 pilot and the F-15 pilot are arguing about who deserves credit for the kill.”
     

AIR ENGAGEMENT #7
    USAF F-15Cs vs. VPAF SU-17s
     
    Senior Airman William Lydecker
    E-3 SENTRY Weapons Director
     
    Two Vietnamese SU-17s fired multiple missiles at a flight of F-15Cs on bombing escort.  The F-15Cs evaded the missiles and chased the interceptors.  The SU-17 managed to outmaneuver and used ground clutter to escape their F-15 pursuers.  A total of ten missiles were fired by the F-15Cs, but none hit the two targets.
    “2 V2 2.  No joy.”  I passed over the radio phone patch to