4. Vietnam II Read Free Page A

Hickam.
     
    Lieutenant Colonel Carol Madison
    U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer
     
    “Two SU-17s escaped after engaging and failing to shoot down a bomber flight.”  I told the Air Boss over the phone.
    “Did the escorts pursue?”  He asked.
    “They did.  They got away.”
    “Did the F-15s at least fire?”
    “Yes.”
    “How many?”
    “Ten missiles.”
    “This war is getting expensive.”  The Air Boss said in my ear.  “Tell them to at least hit something if they are going to waste that much ordinance.”
    “I’ll pass it on.”  I said not really knowing who to pass that on to.
     

AIR ENGAGEMENT #8
    USAF F-111s vs. VPAF SU-17
     
    Senior Airman William Lydecker
    E-3 SENTRY Weapons Director
     
    The radio lit up.  We had taken another hit.
    I checked my scope and sure enough there was a retrograde in action.
    “A Vietnamese SU-17 fired an air to air missile at an F-111 during its bombing run.  The missile impacted on the aircraft’s skin, the bomber turned back to base.  Only minutes later the same SU-17 struck again.  Another F-111 took a hit and had to retrograde.  They are struggling to make it back to base despite the severe damage to the aircraft.” I said into the radio.
    They were just outside of Hanoi on their bombing run.
    “Are they going to make it?”  Came the distant voice from Hickam.
    Now here I am an E-3 with four years in the service and I’ve got headquarters asking me for assessments.  I look over at the Mission Crew Commander and he is assholes and elbows busy.
    I decide not to make an assessment at all and just pass facts.
    “The aircraft commander is radioing looking at ejection options.  Standing by for more words.”
     
    Lieutenant Colonel Carol Madison
    U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer
     
    “A SU-17 just scored two hits against F-111s.”
    “Casualties?”  The Senior asked.
    “Standby.”  I said.
    “Casualties?”  The Air Boss asked.
    “I don’t know.” 
    The next hour passed slowly.  Everyone was looking at me like it was my fault.  Finally the F-111s flew out of the AWACs radar range and no one knew what had happened to them.
    “Well?”  The Air Boss asked on the phone.
    I didn’t know how to answer.
    “Someone needs to find those planes.”  The Senior announced on the floor.  “Do we have casualties or not?”
    “None.  Both aircraft made it back to base.”  Colonel Smith, the maintenance representative, spoke up for the first time that night.  “I’ve got the pro super on the line.  Maintenance says both F-111s are severely damaged and are probably out of the fight.”
    The incident would prove to be one of Vietnam’s only successful use of the SU-17 during V2.
     

AIR ENGAGEMENT #9
    VPAF MiG-21 vs USAF F-111 and B-52G
     
    Major Wesley Clinton
    B-52 Aircraft Commander
     
    We were headed home when the worst part of the mission happened.
    “We’re locked up!  We’re locked up!”  The radar navigator screamed into the interphone.
    An F-111 had just taken a missile to the north of us and was limping back to base.  It was the third F-111 attack of the night.  We had been listening to it on the radio wondering where the bandit had gone.
    “Where is it?”  I said not wanting to turn into the missile.
    “Break right.  Missile 030.”  Was all he could get out before the impact.
    A Vietnamese MiG-21 pilot had us locked up good.  The impact of the R60 missile just about shook some teeth out of my head.  However, the tough B-52, flown by my experienced crew of course, managed to stay in the air. 
     
    Lieutenant Colonel Carol Madison
    U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer
     
    “MiG-21 took another F-111 out of the fight…”  I announced and then paused as the AWACs guy starting vomiting information into my ear.
    “Is there more?”  The Senior and the Air Boss asked simultaneously.
    “Same MiG then engaged a B-52G several minutes later during its bombing run.”
    “I hope this guy gets a medal before we