4. Vietnam II (2 page)

AIR ENGAGEMENT #3

USN F/A-18s vs. VPAF MiG-21s

Senior Airman William Lydecker

E-3 SENTRY Weapons Director

The Navy’s first air-air engagement of the war came later on Night One outside of Hanoi.  Two F/A-18's from the carrier USS Saratoga were flying outside of the Vietnamese capital when they were intercepted by two MiG-21 interceptors.  They engaged them in beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat where one of the Vietnamese MiGs, fired an R-27 missile. The missile impacted the second F/A-18 when he was travelling Mach 0.92.  The naval aviator, Lieutenant Commander Jim Hartman, died on the impact of the missile and the aircraft went spiraling into the ground.

Lieutenant Colonel Carol Madison

U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer

“The Navy is having its first engagement.  Two Hornets are engaging MiGs over Hanoi.”  I told the collected mob.

“What kind?”  The Senior asked.

“We’re getting word they are MiG-21s.”  I told him.

“More good news?”  He asked with a big shit eating grin on his face.

I put down the phone.

“No.”

Lieutenant Commander Mark Wolf

F-18 Naval Aviator

I watched my wingman plane spiral toward the ground.  Hartman had taken a missile head on.  There was another four ship in the area that responded immediately once the engagement went south.

We were looking for chutes, but I could not escape the belief Jim had died on impact.

AIR ENGAGEMENT #4

USN F/A-18s vs. VPAF MiG-21s

Senior Airman William Lydecker

E-3 SENTRY Weapons Director

The second USN engagement of the night went better for the naval aviators as two F/A-18s from VFA-81, again the Saratoga squadron, same as Hartman, shot down two MiG-21s, with an AIM-7 Sparrow missile and an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, respectively, in a dogfight enroute to their ground targets.  They maneuvered and shot down the enemy fighters with their bombs still latched on.

Lieutenant Colonel Carol Madison

U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer

“Shake it off people.  We’ve got a long way to go.  Scramble search and rescue.”  The Senior said.  Minutes later when his wingman declared him dead on impact the SAR would be quietly turned off.  Still the fighter’s position was marked and flagged.  One way or another we would investigate the wreckage.

“The Navy is in another engagement.”  I said to the now quiet room.

No one jumped forward to ask any questions.

“Be more specific.”  The Air Boss said into my other ear from his phone.

“Sorry.”  I said.  “F-18s.  Same squadron as the shoot down aircraft.”

“Well they are going to want to kill something now.”  The Senior said overhearing my conversation with his boss.

After the last engagement everyone was silent.  Suddenly it seemed to occur to the planners that not everyone was going home at the end of this thing.

Commander Dickens, my Navy counterpart, perked up waiting for the news.

“Well?”  He asked.

I struggled with all the static on the line between me and the AWACs guy.

“Splash two MiG-21s.”

Everyone cheered.

AIR ENGAGEMENT #5

USAF F-15Es vs VPAF MiG-21s

Senior Airman William Lydecker

E-3 SENTRY Weapons Director

Two more MiG-21s attempted to engage a flight of USAF F-15Es.  Those Eagles were pretty busy for the opening night of the war. 

We were doing well.  I mean I thought the Air Force was a hot mess most days of the week.  An old senior NCO told me once that he agreed.  He was one of the only draftees still on active duty I had ever met.

“We are the greatest air force in the world and we suck.  The trick is sucking less than the other guy.”  The old man had told me once after a few beers in Vegas after a hard day at Red Flag.

Watching one of the MiGs never even made it to the fight as it crashed into the jungle outside of its Hanoi and it all made sense.  The MiG slammed into the ground while flying at low altitude, a little too low for staying out of the trees. 

Feeling brave the other MiG pilot pressed on without his 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 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 blow him out of the sky.”  The Senior said.

“Casualties?”  The Air Boss asked.

Everyone was nervous.  The B-52 carried a crew of six. 

“No sir.  The B-52G was able to stay aloft as well, but its fuselage is severely damaged and its limping home.”

“I want to know the moment that aircraft is on the ground.” 

It was over.  At least for that day.

We had flown over 1300 sorties of which 80% were effective with only a single loss, the F-18 from the Saratoga.

It was not bad for the first day of the war.  We had done significant damage to their air forces.

The first day was over and we had dropped hundreds of bombs. 

The Vietnamese government did not respond through their channels.  Nothing was moving diplomatically.  In my experience nothing would happen at all and then when it did happen it would happen all at once.

The news that night was filled with the so-called peaceful Vietnamese going to work and having their day interrupted by American bombers. 

In total we had hit 800 targets to include the Hoa Binh Dam, the North-South Railway and the Da Nhim Hydroelectric Power Station which was totally destroyed.  When I left that night after thirty six hours on my feet the planners were making coffee and planning for more.  They would end up working all day looking for more targets.

The Vietnamese would get no such break.  During daylight hours Tomahawk missiles from naval vessels pounded targets across the country.

For now though the Air Force’s job was on pause.  The goal was 1000 sorties a day.  So far we were mission accomplished.