MiG-25 FOXBAT Shoot Down - Rick "Kluso" Tollini (Part 2)

[@blutowitz]

Too bad I can only give this one "thumbs-up!"

[@CHECK6-963]

Flew with Kluso at Kadena a number of times when he was in the OSS , awesome guy.

[@KernowekTim]

You are All awesome guys.

[@robo3915]

This and part 1 are my favourite 10% True episodes. Such a great story teller with a hell of a story! This is the most underrated channel on KZbin. 🍻

[@10percenttrue]

So glad you're still visiting the channel and watching the content, Robert. I know that you liked it when I put videos in the background, so appreciate you sticking around even though I don't do that anymore.

[@justsmy5677]

Call sign KLUSO is a great book! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Great interview!

[@eicjc]

Appetite for book, suitably whetted. Great stuff again Steve and thanks Kluso.

[@sedlo]

Another great interview, Steve! Thank you Kluso for the great details you add, lots I didn’t know about C models in the Gulf War.

[@-theflea-4561]

Awesome! He shows how you can train to be as hard core as a fighter pilot can be and still find a way back. Very thoughtful and introspective guy.

[@bearowen5480]

Reading your book, Kluso, and enjoying it immensely. Imagine my surprise as I read your poignant account of the student group expedition to the T-38 crash site when I saw Gordon "Kuch" Kucera's name! Kuch was one of my favorite wingmen in the 173rd TRS, NEANG out of Lincoln, NE. I may see him on April 2nd at a funeral for one of our beloved squadron mates near the USAF Academy, Don "Fogs" Fogal, RIP. I also knew Cheese Graeter from the time he was a teenager. His dad, Col. Ed Graeter was commander of the AFROTC detachment at the University of Colorado when I was the Marine Officer Instructor next door at the NROTC detachment. He would come down to my office often to "Hangar fly". We formed a five way partnership and bought a new Rockwell single turbo 112TC Commander which we shared for several years. After your time with Cheese in Desert Storm, he and I served together on the staff of CINCPAC.

[@KlusoTollini]

Thank you, Bear for the comment and the mutual connection with Kuch - small universe! Sorry to hear about the loss of your squadron mate Fogs, but I hope the reunion allowed cherished memories to be shared with all. Thank you for your service and contributions to the Mission!

[@robo3915]

His last comments on how his Mig-25 experience all those years ago changed him is a powerful message, what a great interview! 🍻

[@stuartb9194]

Epic interview, one of the very best, and what a great character

[@jjaymarks]

I listened to another account of this first F-15C mission of Desert Storm given by one or two pilots of the first 4-ship led by "cheese" Graeter which was very interesting. They spoke of Kluso flying over them from his right side position. Now I can't find it anywhere. Has anyone else heard it? It gives another perspective to this interview.

[@slider292]

Loved this episode. Great stories, and I really appreciated the introspective parts from Kluso.

[@duke8022]

this was a great interview I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to read the book!

[@patrickaherne3598]

"On Killing," Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. He also has a follow-on, ON Combat. I've read both of his books and attended one of his seminars.

[@KernowekTim]

Another absolutely oustanding interview; really. So good that, if, at the end of it I were to be asked, " Do you have any questions?", my answer would be, without hesitation, "No. Thank you for asking". Such credit can only be realised when interviewers have 'wIElded the tools' themselves, as it were, thus creating a seamless rapport between both parties based on actual experience..

[@joekreider8050]

Great interview!

[@10percenttrue]

Cheers, Joe

[@e.heinrich-sanchezgomez9919]

One of the best humans I’ve had the honor to meet

[@10percenttrue]

I've spoken to Kluso on calls and video calls since 2006, but I have never met him. One day, I hope.

[@dennissmith8947]

Col Dave Grossman: "On Killing" required reading 👍🏻

[@1905flyer3]

I don’t know how you do it Steve, but you keep topping your last interview with the next one. My father was a fighter pilot and squadron commander so I’ve seen how the wife gets drawn into having to go to all the various functions. That part of Kluso’s story really hit home. As far as books go, what was your book that you made references to on a number of occasions? Both books have become must reads for me.

[@10percenttrue]

Wonderful feedback, Paul. Thanks. What did your father fly?

[@1905flyer3]

@@10percenttrue F-105 in Viet Nam with the 421st TFS. There’s a video from that time, kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJzLY52vat9sn7M . He’s interviewed in it. His 100 mission completion is shown at the end of the video.

[@10percenttrue]

Thanks, Paul. Had seen it before - great footage and commentary. Is your father still alive?

[@10percenttrue]

Regarding books... I have written a few about the Eagle, but the one I was referring to was the one for which I interviewed many of the MiG killers: www.amazon.com/F-15C-Eagle-Units-Combat-Davies/dp/1841767301/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 But if you're an Eagle fan, you should get this: www.amazon.com/F-15-Eagle-Engaged-successful-Aviation/dp/1846031699/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

[@1905flyer3]

@@10percenttrue He passed back in 2009. He was writing a book about his time in SEA. I think one of my brothers has it now, I’d love to see what he’d written. One of my brothers went to USAFA and selected 141s then went C-17. He loved being able to carry his golf clubs with him and was able to return his beer bottles on return trips to Germany. He dropped troops in Panama and carried tons of stuff into the Middle East...

[@jesuslopez9802]

What book was it that mentioned ?

[@10percenttrue]

Kluso's book: www.amazon.com/Call-Sign-KLUSO-American-Fighter-Reagans/dp/1612009816/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JXUZJ7DC81M2&keywords=call+sign+kluso&qid=1641475079&sprefix=call+sign+kl%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1 My books: www.amazon.com/F-15-Eagle-Engaged-successful-Aviation/dp/1846031699/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MLLSY1TSLWX&keywords=eagle+engaged&qid=1641475109&sprefix=eagle+engaged%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1 and www.amazon.com/F-15C-Eagle-Units-Combat-Davies/dp/1841767301/ref=pd_sbs_3/147-5915348-6143369?pd_rd_w=e8USI&pf_rd_p=3676f086-9496-4fd7-8490-77cf7f43f846&pf_rd_r=N2T9GTVQZ7QEYSECQTQ2&pd_rd_r=92e60220-7897-4ee6-bd1e-7c965889c1b5&pd_rd_wg=ahqvv&pd_rd_i=1841767301&psc=1

[@vv13346]

Great interviews! Really interesting series with Paco, Kluso and Sly. Were these guys up and in the area where Scott Speicher went down? Did any of the Eagles see the Foxbat that got him?

[@10percenttrue]

Thanks! I don't know whether the Eagle guys saw Speicher go down (the Hornet and Tomcat guys certainly did), but I will ask next time I get a chance.

[@KlusoTollini]

D. Monroe - The Speicher shootdown happened right after our Night One mission was complete, and the USN package came in after we left the area. I do (now) know of all the details of that engagement and I believe it is covered in detail in Douglas Dildy's book MiG-23/MiG-25 vs F-15C.

[@SDsc0rch]

45:00 and ff... hey, those dudes were up there to shoot you down its you or them don't feel bad about it be ticked at the govts that make it happen whatever but in the end its you or him make it him

[@SDsc0rch]

great guy who else had read his book? so sad how the USAF treated him at the end of his service what a crock....

[@10percenttrue]

Kluso's book is wonderful. It is indeed a travesty the way the Kadena Wing leadership treated him.

[@Superkid2417]

@@SDsc0rch how did they treat him??

[@DSplayer]

Where did the thumbnail come from btw? It is a pretty exceptional photo.

[@jjaymarks]

What was "cheese grater" actual name?

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

Did the Foxbats have chaff/flare pods ?

[@10percenttrue]

I'll ask Kluso, but I think not.

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

@@10percenttrue He said, they dispensed them.

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

@@10percenttrue Correction, no pods, but on the wings.

[@KlusoTollini]

They didn't have standalone pods, Dieter, they did carry a LOT of chaff and flares and used them very effectively. Thanks for asking!

[@SDsc0rch]

what is the Steve davies book kluso keeps referring to ??

[@10percenttrue]

www.amazon.com/F-15-Eagle-Engaged-successful-Aviation/dp/1846031699/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KFFZKBMLSGD&dchild=1&keywords=f-15+eagle+engaged&qid=1629707212&sprefix=f-15+eagle+enga%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-1

[@0MoTheG]

45:00 That other human had a choice. They chose to be in the military under a dictator.

[@pjotrtje0NL]

In countries like that, typically, people have very limited choices…

[@ivan2795able1]

US AF Drone operators also chose to their profesion, thet does not make them war criminals. We all know that when they where firing helfires on insurgents and terosists there was "colateral damage". (Their families and children).

[@rogerpattube]

Are you also the guy who does the operations vids?

[@10percenttrue]

No, these are the only videos I do.

[@larrybailey43]

I don’t understand how u can think other than It’s a plane I must shoot down. I don’t think I would even consider the fact another man is the pilot in there. Think only it’s a machine to take it out.

[@10percenttrue]

I think he was more reflecting about it many years afterwards.

[@KlusoTollini]

I appreciate your comment and thoughts, Larry. I hope you have an opportunity to read my book and experience the years long life journey that evolved into that understanding. Thank you for watching this interview!

[@bryanbernart439]

Clouseau=Kluso?

[@KlusoTollini]

Yes, Bryan -- KLUSO is fighter pilot phonetics for Clouseau. We're a simple bunch 😊

[@TheMunt2000]

is there just a bunch of dud aim-7s buried in the iraqi desert?

[@10percenttrue]

It's actually a good question - I wonder whether anyone tried to recover them for exploitation, or whether the Bedouin ever stumbled across them and brought them in for cash.

[@jebb125]

it not called the great white hope for a reason

[@0MoTheG]

Flying a Mig-25 low is crazy, that is not what it was made for. It is made for high and fast, they should have gone for the AWACS, baiting the fighters.

[@10percenttrue]

Perhaps they were trying not to be predictable?