F-105 Thunderchiefs and their Pilots in Action - 1966

"There is a Way: The 421st Tactical F.S. 'Fighting Cavaliers' and their F-105 Thunderchiefs" I digitally restored the color.
The sound in this film varies in quality because it was all recorded on location at a busy airbase with lots of background noise. I have done what I could to enhance the voices to clarify them..
This is a lot more than your average USAF "information" film. Shot in November, 1966, this up close and personal look at the 421st Sq, 388th TFW. Best of all, its told through spontaneous interviews and open mics that capture air combat radio chatter, after mission pilot stories, and conversations with everyone from the base commander to pilots and mechanics. You'll see mission briefings and after action intelligence debriefings. Veteran pilots coach newbies on tactics. The maintenance chief talks about the Thuds reliability. The squadron gets together after hours to celebrate a young Lieutenant's 100th mission. An amazing time capsule.
Zeno, Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In www.zenoswarbir... Don't miss our F-105 Thunderchiefs Go to War" DVD.bit.ly/MAUGyl Visit our aviation DVD store at www.zenosflight... for the World's largest selection of World War 2 & vintage jet aircraft aviation videos

[@bonniemckee1434]

Third name on white scarf, completing 100 missions,,,name Capt. Wayne D. Hauth, my brother.

[@TEXCAP]

My father is the ninth name on the scarf. Commander of the 17th Wild Weasels when he came home in 1974

[@BrokenGauge]

Ed Rasimus (the stocky Lt. With the mustache) was one of my college professors around 2007 or 2008. It was a few years before I dropped out and went into the army, and he passed away a few years after that. He had a great sense of humor and tried really hard to make sure multiple points of view were considered in our class discussions. Even though my interactions with him were brief and infrequent, and only for a 6 week period of time, I feel like he made a profound impact on me. Of all the educators I ever met, he was the only one that truly encouraged us to develop our own opinions and most importantly have *good* reasons for having them, while everyone else merely wanted to brow beat their points of view into us.

[@rebelwithoutaclue8164]

When thunder rolled. Good telling by Raz!

[@user-ki3dw9uh3y]

لقدمات اد راسيموس الملازم ذو الشارب والجسم الممتلاء بالفضلات النجسة بقتل الابرياء الفتنام من النساء الاطفال الصغار الابرياء المسكين الضعفاء والشعوب البريء وانه الان عند الله رب العالمين سبحانه و تعالى في عذاب عضيم غليض مهين اليم شديد جهنم و باءس المصير هو وكل القادة الاشرار الشياطين الكلاب الفجار الضالمين أين الطائرات والسلاح المتطور واين القوة والتكبر والافتخار واين واين هذه الحياة الدنيا دار امتحان واختبار ورحيل وزوال والحيات الاخراى بعد الموت والقبر والمكوث في عالم يقالو له البرزخ فيه نعيم وهو روضة جنة و فيه عذاب وهو حفرة نار وما ربنا بضلام للعبيد وما نحن إلى عباد ومخلوقات ضعفاء لا نصتطيع قهر أهل السماء وهم الملائكة الاقوياء منهم من يرحب بالعباد المسلمين المؤمنين الصالحين ومنهم ينطضر العباد الضالمين المجرمين بالسلاسل والاغلال والعذاب والنار الانسان المسالم العاقل لا يعيش الحياة الدنيا حروب ودمار وخراب من أجل مصلحة عباد انجاس لا ينال منهم شئ إلا غضب الله عزى وجل سبحانه و تعالى الخالق العضيم القوي العزيز الجبار القهار القادر على كل شئ في الحياة الدنيا و الحياة الاخرة

[@robertstack2144]

@@user-ki3dw9uh3y is your Ala sh$# hot and 20 mike mike?

[@kemkough2009]

Lt Col Dutch Kough Korat dec1965- June 4 1966. Survived supersonic ejection package 2 June 4 1966 Now 88 years old 97th mission viewed 10 Jan 2020

[@ZenosWarbirds]

Thanks for the additional info on Lt Richter. These men need to be remembered for the sacrifices they made.

[@toadman506]

Karl Richter was a Beast!!! (In the best way) He was a Pilot's Pilot, to the extent that when he got R&R he went to NKP and flew O-1's with those guys rather than go into Bangkok or Hong Kong, Was the Youngest USAF Pilot to Down a Mig over Vietnam, and had the record for largest number of Missions over NVN until well after his death.

[@RHoonte]

Lt. Richter is mentioned in the book "When thunder rolled" By Ed Rasimus. He crashed in the 105 62-4334 that was used by Rasimus until he ended his tour. Great book!!

[@QualitySilverBullion]

My father-in-law was in the 421 TFS, shot down 28 Apr 1967 after completing his 59th mission. He was working fast to "find the way" home. His wife and four kids, age 6 to 1-1/2 had to wait 21 years until his remains were returned in 1988. This video showed me something I was always curious about - what is everyday life would have been like. Well done!

[@TheDustysix]

+Quality Silver Bullion You are part of our Family. The burdens of our Nation's Defense are borne but by few.

[@johnbuchanan5008]

I'm so very sorry for your families loss, gone but not forgotten, Kim Wilde Cambodia sums it up. God bless you and your family.

[@jacobmccandles1767]

Damn. It took a hero to ass that cockpit in the face of the odds. I'm sorry for your family's loss, but thankful for their willingness to sacrifice.

[@williamkriz7946]

Frank Caras. He was on Karl Richter's wing coming out of Route Pack VI, when they were attacked by a MIG.

[@RobertJamesChinneryH]

No last name...or u tube warrior

[@stephanieknotts1720]

My father was a Wild Weasel -- He survived God Bless him and he is kind enough to remember the Men who did not

[@ZenosWarbirds]

Glad to hear it. That was a very tough duty.

[@deborahleone4351]

Stephanie Knotts how proud you must be! Thank your Dad for me honey girl!💕🙏🙋‍♀️

[@toddjelle5612]

You should be proud, he put himself in harms way to reduce the threat, to others

[@p47thunderbolt68]

Took heck of a brave men to climb in one of those things . You should be proud .

[@stephanieknotts1720]

@@p47thunderbolt68 Agree and you have no idea HOW proud I am

[@grizzly4736]

Possibly the best film showcasing the F-105, the pilots, and maintainers out there. As a former USAF F-16 maintainer it's cool to see the legacy of crew chiefs and the only things that change is the airframe. Thank you so much for the hard work in preserving and sharing these films.

[@jacobmccandles1767]

My kid is a crew chief, and you are so very right. That is her A-10, no one else's, not the Air Force, not the pilot, nobody. It's hers, and they may borrow it from time to time.

[@udaloop86]

Thanks for restoring and sharing this mate. I feel this piece is an absolute treasure and must be kept as a real and accurate record of the story of the experiences of US pilots during Rolling Thunder. Brilliant.

[@ZenosWarbirds]

You’re welcome🙏

[@ZenosWarbirds]

As a matter of fact, I spent quite a bit of time working on the sound quality. The problem is that the original sound track was recorded in the field by Air Force personnel using primitive audio equipment, with I suspect, an "automatic gain control." That magnifies background noise and drowns out voices in some scenes shot on the flight line, in the Officer's Club etc. IMO, I have improved it, but I too wish it was better.

For those Vietnam Veterans who didn't get there parade or the appreciation you deserved, I absolutely thank you and appreciate you. I was a young 5 year old, seeing everything on tv with how people treated you. You can tell that they regret what they did because you won't find a single person who will speak up and admit it.

[@jamesd2128]

Brave men flying the Thud into the most fiercely defended air space, maybe ever, great video.

[@gallantrycross]

Terrific documentary. I was a sarge with the 23rd Wing (Flying Tigers). The reason so many Thuds were shot down is because we pulled thousands of missions. My last squadron was the 561st TFS, we sent over 12 Wild Weasel planes in 1972 and 4 of them got shot down but we pulled 1,900 missions.

[@gallantrycross]

I should mention that a plane from my squadron was the last F-105 shot down in the Vietnam War, in November of 1972. Hit by a SAM, the crew was rescued. There are only about 300,000 Air Force vets of Vietnam, and I suppose a third of us have died of old age (I'm 66) so the next 10 years better see us setting the record straight before we all die off. The USAF won the Vietnam War with the Xmas bombing in 1972. During the 12 Days of Xmas we ran out of military targets, brought North Vietnam to its knees and made them sign the Paris Peace Accords, thus ending the war. The USA won. Three years after we left the South Vietnamese lost.

[@georgewest4255]

I could not agree more. I was a KC-135 Nav and I had the privilege of supporting the Thuds and others with inflight refueling and SAR.

[@samuelparker9882]

gallantrycross I always liked the lines of the THUD.

[@samuelparker9882]

gallantrycross You guys did a awesome job... but, the war was lost. THERE NO LONGER EXISTS THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH VIETNAM. IT'S TIME TO FINALLY ADMIT THAT.

[@Steve-ev6ow]

George West Sir, you tanker boys had balls of steel! Many thanks from the son of an officer stationed at Korat in ‘68.

[@davidca96]

best looking fighter bomber to ever exist in my opinion. The F-105 was such a beautiful plane.

[@laurencethornblade8357]

She is the best looking F/B of all time.

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

F105 F Wild Weasels!

[@phayzyre1052]

Thanks for posting this! I once knew a crew chief who worked on F-105s at Korat AFB in Thailand. He told me the 105's J-75 engine was designed to do 2 things: eat gas and haul ass!

[@davebower8810]

At the 3:50 mark, the aviator on the right is my father, Colonel Ralph "Sox" Bowersox - Major at the time. Luckily he made it home after 100 missions in North Vietnam. One his 93rd mission, he shot down two MIGs (probably piloted by Russian or Cuban pilots) - with the new state-of-the-art Sidewinder Missile System. After bombing the rail-yard in Hanoi, one plane popped up on the right, and then the left - both in perfect firing position just above the horizon...

[@jamesohara1484]

I was in the 67th TFS @ Kadena in 1967. Your dad was also in the squadron. I was a crew chief. I believe your dad retired as a Brigadier General. Loved my time in the USAF. Jim O'Hara [e-mail]

[@mikelafferty9506]

Very cool! Any relation to the Bowersox that commanded the shuttle?

[@user-dy5bz1cw7c]

I think these servicemen are the best flyers ever. Also the aircraft F105d is outstanding for that time. The Migs are primitive and outdated even for that time, poor in its armament and ordnance. Commies were highly motivated that years, but afterwards they lost their motivation and collapsed.

[@bionicsjw]

8:02 Lt. Karl Richter died on his 198th combat mission. Godspeed Lt. Richter.

[@dobiem1]

Dedication, but I guess he believed in the cause. Good guy overall. Hardcore.

[@donnapierce3513]

Saw him on his last leave home I did enjoy his company saw him ln his glass top casket in holly mi.

[@paulepanchin4526]

I was assigned to monitor his vital signs when he was brought in very late one evening ( 31st Army Field Hosp) several months prior to his tragic end. Had sustained a lacerated ear resulting from a motorcycle accident downtown. Never got to talk to him as he was quite sedated. Upon daylight, several of his cohorts showed up to take him back to base. It was like it all happened yesterday.

[@andrewrobertson3952]

Amazing film, great to watch along while reading Lt. Rasimus’ “When Thunder Rolled”, shows just how vivid and accurate his writing is!

[@ellensammarshall1373]

At 52.27 the pilot shown is Capt. Samuel Edwin Waters, one of my best friends in high school. Eddie was shot down over Hanoi in December 1966 and confirmed captured. He was promoted to Major while in captivity. He died while in captivity. His remains were recovered several years later and are interred in Mocksville, N.C.. I later served with the Army in Chu Lai in 1968-69. He was on my mind almost daily.

[@rl64rl]

God rest his soul. FYI, Capt Waters is not identified as “died while in captivity”. No record of him being captured.

[@rrhone]

OMG, you guys are braver than me. I salute all of you pilots that fly these combat missions. amazing courage

[@TheLeadSled]

The Thunderchief was a beast of a plane with that beautiful wasp waist wing; powerful and a true warbird, may they always be remembered. Got to see one up close and personal at Martin's Airbase (Maryland Air National Guard) you truly can't imagine how big they actually are until you're standing right next to one.

[@toddjelle5612]

Carried a larger bomb load than a WWII. B-17 & could go Mach 2 clean not to mention it was designed to carry an internal nuke in the bomb bay that was used for extra fuel in Nam. Not to mention it could dog fight with a Vulcan cannon if needed. Quite the plane for its day

[@davegeisler7802]

Thud pilots were badass !! Salute. 🇺🇸👍

[@skymaster4664]

Col Ralph Beardsley, great guy, loved sharing his Kentucky Sipping Bourbon with him, RIP Col.

[@busarider29]

Fascinating watching this film footage. Hard to believe when watching it that it was filmed almost 50 years ago!

[@mattwiser8406]

Great video, and hard to believe it's over 50 years old....And good to see footage of Roscoe, the wing mascot at several points in the film. Introduced at 26:34

[@TEXCAP]

Captain Ray Lewis owned Roscoe and brought him to Korat when he was deployed out of Japan. My father was flying on Capt Lewis' wing the day he was shot down and killed. 20 July 1966. He bailed out and his shoot fouled on him near the Chinese boarder.

[@davegeisler7802]

55 years at least now

[@gabrielvara2117]

Grandmother's brother Capt. George H.Vipond USAF M.I.A. 27:10. 53:50 Gone but not forgotten

[@jacobmccandles1767]

Too many "Thud" pilots went this way :(

[@rl64rl]

There is no George H. Vipond listed on the MIA roots.

[@TheRobman139]

Some of the greatest warriors this country ever produced...

[@richardunger2177]

I went TDY to Korat from Kadena..1985, Commando West. I could feel the spirit of these men. The base looked the same in 85.

[@roberthales7882]

A great video and my favorite of all the F-105 videos I have seen. The F-105 was a great war bird. I was at Korat for almost two years with most of my time as a F-105 Wild Weasel Weapons Control Tech. We called the F-105s either Thuds or Nickels. I was often at End of Runway "squirting" the AGM-45, AGM-78 missiles and ECM systems for the back seat Bear prior to takeoff. I really enjoy seeing this video with jet after jet after jet blasting off in burner. Seeing this video brings back a lot of memories. A J75 going into burner with water injection is a beautiful sight (you can clearly see the activation of water injection on a takeoff at the 12:08 mark in the video). The ten ship flyby at the end of the video is also a highlight. The sound of F-105 flybys is really unique. The End of Tour flybys (100 missions) were always a treat. There have been efforts to start an F-105 restoration to flying status. I can only hope.

[@PJCookAC-130]

I had the pleasure of working with F-105 100+ Mission Vietnam Pilot John Piowaty over in Kirkuk Iraq where John was still flying in 2011/12 timeframe. What a super guy and TRUE American Hero.

[@hiflyer5124]

this is the film they showed at my UPT class in 1971 that convinced me I wanted to fly fighters and that I wanted t go to Vietnam.

[@Darknamja]

The 421st FS/388th FW currently operate out of Hill AFB, Utah. I was stationed there from '84-'85. :D

[@gregoryr7013]

The aviator at 8:13 is Lt Karl Richter, he was KIA in June of 1967 after completing 198 official missions.

[@ChesterKitty01]

Thanks, Gregory R !!

[@donnapierce3513]

Karl Richter his plane was hit and he engeted out safley his parachuter got caught inn a tree and he fell onto very rockey and ridget rock formation got mutlble broken bones and a broken neck he was picked by a medic helicopter and died on the way back to the hospital in the helicopter I knew about his death the day after he died his brother gene came and told me he was crying Karl came home in. A glass top casket before being taken to Colorado for burial. I know from being with him on his last leaven and learning. His passion for what he did being in the air force and his love of flying and all of his injuries would have stopped him from flying again I doubt he could have accepted that only two more missions to go to reach his second 100 mission was so sad I told him before he left from his leave always make sure there is always a tomorrow I'm so glad I got to meet him and be with him when I did he didn't even have to be in the air that day his copilets told Gene his brother all the details. I wish I could have been with again. Go to google and press in Lt Karl Richter pilot and there at so much of all his life in the info. Many pictures 53 years ago maybe we will meet again who knows

[@ericvimeney2241]

Lt karl Richter was absolutely an outstanding fighter pilot! So young and so skillfull in flying the mighty F105 in the fierces combats in South East Asia. He is a legeng for any military aviation enthusiastic. Thanks for all the information about this very brave man. This video is so interesting. Very great respects for all these military men. God bless karl Richter. Peace on earth.

[@davidfaas697]

This is a favorite of mine. The F-105 flying over the Armed Camp of North Vietnam in 1966 And While Veterans day Just Passed us I still have to say "Thank You for Your Service" Dave Minnesota

[@Fast1Air]

Simply spectacular.

[@davidfaas58777]

The "Fighting Cavaliers" A great group of Drivers Red River Valley !

[@AustinBarlow-fi5io]

Hell of a video, thanks for restoring. I recognize a lot of the names in here from stories I've read/heard across the various Facebook groups and documentaries. I have never seen them as young men. It's amazing to see them at their peaks so to speak. Really neat to see Ed Rasimus and Karl Richter as Shit Hot Lt's driving that monsterous bucket of bolts.

[@shaynechild2517]

I grew up just off of the south run way just below Hill Air force base in the the early 1970's and remember the F 4's and 105 's banking right over my house so close the ground we see the color of their helmet 's and a lot of my friend's father's either worked on base or was in the airforce so the planes these jets always stand out for me! sure proud of our Air force!!!!!!! keep them birds flying!

[@haldiott]

We had the F 105's at Itazuke AFB , Japan in 1962/63 When they closed the base down, 8th Tac Fighter Wing was move to Vietnam zone.

[@s0meguy0001]

the Thud was a triple threat... it could bomb you, strafe you, or fall on you.

[@rafaelquintana8816]

At 5:26 the "shit hot" australian hat, where the pilots marked their missions over North Vietnam (100 missions to go!). They marked in RED every mission over Pack 6 (the Hanoi área). They also add other drawings like a "SAM" (when you got a SAM kill), or a MIG.

[@balvinabennett9243]

Didn't know about the red Mark.

[@ricksanchez5002]

One of the best documentaries of the air war over N.V. A time portal to the past.

[@snowblind9065]

a salute from canada...we should have bought the 105 instead of the cheap cf-104 ...but we always go on the cheap when it comes to our airforce..or our military in general

[@eriktruchinskas3747]

Such a beautiful plane

[@Aristocob]

Someone just shared this video with my and I was so excited to see Roscoe at 26:32 after hearing my dad talk about him it 43:12 in a video we posted on my channel titled "Retired Colonel Calvin Markwood: Memories from an F-105 Cockpit". Great video! Scott

[@TEXCAP]

My father was flying with Ray Lewis (Roscoes owner) the day Ray was shot down and killed. 20 July 1966

[@CrazyNarde]

So much attention to image quality!.. So liitle done to improve the sound of such priceless videos...

[@ZenosWarbirds]

I encoded it at about 2megs per second in .mp4, which gives a 770 meg file, so it probably took about 30-40 minutes to upload over my broad band connection.

[@TheDalemills]

What these guys had to do when they flew on missions to north vietnam was one thing that I know very little of,I see a comment of some guy who seems to think that this aircraft was miss used in vietnam and that it was for some reason more valuable than the Grunts who can be very thankful for the airsupport that we received on many occasion that saved our asses many times I can only say that the piticular fellow who thinks like that should have had his ass out there with us when these fine pilots came in so close that we could hear the clank clank when they released their sorties at low level just over our position,extremely close to our positions,sprayed our asses with 40 milimeter brass from their gatlingun while recieving ground fire and polished it off with napom,far from a waste believe me,we grunts loved these guys along with the chopper crews,still do they were and still are the best not a waste! bravo co. 1st plt 1/12th First Cav. 1968/69

[@MrLuvOldies]

The F105 Thunderchief was a really good aircraft,and workhorse for its designated mission.It was a Fighter Bomber,not a Fighter.It probably was designed for a war with the Soviet Union,not in Viet Nam.

[@jaik195701]

Yes it had a bomb bay (usually with an auxiliary fuel tank) that could carry the B61 bomb internally for fast dash penetration nuclear attack

[@724bigal]

Mp4 seems to be the way! Ok Thank you u buddy Over half of thee production total of thee F-105, lost over southeast asia! Always loved the century series aircraft Fast, Loud!!!

[@jacobmccandles1767]

Damn near half. Too many at any rate. "382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced)."

[@randynixon5059]

Just missed Nam. Missed draft by a year. Put in my 37 years with DoD. Still glad I missed Nam... Thanks to all those brave guys who went to that shithole mistake... You were JUST as brave as any WW2 vets imho.

[@markhamersly1664]

Sir, I enlisted when I turned 17 (USAF Academy wouldn't take me since I wore glasses), and VOLUNTEERED for Vietnam at enlistment. Served at Korat 1973 -1974. And a point, sir--you are DEAD wrong about that war. We deserted the Vietnese people when they needed us most, and the 10 million or so people killed by Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge, and the NVA quite sufficiently show us all we NEEDED to be there! Also, Major Jim Boyd (flew the last Weasel mission of the war) was my head user at my wedding--to a WAF at Korat. He also flew the LAST F-105G from George AFB to the USAF museum at Wright-Paterson AFB. Hammer. USAF SSgt; US Army CW4/SrAviator

[@GreenGabber1]

There ain't no way to get to 100 missions! Best thud movie I have seen! And I have seen a few. Thanks for posting!

[@videomaniac108]

I knew a guy who was a USAF ATC officer in SE Asia during the Vietnam war who said that their nickname for the F-105s was Thunderpigs.

[@darkknight1340]

What an incredible aircraft and perhaps more would have survived had they not been stopped from hitting the Sams when they were being unloaded and from hitting the North Vietnamese airbases,Washington's interference at its worst.

[@FN_FAL_4_ever]

Ed Rasimus wrote a couple of good books about the air war in Vietnam.

[@IamAtiis]

Actually, it's his 100. mission party at the beginning and thats him talking at 4:00 :)

[@danmulcrone6581]

Of all the fighters we refueled in SE Asia, the fully laden F-105 was the meanest looking SOB! Thanks for this video.

[@grandinquisitor135]

Unfortunately, in spite of its looks, it suffered the highest percent losses of any U.S. combat aircraft. 320, more than a full third of the entire fleet of 833 produced, were lost in combat (with an additional 62 non-combat operational losses). It remains the only U.S. aircraft pulled from service solely because of excessive losses.

[@TheRach2511]

Wow.....KORAT RTAFB. THAILAND. Thank You

[@zzodr9347]

Gotta love the punch of the burners.

[@velttoveltoin67]

Juuri luin Ed Rasimuksen kirjan tästä hommasta...video täydentää hyvin kirjaa.

[@stalag14]

that was excellent. thank you.

[@mattmenefee3889]

I’ve known this song for a long time. My pops was a helo pilot at the end of the conflict. It still makes me MAD AS HELL that the AF brass (who our taxes shine!!!) eliminated any chance of ever seeing a Thud take air ever again.

[@mattmenefee3889]

There were plenty of restorable examples as well as a number of former pilots/ maintainers willing to donate their services. Instead, the USAF DESTROYED ANY/ ALL sources of spare parts at Lackland just b/c some pussy ass AF brass got called out on the fact that it AIN’T his $$$. It’s ours!

[@donnapierce3513]

Go to google and press in Lt Karl Richter pilot and all the pictures of him and comments from guys who flew with him I look at it often

[@briand4000]

wonderful film. Thank you, Zeno!

[@tn2920]

Holly Smith was supposed to take us to Kecksburg, PA

[@roberte8656]

Great film!! Thanks for sharing!

[@billc3271]

I want to thank each of you for what it's worth. I'm a non combat vet but respect the hell out of you guys and gals. Well F^^king done Gentlemen and Ladies.

[@E9X330]

Good ol' thud :)

[@tomdemerly]

This is really excellent.

[@gallantrycross]

I was with the 561st TFS when we sent 12 F-105's to combat the Easter Invasion in Vietnam in 1972. Four were shot down, one of them the last F-105 to be shot down in the Vietnam War. But we beat General Giap and then with the Xmas bombing we brought North Vietnam to its knees and made them sign the Paris Peace Accords, thus ending the war. The USA actually won the war! --South Vietnam lost 3 years later. Wild Weasels had a 63% casualty rate in Vietnam.

[@donnapierce3513]

I met Karl Richter on his last leave home we dated and he kept in contact I wish he hadn't sighed up for another 190 missions I told him to be very carful and always make sure there was a tomorrow he did come home sadly in a glass top casket I think of him to this day maybe I'll get see him again he never married so may be we can continue again

[@donnapierce3513]

I live near holly mi. I wish he would have been buried here so I could go and visit him and I would have often he did love what he did and so did I

[@who2u333]

Very cool! I am just finishing the book "When Thunder Rolled" and was looking for some video to give me more of a sense of what the author, Ed Rasimus, was describing. And, I'll be darned if this video is not his about his squadron. In fact the first part of the film is his final return (along with 2 other 100 mission finishers) to base. At 2:46 you can hear what, Ed describes on p.243 as telling Maj Lloyd about the downed pilots (Loken) comments to the 'Sandy'. Asking how he could tell friendly locals from unfriendly. At 4:08, it appears that this is the author describing his next assignment to T-38's. I believe he refers to himself as 'instructor Raz', but the audio is a bit rough. I could not have happened upon a better video to finish the book.

[@bionicsjw]

His next book is "Palace Cobra." It's about Ed's return to Vietnam in 1972 flying the F-4E. I have read and reread his books so many times I think I know them by heart. Another great book about the 105's is "100 Missions North" by Brig. General Ken Bell. He was at the other 105 base. Takhli and was a senior pilot that came from other aircraft like Rasmus describes.

[@who2u333]

Read Bell's book as well. Pretty good. Finished Palace Cobra about a month ago. Another good book by Ed.

[@judyhopps9380]

Snap, just finished the book. Instantly I recognised the infamous poirot mustache.

[@judyhopps9380]

I will totes buy Palace Cobra. Thank you for telling me about it. Never knew it existed until now. Is Thud Ridge worth a read too?

[@yellowhammer4747]

Read Dan Hampton's book titled; The Hunter Killers. Its all about what you see in the video. When thunder rolled is a good read as well.

[@nmflyerrobbin5413]

head straight for the tanker aft takeoff

[@ZenosWarbirds]

Hmm -- I don't think I have video devoted specifically to Wild Weasel missions. I'll check and let you know if I come up with anything, but I'm not optimistic.

[@TheDarwiniser]

USAF Lt Col (ret.) Dan Hampton has a book out, The Hunter Killers, all about the Weasel. Great read.

[@apocyldoomer]

I believe that you are correct Joel from Edgewater, F-100's

[@danmulcrone6581]

Once again, I ask why the two choices are 'unlike', or 'dislike'? I liked the damn thing!!

[@chrisyoder5546]

A good buddy of mine's late father in law was in this unit and completed 100 missions around this time. I don't know that he appears in this film though.

[@rdmck857]

God bless our fighting men and women in these wars🇺🇸

[@WomackPhotoKCMO]

Outstanding!!!!

[@KatzenjammerKid61]

I think it's funny people who slap a watermark over public domain videos.

[@yellowhammer4747]

Me too. This is all government archived footage.

[@apocyldoomer]

Asst. Crew Chief on F-4E Phantoms @ George AFB from 1984-1986. George AFB closed a long time ago. F-105, aka the Lead Sled..awesome video man, were not the F-105's the original "Wild Weasels"? The F-4 took over that role! Again, awesome vid...

[@joelfromedgewater600]

I believe the first Wild Weasels were F-100Fs, then it was the F-105s, and then the F-4 took over the role in the mid-70s.

[@toddjelle5612]

F100s were the first, in first & out last, they didn’t have the shrike missile,, it was pretty much a suicide mission to protect the thuds using conventional bombs to knock out the Sam site, they were too slow & therefore replaced by the 105 using the shrike. Still pretty crazy going in first to attract a sams radar lock, so the strike mission could be safe. The thuds later acquired the standard or HARM misled which allowed a better standoff shot at the SAMs

[@oldjetmech]

F-100s were the lead sleds. The F-105s. Were Thuds.

[@Chris23lover]

That's why its important to get full load of weapons. You will eventually maneuver better until you unload your charges against the enemy first. And yes on a fight they ran out of weapons in no time (going winchester), so much you don't even realize it.

[@nutsackmania]

was this the base with the log ride? that war was hell on all of us

[@jefflebowski918]

The guy at the beginning looks like Ernie Kovacs.j/k The F-105 was loved by most pilots, it could carry 14,000lbs of bombs and it was a decent dogfighter. It has 5 confirmed Mig kills using the M61 20mm cannon and Sidewinder. The sad part was since they were relegated to bombing missions at low level they were the most shot down aircraft in Vietnam.

[@pierredecine1936]

382 of these beautiful aircraft were lost in Vietnam ... low & slow in a supersonic aircraft >

[@user-zy9xu9ej6i]

SA-2 Guideline't noticed the theme of the film is not disclosed;)

[@deborahleone4351]

Dearest Karl Richter......he’s watching over pilots all over the world. Now he is free to do that! 😢🙏

[@donnapierce3513]

Did u know Karl text me

[@donnapierce2906]

I know that Carl had a girlfriend in Vietnam and I know when he died she was six months pregnant do you know if he was going to marry her when he got through with his second 100 flight emissions that he signed up for I know that she her name was Carla that's what her mother named her and that they lived in Vietnam for 10 years and then her mother married another air Force guy but he was not a pilot he was one of the mechanics or something and he adopted her and she said she had a nice life traveling all over the world and that she came here to miss you again that should be she came here to Michigan and visited in Holly but none of his family knew that about her rather she's married now and lives in Utah I just wonder if Carl was going to marry her mother before she had the baby

[@donnapierce2906]

Do you know if he was going to marry her and bring her back to the United States when she had the baby I know we came home to Holly here in Michigan and no one knew that she had been born she came here and when she was like 30 years old and no one ever knew of her and his brother had been killed in a car accident his aunt wasn't here his father had died and his mother lived in New Mexico but nobody knew anything about it I was just wondering before he died if he was going to marry her and bring her home with him

[@Gryronaut]

thats one big ass plane

[@ChesterKitty01]

What is the name of the aviator at 8:13 or so meow who talks about why-meow he is continuing to fly on a second 100 mission tour?? Did he survive or was he shot-down-meow?

[@ChesterKitty01]

whiff1962 Do you know the name of the pilot who appears at 8:13 to explain his decision to fly a second tour of 100 missions, or not?

[@whiff1962]

Chester Kitty Read the comments section, Einstein.

[@ChesterKitty01]

whiff1962 yup-meow - now I see it (was previously only viewing your replies to me, not full comment stream). Thanks +Gregory R!

[@gallantrycross]

Lt. Karl Richter was awarded the Air Force Cross, Silver Star, 4 DFC's and a couple dozen Air Medals. Great guy, the kind of guy you want on your side. He ejected but slammed into a cliff in his parachute and died on the rescue copter.

[@yellowhammer4747]

Damn. True hard charger!

[@724bigal]

@ZenosWarbirds How long to up load this video to youtube? Thx

[@A_Man_In_His_Van]

Moustache rides for all the ladies!

[@Shogun459]

Anyone seen film of Maj. A.F. Britt? F-105 pilot, Raided Paul Doumer Bridge Oct. 27 1967, lead 20 plane strike force. Crashed at Saigon Airfield collided with C-123 Possibly unmarked. 2 died, one received AFC for running into burning aircraft to save crewmate. Maj. Britt killed instantly. Need to know.

[@ZenosWarbirds]

Like what you see? Your DVD purchases at our store make this channel possible. www.zenosflightshop.com Don't miss our F-105 Thunderchiefs Go to War" DVD.bit.ly/MAUGyl We need your support! Zeno

[@umbertocantelli2688]

Who are the 40 pieces of .... who dislike this video?

[@tomrevitt]

I think I saw this in OTS 1969

[@wa40175]

Do you have any videos of F-105 or F-4 Wild Weasle missions (Air defense suppression) over Vietnam? My mother was crew chief of one of the last active duty F-4s at Eglin AFB, she would love to see that if you have it. In fact thats how she met my step-father, he was working on her aircraft without talking to her first and she gave him all kinds of hell, still does to this day though they are retired, and both are members of the association of Old Crows. YGTBSM!

[@Kyiw420]

Don’t tell anyone but. I know a person that was deployed in 66 and accidentally hit a viet Cong ammunition supplier.

[@dks13827]

The F105 Wild Weasels............ their patch had on it.... Y.G.B.S.M.

[@dks13827]

Who is the red headed young pilot ?

[@dks13827]

Who is the red head pilot ?

[@dks13827]

Who is the red headed F-105 pilot ?

[@bloodkaren6993]

Feeling good qj