Vietnam MiG Killer Reconciles with Former Enemy (ep. 175)

Robert Dosé was a #ww2 fighter #pilot who downed an Imperial Japanese #aircraft. Thirty years later, his son Curtis downed a Vietnamese #mig21, making them the only father-son duo to each achieve aerial victories in #combat.
"Dozo," as Curt is known, joins us this week to describe the May 10, 1972 engagement and reconciliation with his former enemy 40+ years later. A #topgun graduate and #testpilot, Dozo also performed much of the #aircraftcarrier suitability testing on the #f14tomcat.
00:00:50 Who is Robert Dosé?
00:13:06 Heading to Vietnam
00:23:05 Selected for TOPGUN
00:39:24 Blue Bandits
00:54:30 Test Pilot School
00:58:32 The F-14 Tomcat
01:12:09 Joining the Reserves
01:15:07 Reconciling with the Past
01:26:48 Listener Questions
01:32:03 Quickly Deployed
01:34:26 TOPGUN Curriculum
01:42:11 Callsign Story
#fighterpilot Podcast
Website: www.fighterpil...
Facebook: / fighterpilotpodcast
Instagram: / fighterpilotpodcast
Patreon: / ftrpltpdcst

[@GRiMFoX11]

I absolutely love how you add accurate pictures and videos to the stories of your guest.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks.

[@danielcamacho4166]

​@FighterPilotPodcast me too don't stop

[@stevenhill1287]

Um, talking Navy Phantoms and showing an Air Force Phantom? That I'd like to see get cleaned up. Also, the Fleet Air Arm Torpedo bomber, there's plenty of relevant images of USN types accurate to the time period. However, your interviews are OUTSTANDING! I'm hanging on every word! 😎👍

[@bearowen5480]

Jello, another great biographical piece on an amazing Naval Aviator career and life. As a Marine aviator of similar vintage to Dozo, one thing that really stood out to me was how little time he had in the RAG before he was injected unceremoniously into a deployed squadron in the middle of very hot combat off Yankee Station with no air wing workups to get him better prepared. That is stunning to say the least! I can't even imagine such a bewildering baptism by fire. Bravo Zulu, Dozo! There was some confusion about shipboard landing aids and Dozo's dad's feat of making the first US (the Brits were first) carrier landing with the mirror glideslope system. To clarify and set the record straight: the mirror was curved horizontally and concentrated the orangish amber light of a row of lights into a single reflection of an orange dot known as the "meatball" due to its color. The reflected meatball was projected out to the pilot's eyes at a 3° angle to the flight deck. A row of green datum lights on each side of the meatball gave the pilot a reference to the perfect glide path for an engagement of the 3 wire if flown accurately by the pilot. It was not a Fresnel lens. The drawback of the system was that the mirror was hard mounted to the ship, so the pitching of the deck caused the visual glideslope to fluctuate up and down from the pilot's perspective, forcing him to mentally "average out" the ups and downs to fly a smooth and accurate pass. The Fresnel lens was develooed to eliminate this problem. The meatball projected by the lens was a directional beam that could be gyro-stabilized to eliminate the glideslope fluctuations created by a pitching deck. It had limits as to how much deck pitch it could compensate for, but it was a helluva lot better than the mirror. The key variable as always to safe landings aboard ship was and continues to be the LSO. Hopefully when you do a segment with an LSO on the podcast you will get a clearer explanation of these details than I as a humble Jarhead aviator just did!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, Bear. In fact i have an interview planned with a couple LSOs later this month.

[@grrfy]

A very moving story of reconcilliation.Thank You both,from the UK.

[@spencerb311]

Curt Dosé is a legend. I was first introduced to him when I was younger on one of my favorite episodes of history channels dogfights. If you search Dogfights Bloodiest Day you can find the story he tells.

[@joemd7775]

This episode is one of the best! Thank you Jello and team. Also nice to hear about the Phantom/Crusader against the Convair Deltas.

[@RCFlyBoy314]

FPP live! Finally got to catch one on release! Been listening for years and am finally caught up to all the episodes

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Enjoy!

[@RCFlyBoy314]

Always do, Captain! Thank you! - SKW Mx

[@BasedF-15Pilot]

The rear facing F-4 RIO was hilarious. Imagine Soviet intel combing over all that film and trying to decide if this was American warmachine innovation or just trolling. Also the reconciliation story was interesting, and touching.

[@dmutant2635]

Used to read about this father and son act in Tailhook. Looking forward to the interview.

[@wesleyjamison4442]

First time here. What an interesting podcast. You seem to have the ability to bring out the best in the individual being interviewed. Growing up during the Vietnam war added a lot of interest. Thank you both for your service.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you 🙏

[@paladin0654]

Great piece. Thanks Jell-O and Dozo. I'm guessing Curt got his call sign from his "what missiles?" sortie on his nugget cruise.

[@mikewysko2268]

Fascinating interview. Thanks guys! 😎 😎

[@rostamr4096]

What a gentle man and amazing story. Thanks for sharing. He looks like Clint Eastwood kinda

[@troyledbetter6597]

Exceptional interview and such humble person.

[@Whitesp44]

One of my favorites. Wow. Just incredible

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Agreed. hope for humanity.

[@dutchholland6928]

Wow, this one was one of the best interviews you’ve done Jell-O. Intense, gripping…. The reality of it all. Wow. I’m speechless. Great job Jell-O. -Harbs

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, Harbs! 🙏

[@TorToroPorco]

I let out a loud laugh when Robert made the turkey sounds, one of the funniest stories I’ve heard from an ex Tomcat pilot.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

😅

[@arnie24070127]

What a legend

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, and how about my guest?! 🤣

[@arnie24070127]

@@FighterPilotPodcast here's a questio/idea for you Jell-O who was the Pat McAfee ready room clown that was also superb at their craft. It's not Sunshine I know that. Every organization has those big personality dudes.

[@Mtlmshr]

A4 is one of my all time favorite Aircraft!

[@pendulum1997]

Incredible episode with an incredible guest. What a life! The story about the reconciliation was jaw dropping. Thank you Jello you make walking the dog that bit more interesting

[@stijnvandamme76]

You gotta find Hawk Monroe for this podcast.. he was same era, also worked on the Tomcat program LSO boss on the first Tomcat cruise, Topgun CO, fought Hoser at AceAimval.. And CJ Heater Heatley,F4's, 4477th at Tonopah, Tomcats

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Been working on Heater for awhile now. Elusive bugger...

[@cmdrpepelluce5375]

Thank you so much for this episode ❤

[@taproom113]

Awesome show, Jell-O! BZ to you and Dozo. Thank you both for your service and sacrifices. PS - If he'd been flyin' a Crusader, he'da been an Ace! ;-) F-8's Forever ... Skal! ^v^

[@ulvar51]

Thx for the great patreon-patch i got in my mail, love it!!! ... and thank you for a fantastic episode.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome x2! 😎

[@johnferguson1455]

Great interview, always enjoy you and your guests.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏

[@mohammadalzahrani7788]

the best Podcast channel on youtube ty for ur efforts , i have an issue with auto transltion in this vieo since im not english speaker it help me to understand some words , thank you big love .

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You’re welcome

[@Pwj579]

@26:50 F-4 vs F-8s furballs sounds awesome.

[@algeils9789]

The history and stories were awesome 🫡🇺🇸

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks!

[@vspecnurr34]

Absolutely fantastic episode

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you! I was blown away during the reconciliation story.

[@mikegage4933]

Sorry I missed seeing you at RARA but was privileged to sit in the seat of the jet sporting the podcasts name!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Excellent!

[@spookbok]

Top class. Thanks FPP!

[@steveyoung7669]

Imagine those grandkids at 'show & tell'; My Grandfather AND Great Grandfather are MIG Killer fighter pilots...WOW.

[@indy500tabasco8]

❤❤great stories, great podcast❤❤

[@steveyoung7669]

I was at PAX at the same time Sir. NAS Weapons 72'-74'.

[@Dra741]

I love The Sidewinder missile because it is a gift from God,, it really paid off

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

Were throttle slams possible with the F-4B/J ?

[@bearowen5480]

Yes, there were some flameouts or rollbacks that resulted from rapid or jam reductions in throttle from mil/max power to idle. The problem lay in the fuel control unit. This was corrected by a design change to the unit, and in the F-4s I flew, there were no limitations on throttle inputs.

[@christopherskuster6029]

Great one here Jell-O!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏

[@fredsalfa]

Incredible story and an incredible life

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

#hopeforhumanity

[@raggen5039]

He said he had no sidewinders left, but he still had four sparrows. Why couldn't he use the sparrows to engage them? Thanks for all the entertaining and informative content.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Sparrows require a radar lock and have a longer minimum range, making them less effective in a dogfight.

[@bsc9399]

Nice video and flying wish I would have made it

[@susanjones2701]

Avery good videoSir.

[@Dra741]

Wow Top Gun, you have to be for real to get in there

[@tonymanero5544]

Jello, as a taxpayer, modern aircraft today cost $200 million; the B-1 is $1 billion each, the B-21 will cost $2 billion. The Ford cost $12 billion to bill. The Bonn Homme Richard will cost $2 billion to replace due to fire loss. These numbers require risk free management.

[@tomwilson1006]

$2 billion to replace LHD 6 (BR)? You’re a little low there, they’d have to replace it with an LHA-class costing at least $4.1 billion according to the Navy in 2020.

[@dogsbd]

I am much more concerned about where the vast majority of my tax dollars are spent with little or no oversight... and it's certainly not the defense department.

[@etma01]

legend

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, and how 'bout that guest?! 🤣

[@etma01]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Lols! You qualify...just! Thanks for another epic episode

[@Dra741]

There must be a bit of a fright when you first see your enemy combatants, shiny mig's

[@MrLeewsee]

I am encouraged to see that Honor still trump politics.

[@markcorrigan3930]

1:18:00

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Hope for humanity.

[@markcorrigan3930]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Indeed.

[@brianford8493]

what a dude.....the meeting of the family of the chap he took down was deeply moving,

[@dutchbrotherfan1284]

I was wanting to do a diorama of a NVA MIG-21 in close proximity to a navy F-4 Phantom in 1/72 scale.. this just may be the jump off point for that build

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Except it wasn’t NVA.

[@RCAvhstape]

Don't forget the Soviet markings.

[@dks13827]

One of your best shows !! thank you. AZ

[@DarkOmenX]

Amazing , everything, specialy the reconciliation part . unbelivable .

[@ramal5708]

1:05:00 onwards is a funny story about the F-14

[@singhson1061]

Great guest and great episode Jell-O!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks!

[@robmiles233]

Another outstanding episode.THANK YOU Jello and the whole BVR team. 10/10!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏🎉

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

So glad we are getting a record of all this. Sounds like you had a fabulous RIO with the eyes and SA of a hawk

[@bbsot1]

That was amazing. I remember him from the History Chanel's Dogfights series.What a badass and a great guy.

[@franzkoviakalak6981]

Cool now maybe we can take a page from this book and avoid the proxy war from turning to a very brief but apocalyptic WW3.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Not the same thing.

[@Truth_Hurts528]

Never! To the last Ukrainian.....

[@maynardholmes8870]

Separated at birth, the guest and the late great Bobby Beathard those that are San Diego’s know what I’m talking about

[@rostamr4096]

hit a savage? what does that mean?

[@Tekkx_Avery]

MIG-Killer? ILMAO! The "Phantom" wasn't intended for dogfight. It had not even a Gun.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

True, and yet, many Phantoms achieved aerial victories.

[@decler-gt7nu]

Bozo" is the pilot that actually took Tom Cruise up in a fighter jet for Top Gun ,,fun fact 😁

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Ok, but why mention that here?

[@1jbunceiii]

I watched this guy on the history channel....he's awesome

[@osmoregulatoryorgan]

I listen to these at 1.25 or 1.5 speed while I work so I can fit more episodes in during the day. Almost due for a re-listen of the F-4 Phantom episodes actually.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Me too!

[@pinchus34]

This is exactly what we've come to expect from you...great add to a great podcast/vid-cast. Thanks!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🤩

[@anthonymiller7992]

Awe! Getting ready to launch, can't wait to see it wiz by, 0 to 60 in 1 second Doing 5mph as he passes the crowd Sweet, awesome! Thanks for the upload! Great video man LMFAO

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I'm glad you're laughing, I have no clue what's going on.

[@anthonymiller7992]

@@FighterPilotPodcast I was poking fun at the jet truck Lol

[@VladimirRegalado-i6v]

It is incredible for me (former combat pilot) to see here in the USA how the Vietnamese pilots scored down MIGs, without any objective control, did you know what the MIG production was at that time in the 1970s in the URS, did you know that there were 16 socialist and other non-socialist countries that operated MIG, how are you going to say that they demolished so many migs, migs that did not exist,????

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Are you suggesting our guest is lying?