U.S. AIR FORCE " THERE IS A WAY " F-105 THUNDERCHIEF IN VIETNAM WAR KORAT AFB PART I 24914

[@bvelliot]

My father, Les Elliott, was the principal photographer of this film. He was a civilian working for the 1352nd Film Group at Lookout Mountain AFB in Hollywood. He flew four actual missions to get the combat footage, including the images of the SAM missiles coming at them. He thought highly of Carl Richter, and all the pilots really. He was close with Robbie Risner. When the POWs arrived at Andrews AFB, Risner was one of the first out of the plane. I woke my dad up to watch. When I turned to see my dad’s reaction, he was crying. The only time I ever saw him do that.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

We're really thrilled to have your father's work on our channel. Thank you for your comment.

[@bvelliot]

I just realized I wrote “When the POWs arrived at Andrews AFB.” It was Travis AFB. My mistake.

[@94Whiskey]

Your father did great work documenting these warriors of the air....and the hard work put in by ground crews. Future generation need to know and understand the past! Thank u again for your father's great work!

[@darkknight1340]

Your father was a fantastic film maker,did he pursue this line of work when he left the airforce?.

[@bvelliot]

@@darkknight1340 He became a photographer in the Navy during WW2. He worked for the Navy as a civilian at China Lake (Naval Weapons Testing) in the early ‘50s filming the development of air-to-air missiles. He responded to a “help wanted” ad in the LA Times for “Photographers with Military Experience Wanted” in 1953. This was when he began working for the 1352nd at Lookout Mountain Air Force Station (there is a Wikipedia page). The initial focus of their work was filming nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific and Nevada. When the Test Ban Treaty went into effect, the focus shifted to the Air Force’s role in Viet Nam.

[@FlyingAceAV8B]

What I love most about watching these old videos that show the most basic squadron life is how similar it was to my squadron and Afghanistan experience. I see the same sense of humor that existed decades prior was also present when I was a young know nothing boot pilot. As much as I sometimes feel that I missed out on the greatest time in military jet aviation, I am more than thankful to have had the opportunity to fly some of the greatest machines man ever built in my own time. The men in this video were brave heroes because they faced an actual defensive capability and put their lives on the line over multiple tours. This should never be forgotten regardless of the evils of every war mankind has ever fought. To those who never made it back home, rest in peace. No better way to go than in blazing glory doing what you love.

[@donnapierce2906]

I just love seeing Carl ricker in these videos because I loved him I dated him I wish you would have came home

[@SAA11572]

That Lt. Rasimus is Ed Rasimus, who wrote two excellent books on his experience flying out of Thailand. The first, “When Thunder Rolled”, is about his time flying F-105s. The second book, “Palace Cobra”, is about what happened after his first tour and his eventual return to flying F-4s during the latter part of the war. Both are excellent books with an honest view of flying in that war. Some of the other pilots in this movie show up in Rasimus’ first book as well.

[@dmutant2635]

Maybe you've read John Trotti's book about flying F-4's with the Marines in Vietnam?

[@SAA11572]

@@dmutant2635 Read that also; great book. Also “Over the Beach” by Zalin Grant; great book about naval aviation and in particular VF-162.

[@Praetoras]

@@SAA11572 He also helped Robin Olds with his book "Fighter Pilot".

[@charlesbukowski9836]

Didn't he have some negative remarks about Jack Broughton?

[@SAA11572]

@@charlesbukowski9836 Not in his books AFAIK

[@udaloop86]

This is excellent. Raw, real and such a valuable record of the courage of those Thud crews and their support crews.

[@ernestsabatino826]

Was at takli afb, Thailand when this was filmed, 65 to January 66. Can't believe it's been that long. Aircraft recovery maintenance.

[@richroylance4630]

If I understand correctly, most of the air to ground missions in vietnam were flown by the F-105, and they took the heaviest losses. These guys were tough !

[@tristanholland6445]

Most of the missions flown into North Vietnam by the USAF was the F-105. They were all stationed at air bases in Thailand. It was the primary strike aircraft for the Air Force for Rolling Thunder(operations in North Vietnam). In South Vietnam the primary CAS aircraft where F-100 and F-4.

[@dmutant2635]

Out of roughly 750+ F-105's built, about a third were lost over Vietnam.

[@timroach5260]

I served in the 6010 and 17th Wild Weasel Squadron as a crew chief at Korat. This video brought back many memories...I could almost smell the flight line and jet exhaust again...

[@kaypie3112]

Wow. A rare chance to see and hear Karl Richter speak. A legend.

[@lucasner463]

I didn't recognize any of the other pilots...but to see and hear Richter was quite the privilege.

[@dmutant2635]

I'd read about Karl Richter but it was nice getting to actually see him in this film.

[@johngriffiths118]

Shot down on mission 198 according to Wiki . Nearly made it through two back to back tours . Youngest Mig killer at that time . RIP

[@donnapierce2906]

@@johngriffiths118 did you know karl richter? i live in michigan dated him when he came home on leave do nna

[@wastedapathy22]

I recognized some of the other pilots Ed Rasimus mentioned in “When Thunder Rolled”. Major Bill Lloyd is right at the beginning, “Spider” Spelius is the other pilot they interviewed before Raz, and I’m pretty sure Capt. “Wimpey” Peake and his “Poirot mustache”, as Raz described it, is seen later in the film.

[@yuvegotmale]

In the 60s my dad had a small plane (taylorcraft bc12d) and I flew quite a bit with him. I was 15 in 1966 and had a interest in the planes flying in the VN conflict. My brother was in the AF and in 66 was based at Da Nang and when he came home he gave me his olive drab shirt that had a patch of the RF 101 Voodoo...dang I loved wearing that kaki shirt. I went in the Navy in 68 and my first duty station was NavSupAct Da Nang. I got to the air base a few times to look at the aircraft but could never get very close to them. In 2017 I visited my son in Hong Kong and as a surprse he scheduled a trip for us to Viet Nam. We landed in what I still call Saigon and then a flight up to Da Nang. We landed on the old AFB air strip...some of the original protective buildings are still standing. I still can recall a sign at the Da Nang air base that said Welcome to the 15th airel port...this was in 1969. I tried to find my old base (camp Tien Sha)...was not easy ...so many things have changed. It is now a VN naval base and they wanted no part of us being any where near the main gate. Part of that main gate was left over from when I was there. Always loved the Thud.....

[@dmutant2635]

This is great cinema. Thanks for posting these films.

[@Thunder_6278]

The film is in terrific shape, almost can't tell this was almost 60 years ago.

[@無我-u3d]

best Vietnam War time videos

[@jds6206]

The dog at around 27:00. From Kadena, Okinawa. Sorry the fellow who brought him was shot down. Anyway, that dog is so typical of the yellow shorthair "mutt" found all over Okinawa. Only after those dogs end up in the company of Americans, do they fill out and look pretty good. I'm a retired Marine who served three tours on a peace-time Okinawa.....

[@surlyogre1476]

This _so_ reminds me of the old Air Force Now films shown at Commander's Call in the '70s.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Check our channel we have posted a lot of "Air Force Now" episodes. Thanks for your service to our great nation. Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference. Join this channel to get access to perks: kzbin.info/door/ddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0gjoin

[@ernestsabatino826]

Brings back a lot of bad memories!!!!!!!

[@rl64rl]

Ed Rasimus, “FOD!” Luv it!

[@ionhunter]

7 Dirty Hippies voted thumbs down.

[@kraziivan_]

9:30 I wish we would have stopped it there man.

[@lukefleming1822]

Wish I could find the recording of Red River Valley

[@chrismartin1956]

While not the exact version heard at the opening, the song itself is on here in Dick Jonas’s cover. The song is called “Teak Lead.” kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqWteXmHh82rpM0

[@aquatecpoolservice4547]

Great plane except we flew them around @ like 15k over weight, stall speed was just under mach and you had to deploy the arresting chute @ 50'. Otherwise just a joy to fly.

[@CrownOfGoldCompleatSacrifice_2]

Not sure if I should go to the doctor or if I should just go back to work

[@Callsigncowabunga]

Does anyone know the name of the song in the beginning? I can’t find it anywhere and no lyric database I’ve tried seems to find a match.

[@theauralucario60]

The basis of the song is “Red River Valley”, the lyrics are changed to fit the attitudes of the pilots. It seems to be called "Teak Lead" by Dick Jonas albeit with some minor changes. Come and sit by my side at the briefing. We will sit there and tickle the beads. Then we'll head for the Red River Valley, and today I'll be flying Teak Lead. To the valley he said he was flying, with the thought of the fame to be earned. Many jockeys have flown through the valley, and a number have never returned.

[@jrhamp]

Richter is memorialized by a statute at the Air Force Academy.

[@mwbright]

It's kind of like if Harley Davidson made a fighter jet.

[@aquatecpoolservice4547]

Exactly

[@mihaildudarov3425]

A good fighter, but the losses were still horrible by SAM and artillery.

[@paullittle9187]

I was an infant when all of this was filmed.

[@donnapierce2906]

Do you any of you pilots remember Carl ricker I would love to know if he ever mentioned me and coming home Donna Pierce I hope he didn't love the girl in Vietnam I didn't know about her at the time could you please tell me if he really did I will be there a disappointed but love is love I guess got to follow your 💜

[@劉家宏-n6f]

12:08 什麼 歌名

[@Benne6666]

ho wonderful ! what the fisrt music pls ??? :)

[@johnt.4947]

"Red River Valley". Very popular ballad sung by many artists over the years.

[@Mishn0]

@@johnt.4947 Except these lyrics are different from the traditional ballad. It's sung by a group of USAF pilots with the words changed to reflect the Red River Valley missions over Hanoi.

[@johnt.4947]

@@Mishn0 Thanks for the info!

[@spookyfizz]

This is one of my favorites.

[@giancarlogarlaschi4388]

Meanwhile Mr. Robert Mc Namara and his cronnies were backstabbing this Men ! 😠😠😠

[@donnapierce2906]

I just replied in a reply about night flying and I said sells Vietnam repairing everything I meant to say the North Vietnam army not the South I meant the North

[@almondsnackbar4969]

The THUD.

[@ernestsabatino826]

105 recovery squadron.

[@PauloPereira-jj4jv]

The last fighter of Republic.

[@RaulRodriguez-bq4nj]

Americans know how to make war propaganda and the heroes come in six packs.

[@ptolemy7783]

if this is what you understood from the film, you must be a sixth-grade boy...

[@davidraper6178]

Heil fire

[@robertfonovic3551]

10 years fighting a 3rd world country, and the US still lost. bahaha

[@maxcorder2211]

Tell it to LBJ and RSM.

[@arthurpearson3407]

Politicians lost the thing!! No will!!

[@rodzor]

South Vietnam lost. It's hard to say the US lost when they were just there in support. They had left the country years before the fall of Saigon.

[@billynomates920]

that poor bastard going on about communism and hawaii and shit city

[@tman651]

☠☠☠