Wild Weasel...

Interesting...

Helpful bump...

The last Phantom Weasels to fire shots in anger were Idaho Air Guard...

Very cool!

...test...

3, 2, 1...

I'd like a second helping of weasel please...

So were the Hun Misty flights. Two tanks and a canister of WP rockets.

Yeah, the Hun Weasels were seriously gutsy. No ARMs, just the RHAW gear to locate the site, and the kill was done with rockets, bombs, and cannon fire. 

Revenant

 

We need more weasel! 

 

How about more Weasel handiwork?

I spoke to one of guys in the first operational weasel crew--last name, Lamb---back in the 90's...he flew in the 100...

We need more weasel! 

The original Wild Weasel, the F-100F

Prototype

The first SAM site killer

The original Weasel Crews

More weasel please...

Revenant

I love me some Wild Weasel...

 

WW Hunter Killer team, 1991

I love me some Wild Weasel...

stikpusher

 

fermis

...That a museum bird, though?

Guess it could go either way. I've found pics of F-18D's with the stick in back, too. My bro did say that it is there, sometimes, but never on a combat mission(in his experience).

 

 

 

 

True, but that 105G was likely restored to operational configuration there. The Gs were conversions of F airframes.

Looking at my copy of "Wild Weasel", photos there show a rear cockpit stick. Evryhting I can turn up online so far makes no mention of the rear cokpit stick being removed.

 

Very interesting question and one I never thought about as most if not all USAF planes have dual controls unlike the Navy.

All I have found on line is that both F and Gs did have dual controls. Here is a Scale & Detail picture of the rear G pit:

http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Profiles/Detail-Scale/08-Republic-F-105/08-F-105-Thunderchief_Page_39-960

Revenant

Didn't the Navy fly the same type of mission that they called 'Iron Hand?'

 

Yes, but they use a different doctrine, and aside from the A-6B, had no specific aircraft type for the Iron Hand role. Instead any Attack aircraft that could carry an ARM and/or CBUs was used in the Iron Hand role from any of the squadrons in the Carrier Air Wing. A-4s, A-6s, and A-7s flew the role in Vietnam. F/A-18s were tasked since Libya in 1986.

Airforce doctrine gives the guy in back full controls. Navy doesn't. 

Didn't the Navy fly the same type of mission that they called 'Iron Hand?'

fermis

...That a museum bird, though?

Guess it could go either way. I've found pics of F-18D's with the stick in back, too. My bro did say that it is there, sometimes, but never on a combat mission(in his experience).

 

True, but that 105G was likely restored to operational configuration there. The Gs were conversions of F airframes.

Looking at my copy of "Wild Weasel", photos there show a rear cockpit stick. Evryhting I can turn up online so far makes no mention of the rear cokpit stick being removed.

...That a museum bird, though?

Guess it could go either way. I've found pics of F-18D's with the stick in back, too. My bro did say that it is there, sometimes, but never on a combat mission(in his experience).

fermis

Question....since I've started on a pair of these (105's)...

Would there be a stick for the G.I.B.?

My bro is a WSO (G.I.B.) on F/A-18D's, and he said that there is almost never a stick back there (on the 18)...since he is busy, doing his job and watching out for traffic/enemy, removing the stick keeps it from getting bumped, and out of the way, etc. He did say there is a "nub" left, where the stick attaches, so he can, and has, "flown the nub"...but it's not at all practical, cuz ya gotta bend down to reach it, so ya can't see outside!

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Photos.aspx?igphoto=2000474908

Question....since I've started on a pair of these (105's)...

Would there be a stick for the G.I.B.?

My bro is a WSO (G.I.B.) on F/A-18D's, and he said that there is almost never a stick back there (on the 18)...since he is busy, doing his job and watching out for traffic/enemy, removing the stick keeps it from getting bumped, and out of the way, etc. He did say there is a "nub" left, where the stick attaches, so he can, and has, "flown the nub"...but it's not at all practical, cuz ya gotta bend down to reach it, so ya can't see outside!

Revenant

What plane in history was the most effective wild-weasel, in your opinion and why?  

 

As much as I love the F-105, and it truly wrote the book on Wild Weasels, all things considered, I would have to say that the most effective Weasel is the F-4G. In 1991 they truly tore the Iraqi air defense system to shreds in short order. And that system was every bit as deadly as that of North Vietnam. The F-4G retained air to air ability with AIM-7 Sparrows, which by 1991 were far more lethal and reliable than in 1965-1972, as well as the ability to carry all US ARM types. Plus it had the ability to carry other "fire and forget" PGMs such as the AGM-65 Maverick, or GBU-15 that could be used to stand off precision strike inactive sites that could not be targeted with ARMs and "dumb bombs" would put the aircraft in a higher threat area.

Dont forget Merlyn  Dethlefsen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlyn_Hans_Dethlefsen

Revenant

Leo?  Who is Leo?  

 

We need more Wild Weasel in here!!!

 

Just in case you are not kidding:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_K._Thorsness

Thorsness.

Leo?  Who is Leo?  

We need more Wild Weasel in here!!!

This link is for an episode of Dogfights that was on the History Channel a few years ago, but this one is called "Long Odds" and discusses Leo's Mig Kill while flying a F-105 over Vietnam. It's inspiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eDPyvyt-MQ

NATO has very good service from the Tornado ECR. Of course now SEAD is the work of drones.

Gotta love the F-105 though.

Revenant

 

Wish someone would build build that Trumpeter offering so I can see how well it builds...