Striving for Air Superiority: The Tactical Air Command in Vietnam

176 Pages·2001·6.09 MB·English

by  Craig C. Hannah

striving for air superiority
TEXAS7A&M6UNIVERSIT
Y
✩ ✩
MILITARYHISTORY SERIES

Striving for
Air Superiority
the tactical air command in vietnam
Craig C. Hannah
Texas A&M University Press
College Station
Copyright(cid:1)2002byCraigC.Hannah
ManufacturedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
Allrightsreserved
Firstedition
Thepaperusedinthisbookmeetstheminimumrequirements
oftheAmericanNationalStandardforPermanence
ofPaperforPrintedLibraryMaterials,Z39.48-1984.
Bindingmaterialshavebeenchosenfordurability.
o
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Hannah,CraigC.1969–
Strivingforairsuperiority:theTacticalAirCommandinVietnam/CraigC.
Hannah—1sted.
p.cm.—(TexasA&MUniversitymilitaryhistoryseries;76)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN1-58544-146-5(cloth:alk.paper)
1. VietnameseConflict,1961–1975—Aerialoperations,American. 2. United
States. AirForce.TacticalAirCommand. 3. Airplanes,Military—United
States. I. Title. II. Series.
DS558.8.H382001
959.704(cid:1)348—dc21 2001002411
To all of those who honorably served their country;
to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom;
to the families and friends of those who never came home;
and to my wife, Melanie, for her love, patience, and understanding.

Contents
List of Illustrations ix
List of Tables xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction 3
Chapter 1. Politics and Perceptions 21
Chapter 2. Higher, Faster, Mediocre 31
Chapter 3. Unprepared by Design 44
Chapter 4. “We’re a Little Lacking There” 67
Chapter 5. An Out-and-Out Crime 89
Chapter 6. The Eagle Soars 106
Notes 113
Bibliography 127
Index 137

Illustrations
following page 66
Four Republic F-105D Thunderchiefs in a diamond formation
Fastest gunfighters in the world
A restored F-86E Sabre
An ace and his Sabre
A restored MiG-15 Fagot
The small but deadly MiG-17 Fresco
Two Air National Guard F-100D Super Sabres in formation
Lockheed’s “missile with a man in it,” the F-104 Starfighter
Convair’s F-102 Delta Dagger
Five F-105 Thunderchiefs in flight
Lt. Jim Ray and his F-105D
F-105D pilot Col. Kennith F. Hite celebrates
McDonnell’s first production F-4 Phantom II undergoing tests
Soviet MiG-21 Fishbed
An F-4C Phantom II with an SUU-16 gun pod
An Iron Hand strike force refuels
F-105F Thunderchief “Wild Weasel”
F-4G Wild Weasel
Two Vought F8 Crusaders