The Forgotten Americans of the Vietnam War October 1969
Louis R. Stockstill
Air Force Magazine's October 1969 cover story, "The
Forgotten Americans of the Vietnam War," ignited national
concern for the prisoners of war and missing in action. It was
reprinted in condensed form as the lead article in the November
1969 issue of Reader's Digest, and was inserted into the
Congressional Record on six different occasions. The article stirred
the conscience of the nation and rallied millions to the cause
of the POWs and MIAs.
The Evolution of Fighter Tactics in SEA
July 1973
By Gen. William W. Momyer
At a luncheon honoring this year's Mackay Trophy winners--the
three USAF Vietnam aces--the Commander of Tactical Air Command,
who had previously headed Seventh Air Force in Vietnam, talked
about tactical fighter operations during the eight years of Air
Force combat in Southeast Asia. Here, adapted from that address,
is an analysis by USAF's most experienced air tactician . . .
The Lessons of Vietnam March 1983
By Gen. T. R. Milton
It has been a decade since the United States signed the Paris
Peace Accords. That agreement signaled the American withdrawal
from Vietnam. It did not end the influence of that undeclared
war on this nation.
Blind Bat July 1989
By Sam McGowan
Four-engine fighters, phantom friendlies, duels with
flak guns, and other tales from the forgotten world of
the flareships.
The Decision to Fight (Editorial) May 1991
Editorial by John T. Correll
Desert Storm set the right example for when
and how US troops should be committed to combat.
From
Vietnam to Desert Storm January 1992
By John D. Morrocco
US commanders in the Persian Gulf War had
fought the Vietnam War and were determined not to repeat the
mistakes.
Weighing the Evidence on POWs July 1993
By Robert S. Dudney
A Senate panel finds it "arithmetically
impossible" that large numbers were left, but a Soviet document
rekindles doubt.
The Confessions of Robert S. McNamara (Editorial) June 1995
By John T. Correll
He still has not learned the
real lessons of the Vietnam War.
The
Son Tay Raid November 1995
By C.V. Glines
Twenty-five years ago this month, US forces
mounted a POW rescue mission deep into North Vietnam.
Linebacker
II November 1997
By Walter J. Boyne
Not since World
War II had bombers been employed in an operation of this scope.
After 11 days of bombing, Hanoi was ready for peace negotiations.
Dereliction of Duty
January 1998
The author of a blockbuster book says the
Vietnam War was lost in Washington before the US armed forces
were fully deployed and committed.
The
Young Tigers and Their Friends June 1998
By Walter J. Boyne
Sometimes the tanker crews bent the rules
to ensure that strike aircraft, critically low on fuel, made
it home.
Airpower
at Khe Sanh August 1998
By Walter J. Boyne
The North Vietnamese thought it was Dien Bien
Phu all over again. They thought wrong.
The
Easter Halt September 1998
By Walter J. Boyne
In the spring of 1972, a North Vietnamese
invasion was stopped and then turned back by US airpower.
MiG
Sweep November 1998
By Walter J. Boyne
The North Vietnamese thought they were attacking
bomb-laden F-105s. What they ran into was Robin Olds and the
Wolfpack, flying Phantom F-4s.
The
Plain of Jars June 1999
By Walter J. Boyne
The "secret" war in Laos was a sideshow
to the main war in Vietnam-and the crossroads of it lay here.
Honor
Bound August 1999
By Stewart M. Powell
A Pentagon study provides new details-about
bravery, torture, and endurance-on the experience of American
POWs in Vietnam.
Route
Pack 6 November 1999
By Walter J. Boyne
It was the most dangerous of the "Route
Packages," taking airmen into the deadly defenses around
Hanoi.
The
Use of Force December 1999
By John T. Correll
Gradual escalation--supposedly dead after
Vietnam--is staging a comeback.
The
Fall of Saigon April 2000
By Walter J. Boyne
Twenty-five years ago this month, the Vietnam
War came to an end with bewildering speed.
Ranch
Hand August 2000
By Walter J. Boyne
Even then, the defoliation missions over Vietnam
were controversial.
The
Misty FACs Return October 2000
By Richard Newman
Six fighter pilots went to see again the rugged
backcountry in Vietnam where they had once flown and fought.
Red
Flag November 2000
By Walter J. Boyne
The world-famous combat training exercise
is 25 years old this month.
Pitsenbarger, Medal of Honor February 2001
By John T. Correll
At long last, the actions of the heroic PJ are fully
recognized.
Mule Train February 2001
By Walter J. Boyne
The airplanes were slow and ugly and they leaked,
but they were a lifeline for the Vietnamese ground
forces.
Fifty Years of the B-52 December 2001
By Walter J. Boyne
In the skies over Afghanistan, the Buff sees action
in yet another war.
Dixon March 2004
By Rebecca Grant
At Tactical Air Command, Gen. Robert Dixon helped
the Air Force kick the post-Vietnam blues.
The Courage of Lance Sijan July 2004
By John T. Correll
The ordeal in the jungle didn't break him. Neither
did his North Vietnamese captors.
The Guns of August 1964 (Editorial) August 2004
By Robert S. Dudney
The overall Air Force effort in the Vietnam War was enormous.
Dien Bien Phu August 2004
By Rebecca Grant
The great 1954 battle sucked US airmen into Indochina
and helped set the stage for the Vietnam War.
The Immortal Hercules August 2004
By Walter J. Boyne
The C-130 has turned out to be an airplane for the ages.
Vietnam Warrant (The Keeper File) August 2004
By Robert S. Dudney
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was not a formal declaration
of war, but it was the closest approximation that Congress
ever provided.
The Vietnam War Almanac September 2004
By John T. Correll
This almanac collects the numbers, dates, and key
facts about the USAF experience in Southeast Asia.
Into the Valley of Fire October 2004
By John T. Correll
If Bernie Fisher went into the airstrip at A Shau, his chances of coming out again would not be good.
Igloo White November 2004
By John T. Correll
It began as “the McNamara Line” across Vietnam. It led to the seeding of the Ho Chi Minh Trail by air with 20,000 sensors.
Impossible Odds in SAM-7 Alley December 2004
By John T. Correll
No pilot had ever survived an OV-10 ditching, but unless Steve Bennett tried it, his backseater would have no chance.
Disunity of Command January 2005
By John T. Correll
Unity of command—a long-held principle of war—was an early casualty in Vietnam.
Rolling Thunder March 2005
By John T. Correll
It was our best chance to knock North Vietnam out of the war, but it was doomed to failure.
20 Seconds Over Long Binh April 2005
By John T. Correll
A1C John Levitow, badly wounded, threw himself on the burning flare and dragged it to the cargo door—saving the entire crew of Spooky 71.
Full Day June 2005
By John T. Correll
Over the Red River delta, Leo Thorsness “took on most of North Vietnam all by himself.”
Rescue at Kham Duc October 2005
By John T. Correll
Joe Jackson put the C-123 into a steep dive toward the embattled airstrip, where three airmen had been left behind.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail November 2005
By John T. Correll
The outcome of the war depended on the infiltration of troops, weapons, and supplies through Laos into South Vietnam.
Farm Gate December 2005
By Darrel Whitcomb
In 1961, the Air Force took its first step into a very long war.
Calculated Courage at Thai Nguyen February 2006
By John T. Correll
Merlyn Dethlefsen pressed the attack on the SAM sites through the heaviest flak ever seen in North Vietnam.
Determination of a Sandy March 2006
By John T. Correll
Badly burned when an explosion set his cockpit afire, Bill Jones refused to quit the mission.
The Fall of Lima Site 85 April 2006
By John T. Correll
The radar site was deep in enemy territory. The assumption was that it was impossible for attackers to climb the sheer face of the mountain.
A Day in the Life of the Misty FACs June 2006
By Rick Newman and Don Shepperd
Finding and marking targets was dangerous business, as Charlie Neel and Guy Gruters learned firsthand.
Barrel Roll August 2006
By John T. Correll
In 1962, the United States began a "secret war" in Laos. The operation wasn't revealed until 1970, by which time it consumed half of all US attack sorties in Southeast Asia.
Flak Trap October 2006
By John T. Correll
For 17 hours, Capt. Gerald Young led the North Vietnamese through the jungle and away from the crash site.
Lavelle
November 2006
By John T. Correll
Unauthorized air strikes in North Vietnam, depicted as “protective reaction” missions, led to his ouster as commander of 7th Air Force.
The Pentagon Papers February 2007
By John T. Correll
A secret study of the Vietnam War set off an incredible sequence of events.
Lavelle, Nixon, and the White House Tapes February 2007
By Aloysius Casey and Patrick Casey
Tape recordings from the Nixon White House shed new light on an old controversy.
Valor Articles
One
Could Live February 1983
No pilot had ever survived an OV-10 ditching, but unless Steve
Bennett tried it, his comrade had no chance.
Uncommon
Gallantry April 1983
He couldn't just leave the downed airman in the middle of
the fierce battle for A Shau.
Bank
Shot August 1984
Lt. Jim Fleming had to win his desperate gamble, or the Army
Special Forces team was doomed.
The
Battle of Bunker Hill 10 January 1985
A veteran Security Police sergeant took over when the officer
in charge at the point of attack was killed defending Bien Hoa.
The
Tiger and the Hummingbird February 1985
It was David against Goliath when forward
air controller Hilliard Wilbanks single-handedly took on a Viet
Cong battalions.
Wild,
Wild Weasel April 1985
Leo Thorsness fought most of North Vietnam in one of the epic
solo battles of the SEA war.
A
Hillside Near Khe Sanh July 1985
The severely injured HH-3E pilot laid his life on the line
to save a rescue force from disaster.
Deliverance
at Kham Duc November 1985
With skill and courage and aided by a series
of miracles, Joe Jackson pulled off one of the most daring rescues
of the Vietnam War.
The
Practice of Professionalism August 1986
Capt. Merlyn Dethlefsen said he was "just
doing his job" at Thai Nguyen. It was an extraordinary job
by any standard.
Thud
Ridge: A Legacy and a Legend October 1986
"Jack Broughton expected a lot from every pilot in the
gaggle, but no more than he gave."--Leo Thorsness
Valor
In Three Wars November 1986
By extraordinary heroism in combat and as
a POW, Col. James H. Kasler earned a distinction shared with
no other airman.
Lance
Sijan's Incredible Journey December 1986
Alone in enemy territory with no food or water
and unable to walk, Capt. Lance Sijan refused to give up.
The
Pinnacle of Professionalism February 1987
Col. Ralph Parr's unique combination of achievements
spans three wars and 8,000 hours of fighter time.
Long
Night at Mo Duc March 1987
With little help available because of weather, two captains
in an OV-10 took on an enemy regiment and won.
Into
the Jaws of Death May 1987
Two helicopters were already down, but Capt. John McTasney's
crew decided they could get the recce team out in a daring night
save.
Two
Days in May June 1987
F-4 Squadron Commander Bob Titus had waited a long time for
those days. When they came, 17 years of experience paid off.
The
Film of War July 1987
A1C Darryl Winters was one of the first and
most heroic Air Force combat photographers in Vietnam.
Giant
in a Jug August 1987
Gen. George Kenney described Neel Kearby as
short and slight, but in the air he was a giant among fighter
pilots.
Valor
in Two Dimensions January 1988
Shot down and surrounded by the enemy, Willard
Collins and Del Peterson led the crew of Spooky 70 in a fight
for survival.
A
Place Called the Doumer Bridge February 1988
Former X-15 pilot Col. Bob White led the first
strike against the most heavily defended target in North Vietnam.
Sandy
Superb May 1988
Never mind impossible weather and battle damage.
Mission commander Arnie Clarke refused to abandon the downed
airmen.
Triumph
at Thai Nguyen July 1988
Jim Brickel's RF-101 was shredded by flak,
but there could be no turning back on this mission.
Rescue
in the Gulf of Tonkin August 1988
Burned and wounded HU-16 navigator Don Price
saved the injured F-4 pilot, then found himself alone in the
sea, surrounded by enemy sampans.
The
Thyng of Valor January 1989
Harrison Thyng's unique career pitted him
against fighter pilots of five nations.
Valor
en Masse February 1989
No group of American military men has suffered
longer or more heroically than the Vietnam POWs.
USAF's
Most Decorated PJ March 1989
In three tours as a pararescue man (PJ), Duane
Hackney became one of the legendary heroes of the Vietnam War.
One
Man Show at Bong Son November 1989
Among the most courageous forward air controllers
was former fighter pilot Maj. William McAllister also known as "Mac the FAC."
The
Seventh Man February 1990
Capt. John Mize knew the B-52 could not make
it to U Tapao. Perhaps it could get to friendly territory, given
a miracle.
A
Distinguished First November 1990
A1C Joel Talley was called on to put his pararescue
training to the test on his first and most difficult combat mission.
The
Mayaguez Incident September 1991
It was a "peacetime" military operation conducted
by an ad hoc force of airmen, Marines, and sailors.
Making
the First Team November 1991
How a once-disdained aircraft and a valiant crew earned an
honored place among aviation's elite.
Veterans
Day 1967 December 1991
We all have reason to celebrate
Nov. 11,
but no one more than Col. Ralph Hoggatt.
A
Bridge Downtown January 1992
Col. Bill Norris led a tactically perfect mission against
the best-defended target in North Vietnam.
A
Tale of Two Crosses February 1992
Capt. Leland Kennedy salvaged two combat rescue
attempts that seemed doomed to failure.
A
Good Thought to Sleep On March 1992
The rescue of Roger Locher did more than set a couple of Vietnam
War records.
Down
in the Delta July 1992
The Air Force and Navy teamed up in one of the more dramatic
rescues during the early months of the Vietnam War.
Always
With Valor August 1992
Unique among Vietnam airmen, Ray Horinek was decorated for
heroism as a FAC, a fighter pilot, and a POW.
"Here
Am I. Send Me." December 1992
1st Lt. Karl Richter's heroism and commitment
are as much an inspiration to his successors as they were a quarter
century ago to his comrades who flew Downtown.
Hero
of Bien Hoa February 1993
Bien Hoa was a key to the enemy's capture of Saigon. It had
to be held at all costs.
Night
Rescue at Loc Ninh October 1993
The jungle strip was restricted to daylight use, but this
was an emergency--a challenge to the SC-47 Farm Gate air commando
crew.
They're
Dead Without You February 1994
Twice hit, low on fuel, and almost out of ordnance, an F-100
pilot refused to abandon the besieged ARVN troops.
The "Stadium" at Duc Lap August 1994
Outnumbered ARVN troops were surrounded by enemy regulars
within 100 feet of their inner defenses. Their salvation lay in
precise resupply airdrops.
On-Scene
Commander May 1995
Near Mu Gia Pass, Maj. Larry Mehr directed
a rescue that old hands called "a classic."
Tribute
to the Tankers January 1996
In the Southeast Asia war, air refueling became, for the first
time, a key element in combat operations.
Pardo's
Push October 1996
Uncommon courage, ingenuity, and skill were
combined in a unique experience for Capt. Bob Pardo during the
Vietnam War.
A
Spectacular Save June 1997
A tanker crew broke the rules to save two "Thuds" about to flame out over the jungle.
Valiant
Volunteer April 1998
Capt. Jack Weatherby knew the risk as few
did when he volunteered to fly a photoreconnaissance mission
against a new kind of target.
One
Magic Moment June 1998
Battered by high waves and without a life
raft, Linebacker II veteran navigator Capt. Myles McTernan refused
to give up. At last, fortune smiled on him.
The
Valley of Death July 1998
Maj. Bernard Fisher won a rare distinction
in the bloody battle to defend an outpost at A Shau.
A
Gift of Life August 1998
Over the Gulf of Tonkin, Capt. Steve Bennett
made a fateful decision to save the life of his back-seater.
Lance
Sijan's Incredible Journey December 1998
Alone in enemy territory with no food or water
and unable to walk, Capt. Lance Sijan refused to give up.
The
Long Road to Freedom January 1999
Bud Day escaped from his captors in North
Vietnam with nothing on his side but faith and boundless courage.
"That
Others May Live" February 1999
A1C Bill Pitsenbarger knew the risks involved
when he volunteered to drop into the midst of a jungle firefight.
The
Saving of Spooky 71 April 1999
A1C John Levitow had only seconds to save
the lives of eight crewmen aboard the battle-damaged gunship.
