A memoir of air combat these gutsy pilots are tasked with flying their specially outfitted fighter jets into enemy surfacetoair missile envelopes in order to. Wild weasel patch wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces specifically the us air force to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radarseeking missiles and tasked with destroying the radars and sam installations of enemy air defense systems. He was born in butte, montana on april 4, 1933 to richard and julia piazzola donovan. Added to the radarjamming eb66c, the air force now had a substantial offensive electronic warfare capability. Dixon native among first vietnam hunterkiller pilots. The wild weasel mission today is relevant in syria, which has a robust integrated air defense system, or iads, and where the u. Aug 10, 2018 actually, the unofficial motto of the wild weasel crews is ygbsm. The first wild weasel success came soon after the first wild weasel mission 20 december 1965, where both air crewmen were either captured or killed, when captains al lamb and jack donovan took out a site during a rolling thunder strike on the railyard at yen bai, some 75 miles northwest of hanoi. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The f16cjs currently still fly the wild weasel missions. According to wikipedia, wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces, specifically the us air force, to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radarseeking missiles and tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses. Goruck suggests 30 pounds for anyone weighing in over 150 pounds or 20 pounds for anyone weighing less than 150 poundsof course, modify as necessary. The shortest chapter in the wild weasel saga was the air forces attempt to repurpose the mcdonnell douglas f4c phantom ii as its next wild weasel, replacing the f100f. The 17th weapons squadron is a united states air force unit, assigned to the usaf weapons school at nellis air force base, nevada the squadron traces its lineage to the united states army air services 17th and 147th aero squadrons, both of which were active during world war i.
The wild weasel radar detection and suppression concept was developed by the air force during the vietnam war to combat the growing surfacetoair sam threat, specifically the sovietmade sa2 goa. Within a matter of weeks, he and his electronic warfare officer ewo, captain jack donovan, validated the weasel project by scoring the first kill. It was b52 electronic warfare officer ewo veteran jack donovan s natural response when he was introduced to the tactics and mission details. The f100f flown by captains allen lamb and jack donovan on the first successful mission of the wild weasel program in north vietnam on december 22, 1965. The wild weasel concept was originally proposed in 1965 as a method of countering the increasing north vietnamese sam threat, using volunteer crews flying the twoseat f model of the f100 super sabre. This is one of several official and unofficial variations of the wild weasel patch. This crudely made patch became a universal graphic for all wild weasels.
The first wild weasel success came soon after the first wild weasel mission 20 december 1965 when captains al lamb and jack donovan took out a site during a rolling thunder strike on the. The concept around wild weasels aircraft specialized in suppression of enemy air defenses missions dates back to jul. Dec 10, 2015 his vernacular stuck and ygbsm is prominently displayed on the patch of some squadrons, adding to the legend of the wild weasel. The raiders were all weathernight bombing with ef105fs equipped with special air to ground radar capabilities. Allen lamb pilot and jack donovan ewo achieved the first wild weasel sam kill on dec.
Radkingribs easyasshit guide to spotting a wild weasel v2. A memoir of air combat these gutsy pilots are tasked with flying their specially outfitted fighter jets into enemy surfacetoair missile. Wild weasels flew missions against surface to air missile sites in f105fs. The first wild weasel success came soon after the first wild weasel mission 20 december 1965 where both air crewmen were either captured or killed, when captains al lamb and jack donovan took out a site during a rolling thunder strike on the railyard at yen bai, some 75 miles northwest of hanoi. Wild weasels, vietnam veteran news, mack payne the unofficial motto of the wild weasel crews isygbsm. A wild weasel is an aircraft usually united states air force specially equipped with radar seeking missiles, and tasked with destroying the radars and sam installations of enemy air defence systems. Wild weasel mug, dog tag and society of wild weasels keychain from capt. The name derives from project wild weaseloriginally developed by captain bill mcguigan, naval aviator, of the u. I am going to write about my fraternal twin brother, karl. Ygbsm february monthly ruck challenge rucks on parade. This didnt work out to the air forces liking, and it was quickly determined that the phantom ii wasnt suitable to the ww role for the time being.
Wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces, specifically the us air force, to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radarseeking missiles and tasked with destroying the radars and sam installations of enemy air defense systems. The letters at the bottom stand for you gotta be shitting. Wild weasel academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. While an effective airframe, the f100f wild weasel did not have the performance characteristics to survive in a high threat. A usaf republic f105g thunderchief wild weasel the 128th. Their worth was demonstrated and proven to air force leadership. The usaf wild weasel mission surpasses fifty years. Aug 15, 2019 within a matter of weeks, he and his electronic warfare officer ewo, captain jack donovan, validated the weasel project by scoring the first kill on a sam site in history during a mission on. Alan lamb and jack donovan achieved the firstever sam kill by a wild weasel crew, streaking in at low altitude to take the radar off the air with their four 20mm guns. Jan 30, 2015 for the wild weasel ww missions, they would fly with larger f105d thunderchiefs aka thuds, which would finish off sam sites after super sabres attacked the sites to mark them. This is the reason wild weasel pilots have a low survival.
Wild weasel patch a wild weasel is an aircraft usually united states air force specially equipped with radar seeking missiles, and tasked with destroying the radars and sam. While the concept was sound, it was rec ognized that the f100f was too obsolete to perform effectively. Wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces specifically the us air force to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radarseeking missiles and tasked with destroying the radars and sam installations of enemy air defense systems the wild weasel concept was developed by the united states air force in 1965, after the introduction of soviet sam missiles. In december of 1965, captains al lamb and jack donovan were the first weasels to score a sam kill. As the story goes, this was the response of jack donovan, a former b52 ewo electronic warfare officer. Jan 23, 2019 the f100f flown by captains allen lamb and jack donovan on the first successful mission of the wild weasel program in north vietnam on december 22, 1965. Not sure what to tell you about the ryans raiders not being wild weasel related.
The wild weasels were founded in 1965 during the vietnam war. Dec 21, 2016 the brave pilots accepted the challenge and succeeded. It was a beautiful morning in our nations capital 20 nov 2015 and jack donovan s internment at arlington national cemetery had a remarkable showing. A wild weasel is an aircraft usually united states air force specially equipped with radar seeking missiles, and tasked with destroying the radars and samwild weasel is an aircraft usually united states air force specially equipped with radar seeking missiles, and tasked with destroying the radars and sam. Wings over vietnam 78 wild weasels frontiers of flight hd movie. This appears prominently on the logo patch of some squadrons. A usaf republic f105g thunderchief wild weasel the. Jack s initial assignments in the air force were in the b66 and b52 bombers before he was assigned to the then highly classified wild weasel mission. Apr 24, 2020 a son of a member of the society of wild weasels captured the moment with an f16 missing man four ship flownby the mcentire angb f16 wild weasel unit 157th fs. Bob freitags korat rtafb website vincent scungios photos.
The job of a wild weasel is the most dangerous mission faced by todays fighter pilots, a job more hazardous and difficult than shooting down enemy jets, according to retired air force lt. Interesting going for the original weasel rather than the later thuds and f4s. As the story goes, this was the response of jack donovan, a. On december 22, 1965, then captain donovan and his pilot, in their f100f, were the first to successfully target and destroy a north vietnamese sam site. The fraternal society of wild weasels was created in 1967, and lamb was a charter member. Wild weasel tshirt f105, f4, f16 2 designs to choose from 100% cotton quality tshirt high resolution printing full color printing customization. The usaf wild weasel mission surpasses fifty years classic. These f100fs only acted as wild weasels for a brief period, between november 1965 and may 1966. Captain jack donovan, validated the weasel project by scoring. Other identifying markings on a wild weasel is the image of a weasel andor the acronym ygbsm you gotta be shitting me, uttered by jack donovan and the motto of the wild weasel program.
I graduated from the army aviation safety officers course at ucla aka upper corner lower alaba. The first wild weasel success came soon after the first wild weasel mission 20 december 1965 when captains al lamb and jack donovan took out a site during a rolling thunder strike on the railyard at yen bai, some 75 miles northwest of hanoi. The deadly catandmouse game between the wild weasels and nva air defenses had begun. Wild weasel jack donovan honored with fly by at arlington national. Marine corpsthe first development program for a dedicated samdetection and suppression aircraft. Initial tactics provided a wild weasel jet flying ahead of a strike group. Mcdonnell douglas f4 phantom ii 100 missions vietnam afushi. This acronym appears prominently on the logo patch of some squadrons. The socalled wild weasels soon proved their tactics were sound, as the first recorded destruction of a sam site occurred on december 22, 1965 by captains allen lamb and jack donovan in an f100f. Apr 25, 2016 alan lamb and jack donovan achieved the firstever sam kill by a wild weasel crew, streaking in at low altitude to take the radar off the air with their four 20mm guns. Apr 20, 2016 a usaf republic f105g thunderchief wild weasel the 128th tfs on the ramp.
Yes, there is a subsection of the air force tasked with attacking the things literally designed to blow planes out of the sky in the most efficient manner. The first wild weasel kill came soon after the first wild weasel mission on december 20, 1965 when captains al lamb and jock donovan took out a site during a rolling thunder strike on the rail yard at yen bai, some 75 miles northwest of hanoi. Their mission was to fly directly at enemy surfacetoair missile sam sites, get. Wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces, specifically the us air force, to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radarseeking missiles and tasked with. Jack donovan r snapped just before they took off on the first kill mission. Donovan was an ewo on b52s before he volunteered for the wild weasels mission. On display are his society of wild weasels key chain and card from 1967. The unofficial motto of the wild weasel crews is ygbsm.
This motto is present on wild weasel patches and may be on the plane as well, although this isnt consistent. Aug 24, 2019 from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia jump to navigationjump to search this article is about an air combat mission. Your wild weasel patches are 4 tall, and 100% embroidered with velcro backing. The letters at the bottom of the patch is an acronym for you gotta be sh me. They defined the roles and tactics for future weasels. Donovan began picking up radar signals and called out the coordinates. If you would like your name, rank, or callsign added to your shirts, please enter this information in. Jack donovan headed west 1933 2015 super sabre society. Actually, the unofficial motto of the wild weasel crews is ygbsm. Radkingribs easyasshit guide to spotting a wild weasel.
From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia jump to navigationjump to search this article is about an air combat mission. For the wild weasel ww missions, they would fly with larger f105d thunderchiefs aka thuds, which would finish off sam sites after super sabres attacked the sites to mark them. As the story goes, this was the response of jack donovan, a former ewo ultrafacts. The first wild weasel success came soon after the first wild weasel mission 20 december 1965, where both air crewmen. Sep 20, 2017 this motto was first uttered by one jack donovan upon being told about the official task of the wild weasels. Jack donovan was 82 when he died peacefully at his home on saturday, april 11, 2015. Wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces, specifically the us air force, to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with antiradiation missiles and tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses. As the story goes, this was the response of jack donovan, a former b52 ewo see more. A son of a member of the society of wild weasels captured the moment with an f16 missing man four ship flown by the mcentire angb f16 wild weasel unit 157th fs. He received this air medal for his actions in february 1965 when an aerial refueling malfunctions pumped nearly 3,000 pounds into the fuel into the crew compartment on his b52. May 19, 2015 donovan was an ewo on b52s before he volunteered for the wild weasels mission.
Wild weasel is a nickname for aircraft of the united states air force tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses sead mission. An original cave putorium or beware the weasel patch. To complete the wild weasel ygbsm mission, you must hit the following three 3 objectives. Mcdonnell douglas rf4c phantom ii 100 combat missions north vietnam afushi. The brave pilots accepted the challenge and succeeded. Jack van loans memorial service was held on october 26, 2019, in downtown columbia, sc, at five points centennial plaza where a statue of jack leaving the p. Wild weasels and the agm45 shrike missile warfare history. The 147th was redesignated the 17th pursuit squadron in the postwar air service and later. See more ideas about fighter jets, military aircraft, usaf. The unofficial motto ygbsm is on their patch, and it stands for you gotta be shittin me. Nov 11, 2015 i just wanted to share my favorite usaf patch. During those five months, iron hand packages flew 19,000 sorties, fired on 180 sams, and lost 11 aircraft.
Welcome to airline pilot forums connect and get the. Wild weasel usaf weapons school flightline insignia. Jacks initial assignments in the air force were in the b66 and b52 bombers before he was assigned to the then highly classified wild weasel mission. The fundamental origin of the wild weasel mission was created to protect strike aircraft from enemy surfacetoair missile sam sites in vietnam that fired missiles from the ground in an effort. What is the most fthat mission a pilot has ever been given. Wild weasel jack donovan honored with fly by at arlington.