Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

Hey, I've been lurking for a while, but Wanted to ask about this. I was flying a Cessna 172 for the first time today, and my instructor began talking about how he was an F-4 pilot in Vietnam, and he found his old aircraft, a double MiG-Killer, at the USAF museum. I couldn't make out the tail number, so I wanted to know if anyone knew the Aircraft's history(IE, Who shot the MiGs down, and when, where it's been and who flew up). All I know is that my instructor, Don Eicher(I do not know his Rank), flew out of Thailand, and that it was not him who had the Victories, I already looked that up, but so far I've come up blank.

A Picture of the Aircraft.

Thanks in advance.

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Salute!

Try Google for 4th Wing and 555th Squad.

I'd have to google it myself to get you more, but you can do that if you have half a brain (jez kidding).

Ubon flew those things and the wing up at Udorn did, also. Korat and Tahkli were Thud bases in early days. Later days Tahkli went to 'vaarks and Korat absorbed some F-4E's. By 1975, only Korat and Udorn had anything.........

out,

Two things:

1) museum aircraft are often repainted in schemes, and even serial numbers, that were never worn by the aircraft when in service.

2) my records indicate WPAFB Museum in Dayton has had two F-4Cs, 64-0683 and 64-0829 (pictured above). I think 64-0683 is now at Newark AFB, Ohio.

Last edited by habu2 on Jul 10, 2004 - 11:00 PM; edited 1 time in total

After some more digging I find that on May 20, 1967, Col Robin Olds and 1/Lt Steve Croker shot down two MiG-17s while flying 64-0683. The F-4C was assigned to 433 TFS, 8 TFW; call sign for that mission was "Tampa 01". First kill was with an AIM-7, the second with an AIM-9.

edit: I mis-cut'n'pasted.. the MiG killer mentioned above should be 64-0829 (not 64-0683)

WTG, Habu-deux!!!

Great research. Kinda thot it was Ubon, as Olds set up 'Bolo' and the time was about right.

I'll be seeing Croker at our 40th reunion in late Spetember and ask him personally! Another classmate was only USAF pilot Ace of that pee-sorry war - Ritchie, pic attached from an airshow a few years back......

'tis true, "Forrest Gums" strikes again.

out,

Everything I have read about Col. Robin Olds is that he was a super awesome combat leader. Cool

I still want to see a movie about Gums played by Tommy Lee Jones. Very Happy

Get the book "And Kill Migs" it talks all about it..

I know Major General Dick Pascoe (Ret.) got two kills in Nam, and I believe it was in the C model Phantom. Helluva pilot, and a great guy to know personally. Unfortunately, I don't know the tail number of the jet(s) he was flying when he got the two kills. But usually, the AF Museum site will say something about the jet under the picture. If all else fails, search for Vietnam Air-to-Air Victories. That's helped me a few times to search for pilots that I know (like Gen. Pascoe,) and the dates they made their kills. BTW, great pic Gums of you and Gen. Ritchie. I've never met him, but I saw the final sortie that his D model Phantom took on its way to permanent display at the Academy. I'm not quite to Forrest Gump status yet, but I have seen some neat stuff (that F-4 flight among them.) Anyway, I hope that info above was helpful to you Dammerung.

On 06 January 1967, then Capt Dick Pascoe & 1/Lt Norm Wells were flying F-4C 64-0839 as "CRAB 01", 555 TFS 8 TFW, and downed a MiG-21 with an AIM-7.

On 05 June 1967, Pascoe and Wells were flying F-4C 63-7647 as "Chicago 02", 555 TFS 8 TFW, and downed a MiG-17 with an AIM-9.

There is a picture of Pascoe in the book "McDonnell F-4 Phantom - Spirit in the Skies" (p. 34)

Hey thanks for that info H2! I should've known he was in the Wolfpack, because I had remembered him telling me about flying with Robin Olds. This is when I found out that Olds used to sit in his jet, and wait. When he heard about MiGs in the area over the radio, he'd launch and go after them. Don't suppose you can tell me where I could snag a copy of that Phantom book, eh?

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

TC, this is book with all the A2A kill info: "...And Killl MIGs"

The book with the Pascoe pic I mentioned is "Phantom: Spirit in the Skies "

Good Hunting!

Thanks a bunch for the info everyone. I talked to him last week, he flew 64-0863. Can't believe my instructor flew Robin Olds's Phantom... He said he really liked the plane but it was really loud, and is partially deaf because of it. I watched a clip of a Luftwaffe F-4 taking off(Never seen one actually fly with my own eyes), and it was LOUD. Very high-pitched Rumble.

I'm trying to figure out if the jet flown by Capt Dick Pascoe & 1/Lt Norm Wells was the same jet that did the pushing in Pardo's Push. http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/3227/push.htm

06/01/67 MiG-21 F-4C 64-0839 FP/555TFS/8TFW Pascoe R.M.,Capt Wells N.E.,1stLt Crab01 AIM-7

Spooky wrote:

I'm trying to figure out if the jet flown by Capt Dick Pascoe & 1/Lt Norm Wells was the same jet that did the pushing in Pardo's Push. http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/3227/push.htm

06/01/67 MiG-21 F-4C 64-0839 FP/555TFS/8TFW Pascoe R.M.,Capt Wells N.E.,1stLt Crab01 AIM-7

Hi Spooky,

according to Peter Davies in USAF F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1965-68, Osprey (yes, this book again, lol) the author states that Bob Pardo on March 10 1967, was flying:

"Cheetah 03" 64-0839 which had been the F-4C used by Dick Pascoe and Norm Wells for their 6 January 1967 MiG kill"
its on page 43

On page 85 (Appendices) Pascoe and Wells are credited with one MiG-21 kill, using an AIM-7D. The aircraft they were flying is stated to be F-4C 64-0839/FY from 555th TFS/8th TFW callsign "Crab 01". The date is indeed January 6, 1967.

Hope this helps Smile

George

George,
Yep, that sounds like a done deal. I need to get that book.

Thanks!
Justin

Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

Didn't know where else to ask, but about an F-4C...