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Yeah, I always liked watching the only aircraft I ever worked on laying down their own smoke screen coming back into Miramar.
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F-4 Phantom & Phantom II Fighter (McDonnell-Douglas)
- Thread starter USAFSS-ColdWarrior
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- Burgkunstadt, Germany
Do I detect a certain sarcasm here?
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I got to watch a few take off from NAS Alameda while standing wheels watch. Every time, it was like getting hit with a wall of sound 
. Also, when we went to WTI at MCAS Yuma, we got to fight 2V2 CH-53's against various fighters. We liked fighting F-4's. You could see them coming from miles away. Gave us plenty of time to maneuver against then. We actually got to call guns on them once. Only fighter we were ever able to do that to.
. Also, when we went to WTI at MCAS Yuma, we got to fight 2V2 CH-53's against various fighters. We liked fighting F-4's. You could see them coming from miles away. Gave us plenty of time to maneuver against then. We actually got to call guns on them once. Only fighter we were ever able to do that to.
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I was in C-3/7 HAWK ADA, (Air Defence Artillery, or better known as Altogether Different Army) We used to work against the F-4's on REFORGER, (Return of Forces Germany). This was a yearly maneuver, that brought 10's of thousands soldiers back to germany to "fight" against the Red Menace, (Simulated WARSAW Pact). This was as close to war as we could get. For us, it was several weeks of non stop action.
When we would be working against the the Fast Movers, they came in so low, we thought the tree tops were being sucked up. You could see those boys pick their noses. Fantastic! One year, they came in so low, that lots of the guys ate dirt! One of my good buddies, a 11B, Infantry, (prior service) who grew up in the 173rd in Vietnam, was standing next to me, and said, "That aint low. When those guys came in low, to save our ass, they came in low. That meant if you didnt hold on to everything you own, it was gone. Thats low". That I would have loved to see and feel.
The Scope Dopes, (the guys in the van, tracking targets) knew when the fast movers were on the way. But us who were out doing our thing on the system, had no idea that we were to be over flown. BUT, if we watched our Battery mascot, Charlie, a mongrel, for when his ears went up, and he started to snarl and bark, the fast movers were coming. He always knew they were coming.
When we would be working against the the Fast Movers, they came in so low, we thought the tree tops were being sucked up. You could see those boys pick their noses. Fantastic! One year, they came in so low, that lots of the guys ate dirt! One of my good buddies, a 11B, Infantry, (prior service) who grew up in the 173rd in Vietnam, was standing next to me, and said, "That aint low. When those guys came in low, to save our ass, they came in low. That meant if you didnt hold on to everything you own, it was gone. Thats low". That I would have loved to see and feel.
The Scope Dopes, (the guys in the van, tracking targets) knew when the fast movers were on the way. But us who were out doing our thing on the system, had no idea that we were to be over flown. BUT, if we watched our Battery mascot, Charlie, a mongrel, for when his ears went up, and he started to snarl and bark, the fast movers were coming. He always knew they were coming.
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No. Anyone who has spent time around them knows what I'm talking about.
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Just kidding!
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I transferred to Louisville, KY in 1983 w/ work. Our ramp was next to the KYANG ramp and they had a squadron of RF-4s. Everyday they flew and everyday we got an airshow. They would leave in smoke and flame and return with drogue chutes and occasional tail hook extended and arresting cables stretched across the end of the runway. Their engine shop was behind our blast fence and test cell was outside. They would chain those planes down and run them up, very impressive. I miss those days.
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We did the same thing, we always called them as Smokers eg "Smoker, 7 o'clock, three miles". This was in the days before we had any ECM/detection gear on CH-53s, so we bought Passport radar detectors and mounted them on the instrument cowling. They'd flash when you got painted, and light up and squeal when you got locked onto. Did y'all do that?
Of course, other helo folk called our 53s Smokers (nowadays an even less pleasant name, according to my V-22 son), but we called theirs Shiverin' Sh^tcans, so I guess it was even.
Cheers
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I was on A models from 82 to 85. I don't think there were any radar detectors on the market yet. I don't remember them coming out till the late '80's. The way we searched for incoming bogies was a bit more primitive. The Crew Chief and I pulled out the rear most cabin windows. We then lowered our gunners belt down low on our waists. Then we proceeded to hang outside and watch for incoming enemies. D model 53's and F-4 smoked the worst. Somewhere I have a bunch of pictures that I took on one of our missions. I served in the Marines from 81 to 85. We called 53's sh*ters, 46's were phrogs and Hueys and Cobras were "the skids are for kids" bunch.
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I was on D's mostly, though we had a couple of A's still.
We had the radar detectors in 1980/81 time frame. I may be wrong on the brand name, could have been Escort maybe? Regular old detectors for use in a car.
The Mk1 eyeball was still the primary detection method. I like the right front door hatch as my position.
That name you used is what my son calls them, but we never used it, and I don't recall ever hearing it. Maybe the other types crews didn't want to hurt our feelings..
Same names for the others, though snake was interchangeable with skid for the Cobras. Phrogs in polite company fo the 46, Shiverin S-can the rest of the time.
Cheers
We had the radar detectors in 1980/81 time frame. I may be wrong on the brand name, could have been Escort maybe? Regular old detectors for use in a car.
The Mk1 eyeball was still the primary detection method. I like the right front door hatch as my position.
That name you used is what my son calls them, but we never used it, and I don't recall ever hearing it. Maybe the other types crews didn't want to hurt our feelings..
Same names for the others, though snake was interchangeable with skid for the Cobras. Phrogs in polite company fo the 46, Shiverin S-can the rest of the time.
Cheers