SPECTRE PUBLISHED ARTICLES

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AIRMAN MAGAZINE COVER Dec 1984

 

 

AIR FORCE MAGAZINE APRIL 1999

 

 

AIR FORCE MAGAZINE JUNE 1993

 

 

AIR FORCE MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 1983

AIR UNIVERSITY REVIEW
SIDE FIRING WEAPONS SYSTEMS

"A New Application of an Old Concept"

-Lieutenant Colonel Ross E. Hamlin

AIR FORCE MAGAZINE AUGUST 1988

AIRMAN MAGAZINE APRIL 1990

AIRMAN MAGAZINE JUNE 1983

AIRMAN MAGAZINE JUNE 1988

AIRMAN MAGAZINE JULY 1975

VARIOUS NEWS ARTICLES FROM "BLINKING LIGHT ERA"

GUNG HO ARTICLE SEPTEMBER 1984

THE NAVIGATOR 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION
"JUST CAUSE" ARTICLE

THE MAC FLYER SEPTEMBER 1989

THE TRADING POST MILITARY COLLECTIBLE MAGAZINE

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE MAGAZINE MAY 1990

MORE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

WINGS MAGAZINE JUNE 1982

VFW MAGAZINE MARCH 2009

VIETNAM MAGAZINE APRIL 2009

16 SOS LEAVING HURLBURT

PHANTOM FLYER MARCH 2, 1971

THE ENLISTED COMBAT CREWMEMBER

AIRCRAFT DOWN
by THOMAS R. COMBS

May 25, 1969 Ubon Stars and Stripes Article on the Loss of #629

It says the aircraft experienced mechanical difficulty and is written as a c-130 only. it lists Jack (known as Jackie, a fun, nice guy) and Cecil (known as C.T.) with home towns and a little more too.  Jackie was killed by AAA and C.T. died in the crash & subsequent fire.  We could see the fire inside the cockpit windows, we did not know anyone had bailed out and thought all would die.  The 20MM started cooking off and the firemen and us had to turn and run.  I was there that night on the taxi-way with others and we were told to not take any photos, and tore it out of the paper when it came out. I was crew chief of acft. #630.   

From Bob Walters (Crew Chief of Acft #630)

STORY OF THE SP HOTEL KORAT

Photo#1 shows  shows McMoon (I.O.) holding down D.C. Ford in order to keep him from blousing an A.P.'s lip! The second one shows  Don Boudreaux and  dusty Rhoads in their white party suits, Ron Branson in his black party suit, fox (a gunner) and Lt Col Trudell.

The article translated by Wolfe.

GHOST 31 SPECTRE 568 BOSNIA COMBAT NEWS ARTICLE

A GIFT FROM "PAPPY" GALLAGHER

Col. John Gallagher, Spectre Lead 16 Sept 2015 Pappy’s thoughts concerning Eagle Claw Day 2:

The “American Hostage Rescue Mission,” code named Eagle Claw, was unarguably the most ambitious rescue attempt ever recorded. The demands were numerous and unforgiving. Men and equipment would be pushed to the limit. It is important to know that the final approved plan was not universally supported. After exhaustive reviews, the Joint chiefs and their Staffs estimated the probability of success to be no better than 70%. Col. Beckwith’s estimate was 40%. The distressing factor was success was never defined,

The last week of April was the last time, until late Fall, that the night would be long enough to attempt the rescue of the American hostages held in Tehran. A delay of nearly six months was unsatisfactory. When the deployment order was issued the gunships were ready. We were prepared, well trained, confident and eager. The aircraft were in top shape. Our mission, although extremely demanding, was simple to explain:

1, Take off, 4 aircraft, fly formation for about 1800 miles to arrive at work


2. While enroute, refuel twice, (send one ship home*) descend to low altitude, cross the gulf, Climb to enroute altitude. *(only if fuel was not available from the tankers) 

3. Arrive at embassy ON TIME (ETA, dependent on Delta), be ready to perform mission. 

4 SPECTRE’S JOB # 1: Provide a safe working environment for the rescue team.
 

5. SPECTRE’S JOB #2: Prevent tactical aircraft from launching from Mehrbad Airfield
 

6 SPECTRE’S JOB # 3: Escort rescue force and precious cargo, soccer field‐Manzariyeh 

7. After rescue team and PC are gone, destroy the helicopters.
 

8. RTB about 1000 miles to landing, Air refuel, if possible

What would have success look like? If all of the rescue force and hostages are out of Tehran, no aircraft lost.....that would be success. 75% recovered, with some aircraft loses. Would we claim that as success? Failure will identify itself. Everyone is left on the ground in Manzariyeh and/or Tehran.

After 35 years of reflection, I do know some things concerning Day 2. Among those, are that the men of Delta, the recovery teams, (ground and air), were ready and willing. The in‐country assets had done their job and done it well. The gunships and crews were the finest close air support force ever assembled. Success or no, there was no alternative. In my mind, failure was NOT AN OPTION. Would we have succeeded? That is something we’ll never know.

But, what we do know, Is that when the National Command Authority directed the most difficult rescue of all times.........we had the men with the “THE GUTS TO TRY.” I salute you.

PAPPY

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