Listening to every transmission from 35,000 feet
Episode 17.
As a proof of the absolute success of the plan, I don’t ever hear the North Vietnamese command authorities explicitly reference the assault force aircraft, neither helicopters nor C-130s. I only hear references to tracking and launching against the higher altitude aircraft, the fighters. The Son Tay Raid is a case of “they never knew what hit ’em.”
I must admit I am recording (contrary to our mission briefing instructions) many of the launches—for the guys on the ground who will never experience such a thing—but I keep up with every bit of my raid-focused scanning as instructed. At least 36 SAMs were launched tonight, an unprecedented amount.
As a trained and experienced TACAIR 7-Op, I’m also keeping an eye on the 7-Op channels. I see no MiG activity this whole evening. Our RC-135 even broadcasts an advisory that there is no MiG activity. On our 7-Op scans, we would have heard radio transmissions from any airfield tower, from the fighter pilots themselves, and would have heard bearing and range information broadcast from the Air Intercept Controllers.
[NOTE: Fellow crewmember Kirk Carpenter, a skilled operator and Stan/Eval member senior to me, recently confirmed that he, too, detected zero MIG activity that entire night. Kirk was trained and experienced in all positions and was in the 7-Op role on the Son Tay Raid.]
Tonight, I would have heard any communication from the SAM or AAA sites to the North Vietnamese MiG fighters on alert at their bases. For instance, SAM and AAA sites would be notified to stand down if their own NVAF aircraft were planned to transit their area. If I hear this sort of thing, I’ll notify the 7-Op to look for enemy aircraft launched. I would also have heard the SAM and AAA sites being notified of any NVAF “friendly” fighters accidentally straying near their sector.
So, we are surprised when suddenly “MiG!!!” is broadcast by one of the helicopters as they are departing to the west. Immediately in response, our AMS reassures Colonel Frisbie, “No MiGs have taken off. There are no MiGs in the area.”
The RC-135 broadcasts, “There is no indication of any MiGs airborne.”
The MC-130 Cherry 2 relays this broadcast, “There is no indication of any MiGs.”
But confusion reigns among the helicopters and A-1Es, uncertain what MiGs may or may not be pursuing them. Multiple of these take evasive maneuvers (diving low and accelerating). The Thailand GCI Brigham even directs one of the USAF F-4s to turn north to intercept a possible bogey. It’s quickly determined that this is simply another one of our F-4s exiting.
See more photos and stories on this website and in Who Will Go, which is just as much to honor the wives and family as the men themselves.
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