Pictures from 421st TFS deployed at Da Nang in 1972

[Chicoartist]

I love you man - PM (or email, think you're in my addy book, though for some reason my Yahoo account seems to drop folks off for no reason on occasion).

Coming at you one way or another.

Wade

[Shay]

I see she went to Osan.

From what I found out 68-0339 went to RoKAF (South Korea) in 1989

So I assume she was trasnferred to the ROKAF while at Osan AB?

Anybody have any contacts in the South Korean Air Force?

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[Shay]

I've got great news :D

Here is what I got from the ROKAF database on:

http://www.scramble.nl/index.html

Serial: 80-339, Type:F-4E, CN: 3385, Unit: 17 FW/152 FS

Status: Active 16oct05

The 17th Fighter Wing / 152nd Tactical Fighter Squadron is based out of Chongju AB.

So it still looks like she's still flying.


Shay
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Semper Fortis

[Chicoartist]

That's simply AWESOME!

Thanks, guys!

Wade

[f4phan]

Thank's for all that info Wade ... I will look into it as it may be nice to have the Vietnam era edition of his series ..

RJ

[Chicoartist]

The one you are looking for is:

United States Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-to-Air Combat Post World War Two: Victory List No.10, by Frank J. Olynyk, self-published, Aurora, Ohio, January 1999. This volume covers Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I, and I'm sure there's a skirmish or two thrown in there somewhere (if we got any victories during said skirmish, that is). I just checked several rare book sites, and I can't find any of his Victory List books. No. 10 listed above was the last one he put out.

He told me he's going to do an RAF/Europe/WWII volume, which will be a huge set. I really do hope he gets to it.

The difference between Frank's "Victory List" books (10 books) and his Stars and Bars (click book title) is that Stars and Bars covers 'only' the American aces 1920*-1973 (and it's well worth every penny, BTW), while his "Victory List" books covers each and every victory claim by any and all pilots for the time period covered by the book. It should be noted that ground claims are not covered in any of Frank's books, only aerial Destroyed/Damaged/Probable claims.

Sure, we'll uncover the odd mistake in his work, but you will not find the topic of aerial victories covered better or more comprehensively anywhere else. As I said, the AFAA considers Frank's work on ace's claims to be "the last word on the subject".

They pop up on eBay every now and then - good stuff.

*Stars and Bars starts with 1920, but one of Frank's Victory List books covers WW1.

Wade

[Shay]

He also said they also put a gun pod on the centerline hard point at times as well.

In the Chico role, 339 never flew with three gun pods. Why would they do that when the internal cannon (20 mm) was already there? In her Chico role, 339 always mounted a 600-gallon tank on the center station. But yes, before the internal cannoned E-model, the 366th indeed mounted centerline 20mm pods, thus their nickname, The Gunfighters.

I've heard from folks over the years who knew of a FOUR pod-equipped C or D-model Phantom that operated only a few times with the Gunfighters. The jet was such a pig that they abandoned the practice.

Fun stuff!

Wade

Not sure if this is 339 or not but it does show 3 gun pods in use.

http://www.5053phantoms.com/Movies/Gun_Shot.avi

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[f4phan]

Can't get the vid to play but I am pretty sure I know whcih one it is ... And the jet in the vid is a C or D I believe ...

RJ

[Chicoartist]

I am not on a computer right now where I can see the video, but it isn't 339 in it's "Chico" role - that, you can take to the bank.

Besides, add two pods to any E-model, and your grand total of available 20mm Gatling cannons is, what? Save the centerline station for fuel - you're gonna need it!

All the guys I talked to during and after my painting was completed mentioned "airshow-type" loads like 3-4 gun pods, and yes, some flew that way, but it was rare, and not long-lasting. Two was the limit and still have the jet operationally viable. Even "Chico" died out after the Wing moved to Takhli - the distances were too great to the DMZ area to drag all that high-drag firepower around and make it worth the trouble. These aren't my opinions, but those of the guys who flew these things in Vietnam.

Wade

[Shay]

Thanks Wade

I assumed it wasn't 339 (i.e. no fuselage gunfire and the shorter afterburner cans of an earlier model F-4) but still it was pretty cool to see 3 gun pods being fired at once.

Here's is another one on Uwe's website for all you "Pheff Phour Phreaks" out there.

http://www.5053phantoms.com/Movies/F4Phantom.wmv

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[wendovertom]

Here is a link to the 421st FS as they are presently constituted:

http://www.388fw.acc.af.mil/library/fac ... sp?id=4222

Thanks,

Tom P.

[Shay]

That would be so smooth if they brought back "Chico" in the form of an F-16.

Drop the tanks and imagine a couple of SUU-23/A gunpods in their place

Ground Forces: CHICO this is PUNISHER 34......CHICO-PUNISHER 34.. solid copy on "Danger Close",.. proceed to target...over"

CHICO: "Roger Punisher...inbound your position in one mike.....and you might want to duck...over"





Anyone know if the USAF still has any gunpods still in the inventory?

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Last edited by Shay on Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[mustangdriver]

I believe so. They might mainly be used for gunnery practice.