Talk:Wild Weasel mission 1 October 1967

Latest comment: 18 years ago by Emt147 in topic First Person Narrative

Please provide link line 16.59 SA-2 Guideline back to Wikipedia article---plumalley

Please advise if Wikisource wants additional 18mb audio combat audio sequences. Each sequence is a different event, different issues, but, all in all more combat. I ask your judgement on whether you want your server tied up with more.

There is considerable work in my editing, so I don't want to begin without approval.

Also, in writing the transcript should I assume that the reader/listner has not learned from Weasel_1

There could be:

Weasel_2, _3, _4, _5 etc

--plumalley I see that you are not providing a link to an (.ogg reader download free) Visitors to this audio site will need help. They likely have only .wma and .mp3

  • These recordings and transcripts are incredible historical artifacts, I fully support providing as many of them as possible. I have added instructions on playing back the Ogg files. Emt147 21:31, 16 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

I have corrected the times on the transcript. Between the time that I wrote it and the time I sent the recording it was necessary to edit out enough time to get it below the 20 mb. That threw all the timing off. It is correct now.

Although the audio is authentic, the timing is not. I have removed multiple sections of silence making the "action" more compressed than in real time. A 30 minute combat sequence may play in only 18 minutes. I do not know if you should make a note saying so. This is driven by both the need to maintain "excitement" as well as your 20mb server limits.--plumalley

I've made a note about the file being edited on the actual file page.—Zhaladshar (Talk) 15:53, 17 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

Table format edit

I'm having second thoughts about the table format. I tried reading along with the audio and it's maddening because you have to keep jumping to the bottom of the page to read the comments. With the plain layout, you can simply pause and unpause or read along. Emt147 06:16, 17 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

The way you're doing it now (not the table format) is much better by far.—Zhaladshar (Talk) 15:53, 17 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

Need Sound Editor (Roxio) Help edit

Working on Weasel_2 I can't find how to merge two tracks so that they can be edited as one. I can't find how to merge on the Classic Creator and then transfer to the sound editor. If you care to advise; don't miss a step! In the meantime I will edit each seperately and you will have to hook them end to end upon receipt.--plumalley

I can't help you with the sound editor but it's not a problem to have multiple files. Emt147 23:00, 17 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

New 18 minute sequence edit

Image:Weasel_2a.ogg has been uploaded and needs to be associated in some manner with Wild_Weasel_mission_transcript. Weasel_2b.0gg will follow shortly, completing the a+b sequence.--plumalley

See Wild Weasel mission transcript part 2. I will place both files and both transcripts on that page. Emt147 02:16, 18 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

Weasel_2b.ogg edit

Uploaded , 18 Mar, 1:35PM Saturday --plumalley

Script for same has been attach to an e-mail

Tanker edit

Please establish link between my use of the word "tanker" and KC-135 --plumalley

Done. Emt147 18:44, 19 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

UPLOAD edit

Did the script AND the audio for Weasel_3a make it to you? Pehaps the audio got hung up, somehow? --plumalley

I don't see the audio file here or in my email. Emt147 05:32, 20 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

File arrived and you did a great job of site construction.---plumalley

SANDY edit

You linked "Sandy" to "AD-1 Skyraider". Please establish the reverse link also. I think one Sandy received the Medal of Honor for such a mission. This is astonishing Valor! to risk all; to evade MiGs with a WWII propeller driven airplane, all to save downed airmen, within a three day walk (60 miles) of Hanoi, the most heavily defended airspace since Berlin WWII.

I see that we have inadequately identified this airplane. It is an A-1H & A-1J per www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/attack/a6/a6-3.hfm ---plumalley --plumalley

I already linked A-1 Skyraider page to the mission transcripts. Emt147 20:25, 20 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

Thank you; it is astonishing what you are able to do in so short a time.----plumalley

Title edit

These works are great editions to the Wikisource library. Thanks for bringing these here. I was wondering if the title of the article could be improved. Rather than transript 1, transcript 2, etc; I was wondering if they could be distinguished by date. Perhaps Wild Weasel mission of March, 22 1973. Or if there was any sort of internal mission numbers or code name we could use. I don't think we need to call the article a transcript since we have access to the audio in the article as well.--BirgitteSB 14:14, 22 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

That's fine with me. I don't know if Plumalley has that information. Sir? Emt147 19:30, 22 March 2006 (UTC)Reply

I am intentionally obscuring as much identifying information as possible to protect the aviators in the event. There is much emotion involved in the Vietnam War. I assume that they do not wish publicity. The original audio with all identifying information is archived at the Air Force Museum, Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton Ohio. There is also a significant Weasel display there. Otherwise, you may generate whatever nomenclature you wish.--Plumalley

PUBLICATION edit

Today, I have notified Smithsonian, GlobalSecurity, Air Force Academy Graduates Association, and the 57th Combat TRaining Wing at NellisAFB of the existence of this web page address, as it is currently.---plumalley

First Person Narrative edit

by Col. Billy Sparks, pilot of Barracuda #1,

This was Carlo and me covering Shark at Hoa Loc who where targeting the helicopters. There were two flights of F-105s, with Guns only, who strafed the helicopters and 8 or 12 F-4Ds from Ubon that Radar Bombed Hao Loc from about 6000 ft. A MiG-17 jumped the Thuds when they were in a strafe pattern and at least two MiG-21s also flew by. I fired 547 rounds of 20mm at the -17 and missed. George Guss tried to follow the -17 through a split ess over Hoa Loc and blew dirt for the lenght of the runway. They (#2 & #4) both decided that they were bingo and I sent them home. #3 stayed with me and we left with enough gas to make Udorn with 500#. We hit a tanker and landed no sweat at Takhli.

We had been in the brief for the afternoon go when we were told to plan a new mission. Col. Bob White (Deputy Commander for Operations) as Shark Lead was to take 8 Thuds to Hoa Loc and Strafe some Helicopters. All Ordinace was downloaded from those birds, leaving Guns only. Dale Leatham, Bear Lead, took 8 birds to Phu Tho, a railraod yard and turning "Y" upstream from Hanoi, about 20 miles. Ubon had a test mission to level bomb Hoa Loc with 750s using radar with either 8 or 12 birds. Barracuda (I was the leader) was to cover everyone. That was impossible tasking, so I told Shark and Bear that I thought it was better for me to cover the helicopter killers and the F-4s at Hoa Loc, since Dale only had to make one pass and haul ass, while the Hoa Loc Thuds were going to make seveal passes. (The two targets were at least 60 miles apart.)

We went as a 16 ship package to the first Black crossing with the Weasels about 10 minutes ahead. Then, Shark and Marlin split towards Hoa Loc and Dale pressed on. The Helicoptes were parked in the rice paddies under camo cover and were all killed after 4, count em, 4 gun passes by each of the Thuds. The F-4s had zip problems with theri level bomb run and got out with zero problems. We had at least one MiG-17 show up and two MiG-21s. We had several SAMs play with us and at least one missile was fired during the last gun pass by Marlin. We put down 2 or 3 SAMs with Shrikes and found a Gun Layer (Firecan) on a road, on a small hill, nearby. We hit it with two passes by Barrauda 1 & 2 yhat rolled it down a hill. Dale Leatham found a whole SAM site moving on a road between the Red and Black and made a pass at it with all 4 Bears. The film looked like he killed most of the Vans. A good mission and NO ONE was hit. --plumalley

I'll work on editing it into the narrative. Emt147 17:11, 2 April 2006 (UTC)Reply

Did you get the e-mail attachment, the second narrative; the one directly from Sparky's hand, about twice this size, that is preferable?--plumalley

YES, see you did. Thank you!--plumalley

WIKISOURCE STYLE GUIDELINES

Responding to your routine solicitation for improved format/style I, the author of the recording transcripts and the facilitator of Col Spartks participation, regret to tell you that I have already greatly exceeded my skill level. This effort was a multi-month slog through a swamp of technology for me; only possible through the enthusiastic participation of one of your editors.

My transcripts and their interpretations are a judgement call; They are what they are. Col Sparks writings are, I believe, the written record of formal after-dinner speeches he may have given over the years to Wild Weasel allumni convocations.

A Wild Weasel exhibit now exists at the Air Force Museum, Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton Ohio.

We have done all we are skilled to do for preservation of these historical events for posterity. PLUMALLEY

Only one comment as far as I remember the FanSong was the tracker radar of the SA-2 guideline system, not the SAM itself, basicly a meam rider. The high rate refers to a change in PRF as stated when "track lock" was initiated, the term fansong came from the characteristic audio "scream" from the RWR. best regards, (dja.)