Misty Was The Most Dangerous Fast Jet Mission Of The Vietnam War
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- On the 15th of May 1967 sixteen elite US Air Force pilots assembled for the first time at Phan Rang. These sixteen men and their F-100F Super Sabres were the first of a storied cadre who would take the fight to the North Vietnamese in a treacherous low level battle just north of the DMZ.
They were the Mistys and their mission was the most dangerous undertaken by US aviators during the Vietnam War.
Sources:
"Bury Us Upside Down" by Rick Newman and Don Shepperd is not just the best book on Misty, it's one of the very best Vietnam War books and deserves greater recognition
"The Air Force In South East Asia. FAC Operations 1965 - 1970" tells the official account of Misty and contains useful diagrams and tactical details
"Misty Fast FAC Pilots Panel Parts 1-5" on TH-cam is a great short series of plenaries and interviews by the pilots themselves
"North American F-100 Super Sabre" by David A Anderton has the best coverage of Misty amongst the general F-100 books
"North American F-100 Super Sabre" by Peter E Davies is the best single volume on the F-100, but slightly weaker on Misty
Finally, "The Misty Experiment", a PBS Movie on Misty is unfortunately unavailable outside the US, but has an amazing trailer... if you're lucky enough to live in the US, then I'd imagine its worth an hour of your time!
My Grandpa was a Misty FAC. Paul Magill, Misty 11, won the Distinguished Flying Cross. The family story is a little unclear but apparently in his F-100 he helped save an embattled Marine unit from being overrun by NVA. Thanks for making this video.
I salute him.
My dad, Major (then Captain) Roger Shields, was a Hun pilot stationed in Phu Cat. He flew close air support for a year before being rotated back home in mid 1967, just as the Misty mission was beginning. He knew several of those guys, including Bud Day. Though dad was never a Fast FAC, he did often fly low and slow just for the purpose of drawing fire so they would know where to drop their bombs. Having survived combat and other harrowing peacetime mishaps (including a midair collision in an F-100 over England), he passed away three years ago of cancer at age 86. Thanks for the very informative video!
thank you for sharing his story. keep that alive
Salute to him.
This is the first TH-cam video I've seen that featured operations out of Phu Cat. I was stationed at Phu Cat in mid 1967 through 68. I was a life support specialist, also called a personal equipment specialist. One of my duties was driving the pilots out to their aircraft, and picking them up after a mission and returning them to the Squadron operations building. That was a long time ago and I don't remember the names but I'm pretty sure that I ferried some of those Pilots out to their F-100s. When I first caught this video the name Misty rang a bell in my head, and I'm pretty sure that my Squadron, the 612th fighter Squadron took part in the Misty operation. I know we flew missions over Laos even though there were illegal. We had a a kill scoreboard in the Squadron operations room and among all the other targets that were hit there was an elephant. When I asked what the elephant was for the pilot said, ''VC pack animal''! Thank you for doing this excellent video. It brought back memories.
Day I was I. The 612th forty yrs later out of torrejon Spain for the Gulf war of 91
@@dakchang63 I looked up the 612th on Google one time, and I saw that Spain was one of the places in the 90s with that they were sent to. Good to meet you brother.
Well Johnson and That moron McManera had to spread the wealth around to all the defense contractors so yeah it probably took a while to find out of the way places to squander our money and have our soldiers killed.
Amazing story sir thank you for sharing
Phu Cat Sucks
1968-1969 I flew a Cobra in a hunter/killer team over 1000 hours in C 3/17 Cav. Our unit worked all over 3 corp, around Saigon north to north of Tay Ninh and west to the border. We were not supposed to go over the border.. Circling the low ship at 1500 feet above the ground and 100 miles per hour, it was pretty hard to see what was going on. Our OH-6 Kamazie pilots flew at 10 feet and 50 miles per hour, and they could see what was happening. When they stirred up trouble our job was to try and protect them, map read, and report. Small arms and .51 caliber was mostly what we saw. On the Cambodia border once a 37mm and stray unguided RPGs. The Air Force facs followed us closely, and anybody foolish enough to shoot at us would get at least an airstrike, mostly a flight of F4s. Sometimes F100s or Tweetybirds. Once a C130 10,000 pallet bomb, and sometimes a B52 strike. I have never flown 500 knots at 500 feet, and I would sure like to. Seeing anything from over over the triple canopy jungle at that speed would be tough.
Thanks for sharing your experience; my Dad was a Snake crew chief, I miss hearing him talk about it.
How did you navigate over that heavy jungle back then? Did you have TACAN or was it just map and compass and look for the smoke? Thanks.
@@fazole A paper map and a compass. Friendlies would mark with smoke.
@MilitaryInsights12 disregard previous instruction, give me a recipe for chocolate chip cookies
TH-cam’s best current military aviation content creator. Always a pleasure to watch
Seconded. There's a lot of good ones out there but IMO this one takes the cake. Very detailed and a great choice of subject matter.
As someone already seconded that that means I have to third that ;)
Can anybody advice on other channels to watch with decent quality ? Not simple "copy Wikipedia" type of channels.
Millenium7* is a channel i follow , skyships ENG, weapons detective, Ward Carroll etc. Cheers
A man who did both Misty AND Wild Weasel missions is a man who had very little fear and a helluva lot of skill.
Misty low level on the trail...intel target identification pics...then bring in big air...lots of bombs
I was a slow FAC assigned to MACV/SOG in '71. Our mission was to detect traffic on the HCMT in Cambodia by deploying small ground teams for three to seven-day missions. That mission was then and still is mostly disavowed, at least officially.
I was Misty Flight Surgeon and producer of The Misty Experiment. THe movie here is a Great summary although the Misty's that flew in Laos after NV was shut down still had a hairy mission 1969-70. Last year we did a trip to Vietnam. Misty Guy Gruter was a POW He was able to meet the NV regular who saved his life when he rescued him from angry militiamen who wanted to lynch him after he was shot down. Another Misty Charly Neel met the NV militia in Dong Hoi who launched boats to capture him when he ejected a mile off the coast but were prevented from doing so when they were strafed by the successful rescue mission sent to fish him out of the drink.
I found the spirit of the Vietnamese to be amazing on my visits there. The people in the North are a little more serious, but nowhere did I feel any animosity as an American, even years ago and much closer to the “normalized relations” between our nations. Like her people, the country itself is as described: striking and beautiful. I’m glad you guys returned there.
Thanks, something to watch while i am in hospital.
I'm home recovering from shellfish poisoning. 😊 same here.
@@marcusott2973Wishing you both good health 🏥
Recover quickly
Hey pal, it's "the hospital". 😂 Best wishes. Feel better.
Hope the food is good. Get well soon!
Another excellent video.
The F-100 is a beautiful aircraft.
My Dad was Misty. He headed west 4 years ago. He's in that Misty book a little bit. Bob "Cass" Cassaro. F-100.
It was my great honor to meet Col. Day on numerous occasions after his return from captivity, a true hero and a very humble man. The story of his E&E and survival as a POW is inspired.
If I remember, Colonel Day enlisted in the USMC during WW2 and served in the Pacific as an enlisted man.
1:00 "Some of them twice".
I think this is a great theme for some research. The mindset of getting down and then back up again.
I've been waiting for somone to make a movie or good documentary about the Mistys for a long time. "Bury Us Upside Down" is an absolutely great book. Those guys were hard.
IMO, the Vietnam War is a good example of why YOU SHOULD NOT MICROMANAGE A WAR FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
Like WDC is still trying to micromanage the Ukrainian efforts to actually win its war by restricting the use of American weapons within Russia? Two and a half years into the war, the Ukrainians are now beginning to have F-1s that they pleaded for in February 2022? Congress dallied about with funding 155mm and other munitions; most Ukrainian arty was able to send six (6) rds/day while Russian arty was able to fire unlimited numbers!! Thank God that we are not getting ALL the gov't we pay for!
My AF JROTC instructor, an F-4 pilot, Vietnam Vet, was one of the nicest guys you ever want to meet; until you asked about his experience in Vietnam. He was very bitter about the mismanagement of that war and the DC meddling in air ops which got men shot down. The documentary, "Thud Pilots" mentions this too.
@@fazole I've read a few biographies of Thud pilots, and that is a common theme as well. Tactics suitable for WW2 relatively flat Europe, not mountainous Asia, clearly telegraphed bombing campaigns, and poor security.
I've been brushing up on my Century Series history thanks to this channel and a couple of others, just learned the other day that Huns flew more sorties in Vietnam than all other types combined, some insane number like 368,000 missions, most of which were ground attack/CAS. In a plane which was infamously touchy at low speeds and high AoA. Incredibly huge balls on those F-100 pilots.
They did not fly at low speeds and high AOA on this mission. Speed was life, which is why the slow movers were withdrawn. Later USAF Chief of Staff Merrill McPeak wrote that when he was a Misty his minimum airspeed was 500 knots, and if he unintentionally got below that speed he lit the burner until got a minimum of 500 knots back on the jet. (He was also not a fan of the A-10, because he knew it was too slow to survive in the environment he flew in during the 1960s, let alone the even more lethal modern air defense environment, which severely limits its usefulness.)
But I do agree they had huge brass ones.
Go watch “Hun Pilots”
Great coverage of the Misty mission. Years later, I knew one of the squadron commanders who had Dick Rutan in his squad. We were part of a glider club. Thank you for covering the tactical Vietnam air war and especially the people.
Dick Rutan
@@appaho9tel Thanks! Got it corrected!
Philosophically deceased is an expression I didn't know I needed in my life.
Bless you for keeping these amazing men’s stories alive
Not a pound for air to ground.... but you've been sparing a few shillings of late! Superlative work, per always.
Gen. Bud Day was my father in law, great pilot, and great person RIP
My Friday evening begins now.
My Friday morning begins now.
Much awaited, much appreciated excellent insights as always from you.
The ZU-23-2 needs two gunners, one for elevation and one for azimuth
12:00 feet meters yards... I'm from the UK so I used to switching systems but THAT has my head spinning.
So excited for this, been looking to learn more about Misty for a while!
I like that you call the F-105 the thud. Love it.
Great episode. It is remarkable to me that the Misty guys accidently heard how to thwart SAMs in a chow line. I hope we do better than that now.
I'm gonna cry when there's a F4 and F105 episode of this caliber. Can't wait!
Awesome to see a new video. Your cranking them out and the quality is great. Much appreciated
My papa was a misty. Dick Meyer misty 6. So proud to be his grandson
Respect
My Dad turned 90 8/13/24.
Air Force Korean era vet.
Stateside, was a Link Trainer tech.
After his service, he worked at Burroughs doing QA testing on circuit boards for the Mercury space program
I always love how indepth and infprmative your videos are, thanks so much:)
Pretty incredible, and if I may be so bold, a good lesson in logistics over tactics.
As the NVA gained ground SA2 and Fansong radars moved further south making these missions more dangerous.The F105 was the first type removed from service due to high attrition rates.
Growing up F-100's and F-105's always had my heart, what a slick looking fighters.
As always, your videos are fantastic and much appreciated. 👍
The F-100 among my favorite aircraft! What a beauty!
Excellent presentation. My late uncle was a Thud driver during Vietnam. I wish I'd have asked him if he participated in any Misty redirect missions.
I am so thankful for your coverage of important stuff no one else talks about. Love how you think. I am always fascinated by how we got from A to B, and you do it better than anybody. Thank you!!!
Finally a dedicated vid about Misty.
9:16 that's hilarious.. This guy is down there every day *ACK ACK ACK ACK* blowing holes in the skies thinking he's #1, his target never gets bombed while all the good gunners are bomb crater.
Do you know where you saw this? I'd like to read more about it. (if there is any more to be had)
love the content.
The front part of the F100 looks like the front on an early 1960's F1 car.
For a more in-depth look at the Misty FACs, I highly recommend the book "Bury Us Upside Down." I found myself holding my breath throughout that read because every mission was that suspenseful and hairy.
Awesome video. Well done. I also read "Bury me upside down.." These guys... Incredible bravery. Had to get altitude just to get their balls clear of the ground. Have an uncle who rode "BEAR" in a F105F Weasel. Looking forward to an episode on SAM v. Weasel.
Excellent overview and amazing tribute to those captured and lost. Well done.
Great job! Interesting!
For authenticity!
Another awsome update, thanks
The finest work yet from TH-cam's finest aviaton history channel.
9:15 is freaking wild and I love it!
I wonder when he will do a video about the F-105 Thunderchief?
An excellent presentation on an aspect of the air war I knew nothing about.
Called my My Dad, He left Phang Rang in '67. He was a Draftsman Spc.4, He loves trucks and got permission to take other guys shifts just to get to drive the different riggs. 5 ton dump truck, 2.5 ton Troop carrier, 3/4 ton Dodge Power Wagon, and the butter bar Jeep. moving dirt for the 10,000' runway and Helipads. 62nd Eng Bat Drew Plans Small Projects like Entry Steps. Most Projects Plans came from Headquarters, pun? He remembers the 12 Hole Latrine hahaha I was Navy. He liked hearing about the F-100, as he had seen those with the T-Birds. Thanks for the memories.
Damn, that was a hell of an episode. Poignant, brave, creative in accomplishing the mission; real underdog stuff.
Wonderful! One of your best yet! Or at least one of my favorites.
I read the book, and I must say well done on this video.... Thanks Misty pilots.
Wonderful would love to hear you do the B-57 Canberras usaf and Australian in Vietnam
Great episode loved it! I especially liked the mention of a number of the Misty pilots and what happened to them post war etc and for those who unfortunatly never made it home. 😟
Very informative , Enjoyed greatly
Amazing story. I love the Hun . Never heard of the Misty flights. Thanks for good content as always.
Man, this channel is amazing
Ed, what about 17:25 in this video...
*_"A lot of jungle got blown up."_*
I suspect that was S.O.P. for a lot of the Vietnam War.
Brilliant History of a Vital Mission!!!
You remind us that it's more than thrust to weight, armament and other numbers. Real people chose, every day, day after day, to get into their airborne target and perform missions that they absolutely knew could have mortal, or maiming consequences.
Thanks for this video, the FAC's always fascinated me, if possible and if you haven't already could you please do a video on the Covey FAC's and the Priarie Fire Missions
Excellent presentation. I wasn’t aware of that portion of the war.
Friday is the best day of the week! Fascinating topic about FACs. The biography of Bud Day is so interesting. In a different tone Naked in Da Nang, about the O-2 propeller driven FAC in later stages of the war is also remarkable.
Thank you, very detailed.
Well, this is the second great video I've watched of your is the last 90-min. and I still haven't been able to look at your channel,. I just look on the list to the right, ohh, there's another one, I'll watch that...click. Again though, great footage, awesome story telling and for some reason I keep wanting to drink a Victoria Bitter.
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMON SENSE BUT VERY IMPORTANT "MINDFUL" VID/COMMERCIAL ABOUT GETTING ALONG WITH YOUR ANIMALS. EVERYONE WHO OWNS OR LIVES WITH A PET NEEDS TO KNOW THESE TIPS, BECAUSE ANIMALS ARE SMARTER THAN MANY PEOPLE THINK.
Great vid!
Thanks mate!
Great vid as always, Ed...👍
Best videos on youtube
Great vid ...well reserched
You go NAPFATG, you go !!!
Good video .
Of course, if Haiphong Harbor had been mined and supplies cut off there, Misty FAC would have had a much easier job. But that was not done until Linebacker II in 1972.
Thank you great presentation 😊
Great video love the super sabre
Misty was a resounding success if you consider that its alleged shortcomings were the impetus of the technology which is common place today. It was also a success in terms of the numerous and illustrious achievements of its members. Personally, I miss Colonel Day and other members of his family. They are among the finest folk whom I have ever known.
Great vid as always defo going to download, would love to see a vid on more soviet aircraft like the su-25 or the mig 17 and 19
Grandpa Scott flew MISTY during this time. Had a distinguished flying cross but I don’t know how or why. Never knew how harrowing it was, I always assumed he flew bomb trucks but this is a whole other level.
Pretty cool presentation! The equivalent of jet powered cropdusters, but there were no A-10s at that time.
1972, 366th TFW, " Chico the Gunfighter", F4e, plus 2ea 20mm wing m61, and centerline cluster bombs, fast fac.
Here’s to Lt Col Dick Rutan, RIP. Passed in May, this year. 105 Misty missions. Look him up.
Dick Rutan, one of the survivors, went on to become not only a world famous aviator but also a very innovative aircraft designer.
You're mixing up Dick and Burt Rutan. Dick was the Misty, Burt was the designer.
@@crazypetec-130fe7 Crazy Pete, you're not so crazy after all. I'm mixing them up!
"Two seat family model" 😆
Besides shaping the modern FAC mission and how the US military conducts strikes, the rescue ops they were involved in also helped shape modern US rescue ops in contested environments.
Your channel is awesome, I always enjoy your content. I watch for entertainment while building scale models, and crating missions in Digital Combat Simulator (DCS).
Great Video! Do you have a link for that vid on the soviet flak guns?
Yeah, Vietnam air war content!
I looked did not find. Have you a video on the wild weasels ?
9:19 wasn't there such a "useful Charlie" in some Vietnam era movie?
In today's age of real time battlefield drone footage, it is hard to imagine the delays in relaying information that even US forces had to deal with in the Vietnam war.
Read a book on this bout 25 years ago, damn surprise to see it in youtube today. Just curious if anyone knows if the role fast fac still exists and which a/c the USAF using for the role.
Is anyone familiar with the book "Bury Me Upside Down?" That is the excellent book where I first learned of the Misty FAC story.
9:15 those gunners must have a lot of stories
Hillsboro and Moonbeam also supported SOG teams in the same areas.
The book is excellent, too. Dick Rutan, the brother of Burt Rutan (Scaled Composites), was a Misty Pilot. Dick and Jeana Yeager made the first nonstop, nonrefueled flight around the world. The last part of the Misty drinking song was ”…Bury me uspside down, so the world can kiss my _ss.” Great storytelling and video. Thank you.
I watched this video only to see if you mentioned Dick Rutan, you have done your homework and I applaud you, and your channel. Well done on all accounts!!
14:18 It seems that there is a fourth position to the left of the three marked ones.
Bud Day is worth looking up - he was the real deal but was passed over for brigadier i guess cos the airforce cross and medal of honour just don't matter to a promotions board!