Had the misfortune to make an "unexpected landing" three times in my helicopter in RVN in 1966-67, and each time, within minutes, the "Huns" were on us, providing cover while we were evac'd. Thou I never flew the bird, I will always have a soft-spot in my heart for the F-100, and the hun-drivers who saved my sorry butt!
Anyone saying that these veterans should get these flights for free... Does it look like these guys are complaining about the cost? That's because they understand how much TIME it takes to maintain an old aircraft, let alone a supersonic jet fighter. If something goes wrong, this aircraft is not replaceable. Also, when they were active, a team of mechanics and maintenance personnel worked on them, avionics, hydraulics, engine mechanics, weapons, just to name a few. I doubt the owner has more than a few volunteers working for him and you can bet parts are not off the shelf. These guys were happy to be able to get one last flight in it.
F-100 average fuel burn is something like 4300lbs of fuel per hour. 4300lbs/6.8lbs=632.3gallons. Jet fuel today is about $5.21/gal. 632x5.21=$3293 per hour just for fuel. Add several hundred to a $1000/hour for maintenance and engine overhaul. You can see that there's not a whole lot of room in there. Especially when it's considered that the fuel burn is probably much higher than I stated due to the short mission profiles.
Yeah operating jet aircraft, especially aging fighter aircraft, is comically expensive. I am all for people doing things for vets but there are much more sensible gifts to give then jetfighter joyrides costing thousands of dollars.
@@Rampant16 More sensible but not more meaningful. Getting to do that for these guys one last time - is priceless. On the other end of the spectrum, I have an old Panasonic Radio/Tape Recorder that I was allowed to have on post with me when I was a sentry back in 1971. It doesn't work any more. My sister bent the antenna 40 years ago and it won't fully retract - but when I touch that old radio - it takes me back to when I was 19 years old, standing on a hill, looking out past the tall, green, wind blown grass over an estuary, watching the clouds rise up over me as the air beneath them hit the hill. That piece of junk is priceless too. It is the most precious thing I own, that and some broken rifle stocks I dug out of a trash can from when I was in Jr. ROTC back in the late '60's. I can remember the smell of the linseed oil we put on those stocks to preserve them and drilling with those rifles when I was a teenager. That is a priceless memory too. Money isn't the issue. Money and sensibility don't matter. If it was a question of taking food out of their children's mouths - they wouldn't do it. But these guys have already spent the vast majority of all the money they ever made on their children. Their children are grown up now and don't need them any more. Why begrudge these guys an experience like this? If you can't understand what it meant to these guys to get to do this - I feel sorry for you. .
Seeing these old vets' faces light up as they describe how awesome it was to take the controls once again - really brought a smile to my face. Gosh I should've been a fighter pilot.
One cool thing about the F-100 was that it had a pulse type afterburner nozzle rather than the progressive type nozzle used on later aircraft like the F-4, F-15 and F-18. Instead of lighting at minimum and then gradually increasing the F-100's afterburner would just come on with a big, sudden bang followed by a huge increase in the noise. Also, the original F-100 afterburner nozzles used an inferior iris design that would get stuck all the time. Eventually they were all replaced with surplus F-102 nozzles that used a more reliable segmented design.
The F-100's I worked on all had the F-102 burners so I never saw an iris burner malfunction, but someone told me that the burner would actually light with the nozzle stuck shut. It would then immediately overpressure the tailpipe and a safety device on the fuel controller would shut off the burner. Obviously this would cause an aborted take-off but an even bigger problem was in flight especially in a combat situation where not getting the burner could be a matter of life or death.
3:30 The F-100 at that time did not have 0-0 ejection. You had to be above a minimum altitude to have a successful ejection. Once you got the plane into a "Saber Dance" you were doomed. No one ever survived it.
I know a guy who flew F-100s then later upgraded to, I think the F-4. He had cause to eject from both planes ans said the F-100 ejection was really rough compared to the F-4. He said the older plane has what was basically a cannon with a gunpowder charge. It fired you out of the plane exactly like a cannon shell. The F-4 had a rocket motor and worked a lot better. He said when working close to the ground they had a little rocket on the parachute that pulled to chute out very quickly. He told me about a buddy of his (though I think he was actually talking about himself) who forgot to disconnect the rocket, so as he climbed out of the plane his parachute deployed.
dad was behind a 104 (he was in a 100 , naa test pilot , Palmdale) guy flamed out on take off , bottom eject on early 104s , punched himself into the runway ... ugly
Are you referring to that famous video of the Sabre barely flying off the deck with the aircraft at power but going nowhere but back and forth? Unfortunately, it ended when everything the pilot did just wasn't enough to gain any altitude and safety, hitting the deck and exploding in flames. Tragic video that has been around for years, something I'll never forget.
Worked on them the whole time I was in the AF. 401st TFW out of England AFB, LA. Spent a fair amout of time in Danang. I remember leaving quickly the morning of August 6, 1964 to go to Viet Nam.
You weren't with the squadron in the Philippines or Taiwan? I guess it makes sense they would send for more support. My dad was with that first group sent into Da Nang. He was the duty officer for the first combat flight and flew on later missions. Dad always sang the praises of the Crew Chief and mechanics. Thanks for taking care of them!
Do you know or heard of Paul Mieners? He is my grandmas brother who died in 66 . I can only find vague info on how he crashed. airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=80997
I'm only thirty-nine and this gave me "goose bumps." Very touching indeed and magical to see and hear these gents! One of my most favorite AOPA Live segments ever. Keep these kind of stories coming. This sums it up: "It's good to be around people who fly; they're my kind of people. I'm home again ;)"
Hawkeye - it was nice to see your squadron emblem on your flightsuit. My father was a weapons loader stationed at Phan Rang in 66-67 with the 352nd TFS. I believe he was sent with them from Myrtle Beach AFB. At least I remember our time there before he was shipped out to 'Nam. He was sent home early in June of 1967 when my little brother passed away.
Glad to see these men get a ride in the plane they flew in Nam. Sad that social media always has to add a lot of immature nonsense to every conversation online. Just the fact that 67 thumbs downed the video shows that some people are just wired wrong. Thanks to those gentlemen for risking their bacon in the unforgiving skies above us in Pleiku.
I enjoyed this so much. Thank you gentlemen for your exemplary service to our country. My father was a DDAY Veteran. Gone three years now. Maximum Respect.
I really connected with this video, especially at the end with Lt Col Hopkins. His relating the story about being thanked by a soldier echoes with me deeply. I'm an Afghan veteran, in 2007 l was adding armour to the combat vehicles of the Canadian Battle Group. On base, a soldier noticed l was navy and asked me wtf l was doing there. When l told him, he replied that they knew about us, he shook my hand and thanked me and my teammates for keeping them safe in combat. Col. Hopkins, my deepest respect goes out to you, sir, and all the other 100 drivers who helped keep their soldiers safe from the enemy.
The memories... It never gets any easier. You play the tapes over, and over again. I was an AC-130 Illuminator Operator. And at the time, I had no idea what happened, when it happened, would be a permanent part of life, and never diminish, rather become the thing that pops up and replays, over and over, at the oddest moments. I also had a good friend and business partner, that flew Huns in 'nam. I saw the look in his eye, when he thought no one was looking, and when he would sort of freeze up... I know where he was, sitting on the end of runway, hot as hell, in a cold sweat, and in a state of being disconnected, then snapped back to "right now" and throttles up, brakes off, a whole world of shit, and then on the flare, throttles back, rollout with out too much toes on the pedals, were done.... For today.
Enjoyed watching many F-100's in takeoff, landing and seeing them in the traffic pattern at RAF Lakenheath in the earlier 60's ... report initial, base and clear to land ... you created real beauty in the skies over Lakenheath for a young ATC airman. We all still have the memory of a great looking aircraft and watching it perform or for the pilots feel it move under your control ... great video!
Its a lifetime chance to hear these guys! Spent 24 yrs in Air force 86-2010. Worked A-10s, C130s, and predators...first time seeing a F-100 i knew it was my Favorite. I Got the honor to go pick up a F-100 in Denver to put up on a pole for England AFB. I think its still there.
Last time I was in Alex it was still there. They took the P-40 when the base closed but all the other planes were left. EAFB 83-91. I had helped with getting the F-105 ready to put on its post.
If anyone is familiar with the movie "The Hunters" (Robert Mitchum, Richard Egan and a VERY young Robert Wagner) about the F-86 in Korea, at the beginning of the movie there a scene where a supposedly 'F-86' crashes on approach...the footage is actually film of the early 'A' model flown by test pilot George Welch of Pearl Harbor fame (one of only two men to get airborne during the attack - Ken Taylor was the other) getting killed as he loses control of the A/C...didn't discovedr that piece of trivia until many years after I first saw the movie (ca. 1961 or '62)
Damn. I didn't know that. I've got that movie on DVD and seen that film sequence any number of times ... There's a sequence in Tora! Tora! Tora! where Welch and Taylor are complaining about being assigned to one of the out lying fields and believe it was because they'd been winning to much money playing poker - and someone had complained. Richard Bong - WWII Army top ace - died when the P80 he was test flying flamed out on take off. That's one thing about that movie The Right Stuff. Most, if not all, of those test pilots getting killed were combat veterans of WWII. .
I was an Air Force brat in the 50's & 60's. Dad spent a good portion of the 50's as an F-86 instructor at William's AFB, AZ. He flew in some of the scenes from The Hunters. Every time a 100 landed at Willie, the entire flight line would turn out to marvel & drool over The Hun. Dad never upgraded to the 100. He had to "settle" for quals in the A-4 Skyhawk (Navy exchange tour) & the F-104 Starfighter. Not a bad compromise.
@@billgund4532 Small world. I was born at Willie in 1958 and was an infant when they filmed "The Hunters" there. My dad also was an F-86 pilot there who flew in some of the filmed scenes of the movie. My mother told me that she was at the O'Club pool one day when Robert Mitchum walked past her. Oh, and my dad also went on to fly F-100's for a tour in Germany. I myself went on to fly F-4 Phantoms in the AF. Good memories.
In the early 60's, I saw the Super Sabre jet for the first time and fell in love with my first air craft. I was a very young child, my father was building jet engines for the U.S.A.F., and the Thunderbirds had come to Tinker A.F.B. What a show, and a 4rth of July to remember for all time.
The F100 was a good solid stable aircraft. It flew well within its speed envelope, the big problem it had was all the electronics were vacuum cubes. Just a few hits by anything or once you fire the guns on the thing it tends to screw up all the electronics. Vacuum tubes break under those kind of stresses.
I was a Crew Chief on F100's in Bien Hoa in 1965. We were rotated out of Homestead AFB in Florida. We were there from June to December and we flew almost 400 missions for close air support. I was discharged in November 1967 and had a great time in Tac with the F100 D I will never forget my AF tour and I am now 76 years old. Thank God .
I was in an Air Guard unit back in the 1970's. I got two rides in the back seat of a Super Sabre. I consider myself very lucky. Lots of people would love a chance to experience flying in a fighter jet even just once and I've done it twice.
Here's the link to my Facebook page that has the F-100 ride photos on it. Remember it was about 1978 and I was a LOT younger back then: facebook.com/jrvinnh/media_set?set=a.2152394187020.61142.1761388122&type=3
I never served as I lost an eye when I was one year old, but I always wanted to be in the sky. My dad was USAF in the 50s, Offut AFB, SAC HQ, Bellvue, NE. Thank you for your service, pilots and ground crew. Much respect.
I always had an interest in aircraft, especially fighter aircraft. I can attribute most to that to my two uncles, Uncle Bobby and Uncle Bill. Bobby was a Marine pilot flying A4 Skyhawks, serving two combat tours over Vietnam. My Uncle Bill, was an Air Force F100 pilot. I was closer to Uncle Bill only because I got to see him more when I was growing up. The highlight was back in 1957 when he flew his F100 into San Francisco International and stayed with us overnight. The next day while I was in school the teacher at my request let the class out to see Uncle Bill fly out from San Francisco, it was quite a sight seeing and hearing the noise that F100 produced as it flew north then east into the clouds. Back in those days, I witnessed a number of military aircraft fly out of there over the years, the most unusual was a B36 Peacemaker. At the time we lived in South San Francisco, about five miles from the main runway and a source of constant noise as departing planes frequently flew directly over our house. It wasn't bad until the commercial jets took over in the early 60s, when an outgoing commercial jet flew over you had to cease conversation for about 30 seconds. Everybody was so used to doing that it was second nature. Unfortunately my Uncle Bill Fenton was killed in a F100 mishap over Berlin in 1962. According to my aunt, the Air Force told her Uncle Bill was training a new pilot in a two seat version of the F100 when for some unexplained reason the canopy blew off at speed and my Uncle sustained mortal injuries. The back seat trainee pilot was able to bring the aircraft in for a safe landing. I still think about him to this day, 55 years later because he was such a great all around nice guy, really humble. While I was attending San Jose State University back in the early 70s, the Aeronautics Department was located at the San Jose airport. Next to their main building sat an old and in poor physical condition F100 Super Sabre. I would drive by it's location enroute to school and each time I would say a mental hello to Uncle Bill as I took a quick passing glance at the fighter jet. If anyone flew with Capt Bill Fenton in the 50s and early 60s and are still around, I would love to hear anything you knew about him or shared any experiences flying with him. My aunt is still alive living in Florida and she would be equally thrilled to hear as well.
@@unfortunately_fortunate2000 Thanks for asking, but there was nothing I could find, but that doesn't mean nothing exists. I found a site that listed AF pilot casualties, but he wasn't represented. I doubt it was official by any means though. I'm sure there are official Washington/AF records available, I just haven't pursued it to the Nth degree and basically accepted the explanation years ago. I should ask my Aunt if she has any official notifications, but to this day she remains skeptical of the AF explanation. She doesn't have any contradicting evidence to prove otherwise, just a gut feeling, but it did occur at the height of the Berlin War crisis and Cold War over Berlin, so who knows. I did have a chance about five years ago to briefly communicate with Gen Chuck Yeager, or at least through an apparent helper who relayed my questions and responses from him over the phone. He lives about 20 miles from me and he indicated a canopy accident like I described could happen. The conversation ended when the helper extended her sympathy, I thought that was nice of her even though it has been 57 years since his passing. Some things you never forget and Uncle Bill is still in my thoughts whenever I see videos or pictures of the F100. I wish I could talk to another pilot who is still alive that flew with him.
I was fortunate to have been acquainted with an F-100 pilot. He was quite a fellow. I was really pleased that he got one last flight, I believe in this aircraft. Thanks for posting this video.
The F-100 Wild Weasel guys literally pushed their F-100s and their bodies to--and sometimes beyond--their structural limits (wings did come off on occasion). Their mission was to goad the North Vietnamese radars into "lighting up" (enabling anti-radiation missiles to guide right down their beams to destroy them). To try to avoid being shot down themselves, the pilots would--like ships that zig-zag to make themselves more difficult targets for torpedoes--keep making alternating, high-g turns. A brigadier general (whose name escapes me) was an F-100 Wild Weasel pilot in Vietnam in his younger days, and he still had a bad, painful back from pulling 6 gs for three hours at a time! When a reporter asked him why he took such a great risk, he said with a smile, "Back then we were young and stupid, and we thought we were indestructible."
Oh man I wish my dad could have done this. He was a test pilot/instructor out of Nellis in the 50’s. His name was Captain Jon R. Romnes. Thanks for this video!
That guy describing the sensation of going into afterburner and it feeling like he'd never been gone. Must have been a thrill to know he has the power to always remember what it'll be like!
In 1967-68 , I was a life support specialist at Phu Cat.I turned 21 there. I remember one day watching the Huns from my squadron (612th TFS) take off, but instead of flying off somewhere, they wheeled around and started bomb runs right outside our perimeter. To this day I don't know what they were hitting, but it was a spectacle. I saw a 750lb low drag bounce through the air like a tennis ball after being dropped. It's ancient history, and just like yesterday all at once. Thank You for this video.
These guys are the definition of cool, not Brad Pitt and George Clooney. It's sad how unappreciated and unknown it is by the majority of our society how much these guys did and how much of themselves they gave. I guess at the same time it's really nice to know many do care and keep their stories alive. Thank you. Such a fantastic video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the video. Great to see these former Super Sabre pilots back flying in an aircraft that held such memories. To those who served in Vietnam- thanks very much for doing your duty.
Heros every last one! Thank you gentlemen AND I SECOND THAT. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THESE MEN WHO PROTECTED AND AND STILL PROTECT OUR FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you god for these amazing men and everyone that supported them. Along with everyone else in all the wars that served for our great nation. God bless America. Thank you all. Amazing men and women.
My dad worked at North American Aviation (NAA) at Los Angeles International Airport. He was a new hire and was there when NAA delivered their production run of F-100's. The planes lined up side by side and took off in tandem. As soon as that group cleared the runway the next two took off. That continued for quite some time. The sky was black with exhaust and windows and buildings shook many miles around from the afterburners thrust. It raised quite a ruckus. He also would get defective canopy's from the company store for us to use as sleds. Always ended up with cold rear ends. But very fun....
Kudos to each every one of the pilots that ever flew the plane,alive or deceased,they did a great job and will always be heros to the people they supported.We should never forget their dedication and service.
I remember the days when I was a grunt on the ground during all that junk. It was amazing every time those planes came in, and we were in deep. It was just flat awesome to look up at the noise and see someone zoom over in the most amazing airplane.
i went to Vietnam in may of 1970. the base they sent me to was a little ab on the south china sea. it was Tuy Hoa ab. i had just left the states where i was a crew chief on T-38s. now i found myself being a crew chief on F-100Ds, the lead sled. it was an easy plane to crew, but i hated having to install the drag chute. you had to lay on your back near the aft part of the craft and use your legs to push up on the door to latch. not fun on a hot metal psp surface. but i'd do it again in a heart beat if given another chance.
Great video , I was a J57 tech at Phan Rang in 67-68 working on the trim pad . But what I wish I could have done was get a ride in that F100f . Still would love to do that ????
i bet so many people from war thunder have looked at this video as the F100D is being added
Who wouldn't, its even the same skin!
you are right bro... and now i go back playing ;)
It's gonna be poo poo against the MiG-19 tho
@@Definitelynotasamdamn migs dominate the whole game
Yos
Had the misfortune to make an "unexpected landing" three times in my helicopter in RVN in 1966-67, and each time, within minutes, the "Huns" were on us, providing cover while we were evac'd. Thou I never flew the bird, I will always have a soft-spot in my heart for the F-100, and the hun-drivers who saved my sorry butt!
Chad Thank you for your service!
Amen to that!
Your story is a good reminder that all American aircraft are marked the same way and they all fight under the same flag.
Thank you for your service!
wonder if those guys ever had to pay for a drink , lol . thank you and respect
Confirmed for War Thunder bois
Just flew it on dev server, missiles stuck, but boy those guns are goooooood
Guess I need to finish saber line before the update comes out
@@horuslupercal3872 They should make the AIM-9s harder to lock on but harder to dodge IMO
Yay
cock putin dude what are you on about?
Anyone saying that these veterans should get these flights for free... Does it look like these guys are complaining about the cost? That's because they understand how much TIME it takes to maintain an old aircraft, let alone a supersonic jet fighter. If something goes wrong, this aircraft is not replaceable. Also, when they were active, a team of mechanics and maintenance personnel worked on them, avionics, hydraulics, engine mechanics, weapons, just to name a few. I doubt the owner has more than a few volunteers working for him and you can bet parts are not off the shelf. These guys were happy to be able to get one last flight in it.
F-100 average fuel burn is something like 4300lbs of fuel per hour. 4300lbs/6.8lbs=632.3gallons. Jet fuel today is about $5.21/gal. 632x5.21=$3293 per hour just for fuel. Add several hundred to a $1000/hour for maintenance and engine overhaul. You can see that there's not a whole lot of room in there. Especially when it's considered that the fuel burn is probably much higher than I stated due to the short mission profiles.
Yeah operating jet aircraft, especially aging fighter aircraft, is comically expensive. I am all for people doing things for vets but there are much more sensible gifts to give then jetfighter joyrides costing thousands of dollars.
@@Rampant16
More sensible but not more meaningful. Getting to do that for these guys one last time - is priceless.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have an old Panasonic Radio/Tape Recorder that I was allowed to have on post with me when I was a sentry back in 1971. It doesn't work any more. My sister bent the antenna 40 years ago and it won't fully retract - but when I touch that old radio - it takes me back to when I was 19 years old, standing on a hill, looking out past the tall, green, wind blown grass over an estuary, watching the clouds rise up over me as the air beneath them hit the hill. That piece of junk is priceless too. It is the most precious thing I own, that and some broken rifle stocks I dug out of a trash can from when I was in Jr. ROTC back in the late '60's. I can remember the smell of the linseed oil we put on those stocks to preserve them and drilling with those rifles when I was a teenager. That is a priceless memory too.
Money isn't the issue. Money and sensibility don't matter.
If it was a question of taking food out of their children's mouths - they wouldn't do it. But these guys have already spent the vast majority of all the money they ever made on their children. Their children are grown up now and don't need them any more. Why begrudge these guys an experience like this?
If you can't understand what it meant to these guys to get to do this - I feel sorry for you.
.
Yeah I'd say the $5k is a steal
They aren't complaining about the cost because they are boomers that are rich. 95% of americans don't have 5k to spend on anything.
Seeing these old vets' faces light up as they describe how awesome it was to take the controls once again - really brought a smile to my face. Gosh I should've been a fighter pilot.
War Thunder : *Heavy Breathing*
rofl
Monster T2K: )))))
I felt this
Phenomenal tribute. Thank you F-100 pilots for your heroic and selfless service 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸. Your hearts are still in the game. "In it to win it"
A truly gorgeous jet
"You don't want those memories"
Leon Chatterton “I don’t think you want those memories” you mean?
Leon Chatterton my heart breaks
that hurt to hear him say that
Ofc. to lose 23 aircrafts is not a good memory, they're brothers, wtf you thinking.
One cool thing about the F-100 was that it had a pulse type afterburner nozzle rather than the progressive type nozzle used on later aircraft like the F-4, F-15 and F-18. Instead of lighting at minimum and then gradually increasing the F-100's afterburner would just come on with a big, sudden bang followed by a huge increase in the noise. Also, the original F-100 afterburner nozzles used an inferior iris design that would get stuck all the time. Eventually they were all replaced with surplus F-102 nozzles that used a more reliable segmented design.
The F-100's I worked on all had the F-102 burners so I never saw an iris burner malfunction, but someone told me that the burner would actually light with the nozzle stuck shut. It would then immediately overpressure the tailpipe and a safety device on the fuel controller would shut off the burner. Obviously this would cause an aborted take-off but an even bigger problem was in flight especially in a combat situation where not getting the burner could be a matter of life or death.
Bro I got to fly and few missions in an F15B and when those burners lit I thought I was gonna have an orgasm!
The warrior spirit never really leaves an old soldier, it's always there just lying in wait.
One of the very best videos on TH-cam.
3:30 The F-100 at that time did not have 0-0 ejection. You had to be above a minimum altitude to have a successful ejection. Once you got the plane into a "Saber Dance" you were doomed. No one ever survived it.
I know a guy who flew F-100s then later upgraded to, I think the F-4. He had cause to eject from both planes ans said the F-100 ejection was really rough compared to the F-4.
He said the older plane has what was basically a cannon with a gunpowder charge. It fired you out of the plane exactly like a cannon shell.
The F-4 had a rocket motor and worked a lot better.
He said when working close to the ground they had a little rocket on the parachute that pulled to chute out very quickly. He told me about a buddy of his (though I think he was actually talking about himself) who forgot to disconnect the rocket, so as he climbed out of the plane his parachute deployed.
dad was behind a 104 (he was in a 100 , naa test pilot , Palmdale) guy flamed out on take off , bottom eject on early 104s , punched himself into the runway ... ugly
Are you referring to that famous video of the Sabre barely flying off the deck with the aircraft at power but going nowhere but back and forth? Unfortunately, it ended when everything the pilot did just wasn't enough to gain any altitude and safety, hitting the deck and exploding in flames. Tragic video that has been around for years, something I'll never forget.
@@796andy2 Ohhhhhhhh, my God...
@@796andy2 f 104 was a mean aircraft tho
Worked on them the whole time I was in the AF. 401st TFW out of England AFB, LA. Spent a fair amout of time in Danang. I remember leaving quickly the morning of August 6, 1964 to go to Viet Nam.
You weren't with the squadron in the Philippines or Taiwan? I guess it makes sense they would send for more support. My dad was with that first group sent into Da Nang. He was the duty officer for the first combat flight and flew on later missions. Dad always sang the praises of the Crew Chief and mechanics. Thanks for taking care of them!
Do you know or heard of Paul Mieners? He is my grandmas brother who died in 66 . I can only find vague info on how he crashed. airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=80997
Worked on them from 61-63 in Itazuki Japan.,!!
From a dumb grunt saved countless times by CAS : Thank You & God Bless the Mud Movers
I'm only thirty-nine and this gave me "goose bumps." Very touching indeed and magical to see and hear these gents! One of my most favorite AOPA Live segments ever. Keep these kind of stories coming. This sums it up: "It's good to be around people who fly; they're my kind of people. I'm home again ;)"
Hawkeye - it was nice to see your squadron emblem on your flightsuit. My father was a weapons loader stationed at Phan Rang in 66-67 with the 352nd TFS. I believe he was sent with them from Myrtle Beach AFB. At least I remember our time there before he was shipped out to 'Nam. He was sent home early in June of 1967 when my little brother passed away.
Getting choked up listening to these brave men talk.
The most beautiful fighter of all time. No other fighter looks fast at rest. God bless our warriors who risked it all for our country.
Idk, the F-105 was pretty sharp lookin' too
One of the prettiest...absolutely!!!! Fast Standing still.... Yep!!! Though... I love the F-4... it's that menacing thing.... lol
Catfish it looks like
what about the f-104 starfighter? thats is real speed at rest... just look at the leading edges of the wings because they are sharp enough to cut.
I kind of like the looks of the Mig-21 better. They look straight up sci-fi.
Excellent video. My Dad flew Huns for 15 years. Grew up watching them. Thanks.
Worked on F100 s from 1961 to 1964 at England AFB LA. Great old bird. Flew in back seat in Incirlik Turkey in 62 and went on 3 labs runs. Wild!!
Glad to see these men get a ride in the plane they flew in Nam. Sad that social media always has to add a lot of immature nonsense to every conversation online. Just the fact that 67 thumbs downed the video shows that some people are just wired wrong. Thanks to those gentlemen for risking their bacon in the unforgiving skies above us in Pleiku.
I never flew, but I had models of planes as a kid. The F-100 was one of my favorites. I just liked the look of it.
I enjoyed this so much. Thank you gentlemen for your exemplary service to our country. My father was a DDAY Veteran. Gone three years now. Maximum Respect.
I really connected with this video, especially at the end with Lt Col Hopkins. His relating the story about being thanked by a soldier echoes with me deeply. I'm an Afghan veteran, in 2007 l was adding armour to the combat vehicles of the Canadian Battle Group. On base, a soldier noticed l was navy and asked me wtf l was doing there. When l told him, he replied that they knew about us, he shook my hand and thanked me and my teammates for keeping them safe in combat.
Col. Hopkins, my deepest respect goes out to you, sir, and all the other 100 drivers who helped keep their soldiers safe from the enemy.
The memories...
It never gets any easier. You play the tapes over, and over again.
I was an AC-130 Illuminator Operator. And at the time, I had no idea what happened, when it happened, would be a permanent part of life, and never diminish, rather become the thing that pops up and replays, over and over, at the oddest moments.
I also had a good friend and business partner, that flew Huns in 'nam. I saw the look in his eye, when he thought no one was looking, and when he would sort of freeze up... I know where he was, sitting on the end of runway, hot as hell, in a cold sweat, and in a state of being disconnected, then snapped back to "right now" and throttles up, brakes off, a whole world of shit, and then on the flare, throttles back, rollout with out too much toes on the pedals, were done.... For today.
Thanks for your service brothers. I was Army at Phan Rang Airbase watched many f-100’s for 9 months
Enjoyed watching many F-100's in takeoff, landing and seeing them in the traffic pattern at RAF Lakenheath in the earlier 60's ... report initial, base and clear to land ... you created real beauty in the skies over Lakenheath for a young ATC airman. We all still have the memory of a great looking aircraft and watching it perform or for the pilots feel it move under your control ... great video!
Heros every last one! Thank you gentlemen.
BS. Murderers.
Jacob Reef Phuk you maggot🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Heroes indeed!! Thank you gentlemen for your service!!!
Mr Maggot to you fish lips!
the communists are the murderers, Jacob Reef. Foolish, deceived person. What did your father do to you?
You guys have some very good stories to tell and I enjoyed listening. Thank you. Air Force vet.
What an awesome video! Gentlemen, God bless you and thank you for your service. 🇺🇸
Its a lifetime chance to hear these guys! Spent 24 yrs in Air force 86-2010. Worked A-10s, C130s, and predators...first time seeing a F-100 i knew it was my Favorite. I Got the honor to go pick up a F-100 in Denver to put up on a pole for England AFB. I think its still there.
Last time I was in Alex it was still there. They took the P-40 when the base closed but all the other planes were left. EAFB 83-91. I had helped with getting the F-105 ready to put on its post.
@@bobmartin4942 i did too...took a grinder to the bomb bay removing parts...i worked phase and R&R while there.
If anyone is familiar with the movie "The Hunters" (Robert Mitchum, Richard Egan and a VERY young Robert Wagner) about the F-86 in Korea, at the beginning of the movie there a scene where a supposedly 'F-86' crashes on approach...the footage is actually film of the early 'A' model flown by test pilot George Welch of Pearl Harbor fame (one of only two men to get airborne during the attack - Ken Taylor was the other) getting killed as he loses control of the A/C...didn't discovedr that piece of trivia until many years after I first saw the movie (ca. 1961 or '62)
Damn. I didn't know that. I've got that movie on DVD and seen that film sequence any number of times ... There's a sequence in Tora! Tora! Tora! where Welch and Taylor are complaining about being assigned to one of the out lying fields and believe it was because they'd been winning to much money playing poker - and someone had complained.
Richard Bong - WWII Army top ace - died when the P80 he was test flying flamed out on take off.
That's one thing about that movie The Right Stuff. Most, if not all, of those test pilots getting killed were combat veterans of WWII.
.
Always wondered who that was.
I was an Air Force brat in the 50's & 60's. Dad spent a good portion of the 50's as an F-86 instructor at William's AFB, AZ. He flew in some of the scenes from The Hunters. Every time a 100 landed at Willie, the entire flight line would turn out to marvel & drool over The Hun. Dad never upgraded to the 100. He had to "settle" for quals in the A-4 Skyhawk (Navy exchange tour) & the F-104 Starfighter. Not a bad compromise.
Me and ken Taylor were born in Enid okla. Nothing else has happened there except they ran Doug champlin off.
@@billgund4532 Small world. I was born at Willie in 1958 and was an infant when they filmed "The Hunters" there. My dad also was an F-86 pilot there who flew in some of the filmed scenes of the movie. My mother told me that she was at the O'Club pool one day when Robert Mitchum walked past her. Oh, and my dad also went on to fly F-100's for a tour in Germany. I myself went on to fly F-4 Phantoms in the AF. Good memories.
This was worth the time to watch! One of the best aviation vids I've seen in a long time.
what an amazing story, your best ever! listening to their stories brought tears to my eyes. truly outstanding pilots
Was a F100 crew chief at RAF Wethersfield 1966 to 1969
I was you neighbor (kinda) at RAF Lakenheath, also '66 to '69 . . . load crew on the Hun
My dad was at Wethersfield working on F100s in 1958
In the early 60's, I saw the Super Sabre jet for the first time and fell in love with my first air craft. I was a very young child, my father was building jet engines for the U.S.A.F., and the Thunderbirds had come to Tinker A.F.B. What a show, and a 4rth of July to remember for all time.
The F100 was a good solid stable aircraft. It flew well within its speed envelope, the big problem it had was all the electronics were vacuum cubes. Just a few hits by anything or once you fire the guns on the thing it tends to screw up all the electronics. Vacuum tubes break under those kind of stresses.
I was a Crew Chief on F100's in Bien Hoa in 1965. We were rotated out of Homestead AFB in Florida. We were there from June to December and we flew almost 400 missions for close air support. I was discharged in November 1967 and had a great time in Tac with the F100 D I will never forget my AF tour and I am now 76 years old. Thank God .
I was in an Air Guard unit back in the 1970's. I got two rides in the back seat of a Super Sabre. I consider myself very lucky. Lots of people would love a chance to experience flying in a fighter jet even just once and I've done it twice.
Haha! Yep, that is a VERY rare claim. Very few can "one up" you at the bar!
Here's the link to my Facebook page that has the F-100 ride photos on it. Remember it was about 1978 and I was a LOT younger back then: facebook.com/jrvinnh/media_set?set=a.2152394187020.61142.1761388122&type=3
I never served as I lost an eye when I was one year old, but I always wanted to be in the sky. My dad was USAF in the 50s, Offut AFB, SAC HQ, Bellvue, NE.
Thank you for your service, pilots and ground crew. Much respect.
Always been a firm believer when a pilot retires, they get to take their jet too.
F-100 was a great aircraft, my uncle flew F-4 Phantoms over route pack 6 and now I'm a pilot..God Bless our vets.
I always had an interest in aircraft, especially fighter aircraft. I can attribute most to that to my two uncles, Uncle Bobby and Uncle Bill. Bobby was a Marine pilot flying A4 Skyhawks, serving two combat tours over Vietnam. My Uncle Bill, was an Air Force F100 pilot. I was closer to Uncle Bill only because I got to see him more when I was growing up. The highlight was back in 1957 when he flew his F100 into San Francisco International and stayed with us overnight. The next day while I was in school the teacher at my request let the class out to see Uncle Bill fly out from San Francisco, it was quite a sight seeing and hearing the noise that F100 produced as it flew north then east into the clouds. Back in those days, I witnessed a number of military aircraft fly out of there over the years, the most unusual was a B36 Peacemaker. At the time we lived in South San Francisco, about five miles from the main runway and a source of constant noise as departing planes frequently flew directly over our house. It wasn't bad until the commercial jets took over in the early 60s, when an outgoing commercial jet flew over you had to cease conversation for about 30 seconds. Everybody was so used to doing that it was second nature.
Unfortunately my Uncle Bill Fenton was killed in a F100 mishap over Berlin in 1962. According to my aunt, the Air Force told her Uncle Bill was training a new pilot in a two seat version of the F100 when for some unexplained reason the canopy blew off at speed and my Uncle sustained mortal injuries. The back seat trainee pilot was able to bring the aircraft in for a safe landing. I still think about him to this day, 55 years later because he was such a great all around nice guy, really humble. While I was attending San Jose State University back in the early 70s, the Aeronautics Department was located at the San Jose airport. Next to their main building sat an old and in poor physical condition F100 Super Sabre. I would drive by it's location enroute to school and each time I would say a mental hello to Uncle Bill as I took a quick passing glance at the fighter jet.
If anyone flew with Capt Bill Fenton in the 50s and early 60s and are still around, I would love to hear anything you knew about him or shared any experiences flying with him. My aunt is still alive living in Florida and she would be equally thrilled to hear as well.
John S wow! Amazing story! Do you know if there was ever an article made about his accident anywhere?
@@unfortunately_fortunate2000 I also wonder. Sounds like a legend.
@@unfortunately_fortunate2000 Thanks for asking, but there was nothing I could find, but that doesn't mean nothing exists. I found a site that listed AF pilot casualties, but he wasn't represented. I doubt it was official by any means though. I'm sure there are official Washington/AF records available, I just haven't pursued it to the Nth degree and basically accepted the explanation years ago. I should ask my Aunt if she has any official notifications, but to this day she remains skeptical of the AF explanation. She doesn't have any contradicting evidence to prove otherwise, just a gut feeling, but it did occur at the height of the Berlin War crisis and Cold War over Berlin, so who knows. I did have a chance about five years ago to briefly communicate with Gen Chuck Yeager, or at least through an apparent helper who relayed my questions and responses from him over the phone. He lives about 20 miles from me and he indicated a canopy accident like I described could happen. The conversation ended when the helper extended her sympathy, I thought that was nice of her even though it has been 57 years since his passing. Some things you never forget and Uncle Bill is still in my thoughts whenever I see videos or pictures of the F100. I wish I could talk to another pilot who is still alive that flew with him.
I was fortunate to have been acquainted with an F-100 pilot. He was quite a fellow. I was really pleased that he got one last flight, I believe in this aircraft. Thanks for posting this video.
I love how these old guys are still slinging the Hun around like it was nothing. Great story. Love the Super Sabre.
The F-100 Wild Weasel guys literally pushed their F-100s and their bodies to--and sometimes beyond--their structural limits (wings did come off on occasion). Their mission was to goad the North Vietnamese radars into "lighting up" (enabling anti-radiation missiles to guide right down their beams to destroy them). To try to avoid being shot down themselves, the pilots would--like ships that zig-zag to make themselves more difficult targets for torpedoes--keep making alternating, high-g turns. A brigadier general (whose name escapes me) was an F-100 Wild Weasel pilot in Vietnam in his younger days, and he still had a bad, painful back from pulling 6 gs for three hours at a time! When a reporter asked him why he took such a great risk, he said with a smile, "Back then we were young and stupid, and we thought we were indestructible."
As a kid I remember the New Mexico Air Guard had F-100's at Kirtland AFB , loved to watch those planes.
Mike
Oh man I wish my dad could have done this. He was a test pilot/instructor out of Nellis in the 50’s. His name was Captain Jon R. Romnes. Thanks for this video!
I love all of these guys. Thank you for your service.
Thank you gentleman for playing a role in trying to save my country! Wish I could meet you in person to say thanks!
That guy describing the sensation of going into afterburner and it feeling like he'd never been gone. Must have been a thrill to know he has the power to always remember what it'll be like!
Thank you for your service and sacrifice gentlemen! Much appreciated.
In 1967-68 , I was a life support specialist at Phu Cat.I turned 21 there. I remember one day watching the Huns from my squadron (612th TFS) take off, but instead of flying off somewhere, they wheeled around and started bomb runs right outside our perimeter. To this day I don't know what they were hitting, but it was a spectacle. I saw a 750lb low drag bounce through the air like a tennis ball after being dropped. It's ancient history, and just like yesterday all at once. Thank You for this video.
One of THE best if not THE best vids out there...the raw emotion of these Super Saber drivers really hits home.
These guys are the definition of cool, not Brad Pitt and George Clooney. It's sad how unappreciated and unknown it is by the majority of our society how much these guys did and how much of themselves they gave. I guess at the same time it's really nice to know many do care and keep their stories alive. Thank you. Such a fantastic video, thanks for sharing.
agreed!
What a wonderful team of aviators and gentlemen. So much they have to live with, so much good that they have done. God Bless em' all.
So cool!!! Thank you gentlemen for all you have done and continue to do.
thank you for your service. God Bless.
Thanks for the video. Great to see these former Super Sabre pilots back flying in an aircraft that held such memories. To those who served in Vietnam- thanks very much for doing your duty.
But how about vietnam both are still hunted by that war
I was living in fort Wayne Indiana as a child and watched the thunderbirds perform there when they were flying the super sabers...long time ago. lol
May not have been the best dog fighters, but the Century Series were some very interesting aircraft.
God bless ALL of you and thank you for your service!!
very touching. I LOVE the super sabre...coolest beast ever
Heros every last one! Thank you gentlemen AND I SECOND THAT. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THESE MEN WHO PROTECTED AND AND STILL PROTECT OUR FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vietnam was a mistake.
Those off timers are great guys and show they have not lost any of their old skills..... A well put together video.
Fantastic video and incredible men here. I thank and salute every one of you.......
My heart goes out to these guys, and the fallen.
Thank you for putting it on the line, and having the extra courage to carry on.
God bless these men. I'm a pilot from a different era, but I get what he said at the end. It's its own brotherhood and camaraderie and it's special.
Thank you from the UK. It was a dirty war but no doubt everyone that fought there, was a true hero.
Thank you god for these amazing men and everyone that supported them. Along with everyone else in all the wars that served for our great nation. God bless America. Thank you all. Amazing men and women.
As a kid, i saw the USAF Thunderbirds in Puerto Rico, flying the F100, an amazing spectacle.
That was one of the best documentaries I have ever watched.
This was fabulous. No idea why YT was so slow to put it on my list.
What an absolutely wonderful video.
Thank you for your service gentlemen. God bless you.
Oh man. So special. They are my kind of people alright. Respect. Thanks for sharing this.
You men were the best of the best and you still are! Thank every one of you!
Thank you for your service
thankyou for sharing this....thankyou very much!.....
This was an awesome video. Thanks .
My dad worked at North American Aviation (NAA) at Los Angeles International Airport. He was a new hire and was there when NAA delivered their production run of F-100's. The planes lined up side by side and took off in tandem. As soon as that group cleared the runway the next two took off. That continued for quite some time. The sky was black with exhaust and windows and buildings shook many miles around from the afterburners thrust. It raised quite a ruckus.
He also would get defective canopy's from the company store for us to use as sleds. Always ended up with cold rear ends. But very fun....
Totally cool . beautiful plane too...thank you for everything that you do..wow.
worked on the huns at sperry goodyear converting them to drones. great plane also did the f-102s
Great video. My dad flew F-100s out of Kadena AB in Okinawa and Cannon AFB, New Mexico.
What a great experience for these veterans to fly once again in their mounts, must have been so many memories for them.
We love all of you GOD BLESS YOU! and thank you from the the bottom of my heart
Great video, utmost respect to these oldschool pilots👍
What a GREAT opportunity for these heroes to relive a piece of their past! Thank you gentlemen for your brave service! God bless you!!!!
It`s great those veterans were given the opportunity to fly "their" Super Sabre one last time.....
Those men are heroes!
Greetings from Germany :)
It's always nice and wholesome to see veterans fly or drive their vehicles and getting joy from it
Thank you gentlemen for your sterling service to our country.
Kudos to each every one of the pilots that ever flew the plane,alive or deceased,they did a great job and will always be heros to the people they supported.We should never forget their dedication and service.
I remember the days when I was a grunt on the ground during all that junk. It was amazing every time those planes came in, and we were in deep. It was just flat awesome to look up at the noise and see someone zoom over in the most amazing airplane.
i went to Vietnam in may of 1970. the base they sent me to was a little ab on the south china sea. it was Tuy Hoa ab. i had just left the states where i was a crew chief on T-38s. now i found myself being a crew chief on F-100Ds, the lead sled. it was an easy plane to crew, but i hated having to install the drag chute. you had to lay on your back near the aft part of the craft and use your legs to push up on the door to latch. not fun on a hot metal psp surface. but i'd do it again in a heart beat if given another chance.
great great video, thank you for sharing & hats off to our super saber pilots!
The perfect video to watch when you're reading _Boyd the Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War_ Thanks!
That's so cool you got to fly and taxi the entire mission. Awesome guy
Thank you, AOPA, for preserving a bit of the legacy of these gentlemen.
Great video.
Great history.
Such an awesome story! Thank you ALL for your sacrifices!
Great video , I was a J57 tech at Phan Rang in 67-68 working on the trim pad . But what I wish I could have done was get a ride in that F100f . Still would love to do that ????