Special Operations

David W. Irvin

Description

The true story documenting the short range history of the bomber force. Told in three parts, it demonstrates the versatility of the military pilot and observer and is a credit to the training they receive, coupled with the experience each one of them acquired.

Sujets

• Histoire
• Military
• History
• Aviation

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 15 juin 2002
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781681623986
• Langue: English

Extrait

S PECIAL O PERATIONS

Colonel David W. Irvin, Jr.
TURNER PUBLISHING COMPANY
TURNER PUBLISHING COMPANY
Copyright 2002 Colonel David W. Irwin, Jr. Publishing Rights: Turner Publishing Company
Turner Publishing Company Staff: Publishing Consultant: Virginia-Sue Forstot Designer: Susan L. Harwood
This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the written consent of the author and publisher.
Library of Congress Control No: 2002104681
ISBN: 978-1-56311-807-4
Additional copies may be purchased directly from the publisher. Limited Edition
T ABLE OF C ONTENTS
Chapter 1: The Operational Concept
Chapter 2: Concentrated Training
Chapter 3: The Road to the B-47
Chapter 4: Overseas Rotation
Chapter 5: Redeployment
Chapter 6: Introduction to the B-47
Chapter 7: Combat Training - Morocco
Chapter 8: Redeployment
Chapter 9: The Preparation
Chapter 10: Survival/Overseas Rotation
Chapter 11: Dramatic Changes
Chapter 12: Whiskey Orange - The Start
Chapter 13: Whiskey Blue
Chapter 14: Whiskey Red
Chapter 15: Operation Long Run
Chapter 16: Letdown Landing
Chapter 17: Departure for the UK
Chapter 18: Strike Against LaRochelle
Chapter 19: England, R R
Chapter 20: England and The Past
Chapter 21: Texas League Briefing
Chapter 22: The Frustrations
Chapter 23: Texas League
Chapter 24: The Terror - Night Mass Air Refueling ...
Chapter 25: Texas League Strike
Chapter 26: Bombing of Chicago
Chapter 27: The Final Decision
Chapter 28: Lake Charles - The Landing
Chapter 29: Texas League is Over
Chapter 30: Post Mortem
Chapter 31: Epilogue
P ROLOGUE
This story is in three parts and demonstrates the versatility of the military pilot and observer and is a credit to the training they received, coupled with the experience each one of them acquired. First, the reader will learn how the novice military pilot was prepared for his introduction to the jet bomber. It is necessarily direct and still leads the reader along the route of what goes into the preparation each crew member goes through and ultimately becomes a professional. Part two is the explicit training the crew members go through to become a neophyte in the strategic bomber force that can and will, defend our nation, if the need arises. Each aircraft, in this advanced technological age of flight, has a specific purpose and to use it in other than its designed role and the trained crew is a travesty, a waste of money and individual expertise.
The concept of high level flight technique for penetrating enemy defenses originated in WWII, initially and then progressed into higher altitude bombing and like any other advances, brought us into the jet age. The manufacture of the jet bomber, powered by jet engines, was a change of philosophy that rivaled the nuclear bomb, and we all should know how that changed the complexities of warfare. Thus was borne the global and limited war concept. Under each condition, the concept of high altitude technique was the approved philosophy that was perpetuated, until the introduction of the Surface-to-Air (SAM) missile. Because of the initial inherent inaccuracy of the SAM, the high altitude penetration bomber approach still remained in effect. Within the space of five years, approximately, the accuracy of the foreign missiles dramatically changed the strategic bombing concept. We were literally forced to go into a low level high speed mode. The Boeing Stratojet (B-47) was conceived and manufactured with the continued idea of high altitude bombing. We were all trained in the high altitude approach, but SAC had a problem and they did the best they could to change from high to low altitude. Unfortunately, none of the pilots, observers or planners were trained to fly the bomber at speeds and altitudes never considered in all of their previous training.
Part three demonstrates the abrupt change to low altitude and high speed penetrations of enemy territory. The National Authority still considered high altitude as the initial phase, followed by aerial refueling and making the bomb run at unfamiliar attitudes and speeds was to be overcome by practice, practice and refinement.
One huge problem remained and it was not to be taken without exposing the flight crew and airplane to a nuclear blast. The problem was one of releasing the nuclear weapon and being able to escape the explosion. The nuclear experts, primarily at Sandia Base, near Albuquerque, New Mexico finally solved the problem, they thought, of the only escape route that could provide somewhat of a safety factor for the people who released the weapon. It must be remembered this was the real reason for all of the preparation. The crews knew it and were prepared to do what needed to be done if a nuclear conflict was a reality. Thus was borne the Pop-Up maneuver, as it was called. A detailed explanation will be covered in the late chapters of this book. Suffice it to say, this was the ultimate hazard the flight crews would be expected to do. In the 1950-1960s there were no technological wonders that allowed a small nuclear weapon to be launched from enough distance to allow the crew to escape to safety.
The method of training the bomber crews for a low level high speed approach was hastily conceived and became an immediate operational/training problem for the testing of the new idea. How this evolved will be explained and should surprise the reader. The idea was not novel, but expedient. Fortunately, we did not lose any B-47s, but when introduced to the B-52 fleet (the successor to the B-47 and also built by Boeing) the low level techniques caused the loss of several of the eight-engine behemoths.
In retrospect, the strategic planners really had a difficult decision as to how to get the crews into the mode of the concept of flying a big bomber at extremely low altitudes and high speeds.
This story is without an ending, happily or not. The Strategic Air Command (SAC) and the Tactical Air Command (TAC) were integrated into the Strike Command. On the strategic side of the ledger, the late model B-52s (G and H model), the B-1 and B-2 are the backbone of the long range force. Fortunately, they don t have a mission and hopefully, will not be needed. With that in mind the short range history of the bomber force will be historically documented source for our children to learn and understand.
Fortunately, Operation Texas League was without any fatalities, due exclusively to the expertise, knowledge and aggression of the flight crews, both tanker and bomber. Although the exercise was accomplished when the Cold War was in full operation, the dedication of the young men of the Air Force demonstrated their support of following the dictums of higher authority.
On the other hand, Operation Whiskey Orange sustained losses, but proved the flexibility of aircraft and crews that continued to support the National Objectives.
In the annals of aviation the exploits of legendary pioneers are called to mind, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Hap Arnold, Curtis LeMay and others bring memories of the dynamic people who furthered the cause of manned flight. There are others, who made singular contributions but are unheralded because of circumstances, nevertheless deserve to be remembered because, without them, the expansion of the airplane would never had been perpetuated.
This story is true in every respect. The dates, places, circumstances and events actually happened. The names, their deeds and misdeeds should not be acknowledged except for what they did and not who did them. The embarrassment caused by the results of poor planning, faulty execution and lack of leadership points out how individual effort can overcome insurmountable odds.
Special Operations is dedicated to the professional military aviators, who are too often maligned during peacetime, but taken for granted in times of conflict.

A B-47E without wing tanks. The white paint was not standard and was not on SAC B-47s.
Chapter 1
T HE O PERATIONAL C ONCEPT
From the late 1940s, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) used the B-29 (from WWII use), the B-50 and B-36 as its front-line bomber force. The Cold War was beginning to pressure both the United States and Russia to compete for domination for the strategic aircraft forces. The missiles had not made their appearance, but the Russians were forced into a defensive position and started producing the best front-line tactical jets aircraft.
The United States was still using the North American P-51 (the best fighter in WWII) and pressure on the aircraft industry to expand the F-86 and retool for advanced tactical aircraft. The British were using the Meteor jet, but the French and Canadians were still far behind.
For some inexplicable reason the Russians never had a frontline bomber force. Instead, they were to advance their position by manufacturing the Surface-to-Air (SAM) missile. Their concept forced the Allies to change their strategic thinking. The tactical aircraft were not in jeopardy in the 1950s. What the United States needed was a strategic jet bomber, capable of carrying a 20,000 pound nuclear bomb. Our prop-driven bombers could and the B-36 (with eight propeller pusher engines and four jet engines for use on takeoff and climb) could be very slow bombers, too slow to outrun or battle the Russian fighters (MiG-15 and successors).
Airborne radar was out of its infancy. We had invented advanced radar, learned from the British in 1944-45, as used in their Pathfinder Force (PFF). It was crude and its accuracy was circumspect, but much better than night visual bombing strikes on German targets. Our piston bombers were using radar bombing techniques, but it was not accurate enough for the present-day strategic forces.
Although still needing refinement, our airborne radar was becoming more and more sophisticated and was ready for the newest bomber in the Air Force inventory, the Boeing B-47 jet aircr