To Suppress and Destroy: A History of the Wild Weasel (Part 3)

As the F-4G retired from service in 1996, a new aircraft stepped in: the Block 50/52 configuration of the Lockheed-Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon, commonly referred to as the Viper. The delineation between the Block 50 and Block 52 is simply the motor; Block 50s are reliant upon General Electric engines, and the Block 52s are powered […]

To Suppress and Destroy: A History of the Wild Weasel (Part 2)

The new Republic F-105F Thunderchiefs and their crews faced a significant challenge, as over 100 North Vietnamese SAM sites were operational by August of 1966. By that time the Weasels carried the new AGM-45 Shrike missile, which homed in on the radar antenna itself. Although the Shrike presented more of a threat than the weaponry […]

U.S. Air Force Weapons School (Part 2)

The U.S. Air Force Weapons School traces its origins back to the Aircraft Gunnery School, which was established at what was then Las Vegas Air Force Base in 1949. The initial cadre of instructors was composed of seasoned pilots, all combat veterans of World War II. These men, who dedicated their efforts to training the next generation, […]