Wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces specifically the us air force to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radarseeking missiles and tasked with destroying the radars and sam installations of enemy air defense systems. Wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces, specifically the us air force, to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with antiradiation missiles and tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses. The first wild weasel missions were carried out by f 105f thunderchiefs and later f 4 phantoms. The f16 fighting falcon, in addition to being a premier airtoair combat platform also performs a very important mission called sead or suppression of enemy air defenses. Bryan splash smith, usaf, chief of mobility and f16cj fighter pilot at. The mission, known as the wild weasels, dates back to vietnam, said capt. Send me an email if you want to support this site buying the original patch, only. The 35 og is a combatready fighter group composed of two deployable f 16cj wild weasel fighter squadrons tail code. For this role the f 15f is fitted with the litton trw anapr52 precision direction finding pdf system. Elite force bbi lockheed f 16c fighting falcon fighter jet 1. With the newer aircraft and the time to train, wild weasels became a much more capable force. Desert storm was the first and last war for the f 4g advanced wild weasel by robert f. Following equipment upgrades and enhancements, the f 105f evolved into the f 105g wild weasel iii.
The wild weasels in southeast asia created an essential and lasting capability for the u. Battle ship, a pilot with the 480th fighter squadron out of spangdahlem air base, germany, who asked to be identified by his call sign. May 19, 2015 after the southeast asia war, with the role of the wild weasel established, the usaf developed even better systems for the suppression of enemy air defenses or sead. This storied unit has operated f16s since 1983, before many active duty units had received the multirole aircraft. The usafs deadliest f16 viper pilot on women, combat, and. The 35th operations support squadron has a proud heritage dating back to 25 january 1943, when it was constituted as the 35th airdrome squadron. The wild weasel mission today is performed by specially trained f16cj. Dec 21, 2016 in the previous episode a story about the end of the line for the tremendous phantom f4s service in the us military was featured. The addition of the ccip system in 2005 further enhanced its combat capabilities. This patch is from the 4th fighter squadron and is indeed from hill afb utah.
This was the classic wild weasel combination, replacing the f100fs, which flew. Here is the latest update on the wild weasel 50th anniversary, from the reunion. It is a combatready fighter group composed of two deployable f 16cj wild weasel fighter squadrons, one operational support squadron, and one air control flight capable of conducting and supporting air operations worldwide. The dramatically improved followon system, the f 4g, entered service in 1978, along with the excellent agm88 harm high speed antiradiation missile in 1980. In the postwar years, the f 4g model formed the basis of a new breed of wild weasel through the wild weasel v standard. The f16 super weasels small, powerful, and supremely agile fighters and are the backbone to the usafs seaddead capability. Heres how an f16 wild weasel pilot earned the silver star.
Air force need for a small and agile fighter, the f 16 viper has. It was a very interesting time when we set up the block 50s to do seaddead, said brigadier general charlie tuna moore, former commander of the 57 th wing at nellis air force base, nevada moore was a young lieutenant and then captain stationed at shaw afb, in sumter, south carolina, when the handoff of the wild weasel torch occurred between the f. Dorr january 16, 2011 f 4g advanced wild weasels of the 52nd tactical fighter wing deployed from spangdahlem, germany, and fought in the 1991 persian gulf war. I know this probably will be contested, but the f 16cj has been the only weasel in the usaf since 1993ish. Heres how an f16 wild weasel pilot earned the silver. Armed with the agm88 harm antiradiation missile, it was designated as the f 16cj and was tasked with wild weasel missions to suppress enemy air defences. Developed by general dynamics as a multirole fighter aircraft, the f16c fighting falcon stemmed from the us air forceas need for a lightweight fighter, as the f15 eagles proved to be too expensive for mass production. Mission provides operational support to the 35th operations group, including two f 16cj wild weasel fighter squadrons, conducting suppression of enemy air defense sead air operations. By july 1980, the last f 105g left george air force base, leaving the 35th with f 4gs in its inventory for wild weasel training. Desert storm was the first and last war for the f4g advanced. To continue our effort to honor the service of this magnificent aircraft, in this episode we will take a look at the f4s role in wild weasel missions that started in the vietnam war and remains an important part of combat air missions to this day. I am an f16c pilot assigned to the 23d tactical fighter squadron from spangdahlem ab. During the gulf war of 1991, wild weasel missions were done by the f4g and not thef16 fighting falcon, a light fighterbomber that can also battle enemy fighter aircraft. A lockheedmartin block 52 f 16cj from the 16th weapons squadron prepares to launch for a night sortie at nellis afb, nv.
Air forces f16 wild weasels hunt missile sites, destroy. Wild weasel squadron tshirt, usaf, f 4 phantom, f 16cj viper. The 35th fighter wing 35 fw is an f16cj unit of the usaf and the host unit at misawa air base, japan. Usaf wild weasel squadron hat, f16 viper, f4 phantom. F 16 block 50d52d f 16cj wild weasel sources and resources. In mid1978, the 431st tfts was inactivated and replaced by the 561st tfs. In the vietnam war, the main missile used by wild weasels was the agm45 shrike.
Meyer remarks sead is here to stay, since it is already planned to be the primary mission set for the f35. Jun 22, 2017 air forces f16 wild weasels hunt missile sites, destroy them. They operate the f16 fighting falcon aircraft conducting wild weasel missions. No less than four wild weasel squadrons are based in south carolina. Sep 20, 2002 the crews that had survived the f 100 wild weasel missions were flown back to the united states to train the next batch of wild weasel crews. The usafs deadliest f16 viper pilot on women, combat, and the f35. Legacy of the southeast asia wild weasels national. Usaf wild weasel ygbsm patch f 100 f 105 f 4 f 16 sam harm ecm ewo radar vietnam. Oct 31, 2019 the 35th operations group is a component of the 35th fighter wing, misawa air base, japan. The usaf settled instead on an adaptation of the f 16 for the wild weasel mission, in light of israeli success in using speciallyadapted twoseat f 16s for air defense suppression missions. The back of each version shares a special rotor that showcases all of the historic wild weasel platforms.
Post vietnam war usaf us air force 37th wild weasel tactical fighter wing patch see. Japan f 16cj wild weasel, usaf 14th fighter squadron samurai meltdown tour 2011 patch 35th operations group 35th fighter wing misawa ab. The 35th operations group is a component of the 35th fighter wing, misawa air base, japan. F16cj wild weasels played a key role in patrolling the no fly zones over iraq operations northern watch and southern watch. This was the f 16cj block 5052d, which was adopted at the usafs standard sead wild weasel aircraft. Mcdonnell douglas f4 wild weasel electronic warfare. Air force photo the wild weasels in southeast asia created an essential and lasting capability for the u. Looking for the most accurate aircraft profile illustrations you can get. F 16cj dj block 50d52d wild weasel recognised for its ability to carry the agm88 harm and the anasq2 harm targeting system hts in the suppression of enemy air defenses sead mission. In 1985 the \panther pack\ moved to their present home at misawa air base, japan, and now fly the multirole f 16cj fighting falcon. Provided detachments to fresno angb and george afb, ca, to take over alert commitment from the 194 th fis while the ca ang unit was converting to the f 16, 1989. F 16cj wild weasel as part of the complete rebuild the attachments da c tamiya 1 72 f16cj wild weasel build log and reveal a wild weasel f 16 fighting falcon sits on. Mcdonnell douglas f4 wild weasel electronic warfare aircraft. The first wild weasel missions were carried out by f105f thunderchiefs and later f4 phantoms.
F16 news archive wild weasels enter the fray at red flag. The riskiness of the job is illustrated in a vintage unit patch, which depicts an anxiouslooking cartoon weasel and the letters, ygbsm, short for you gotta be sg me. Currently, some of the weapons used by the wild weasel planes includes the agm88 harm and the agm65 maverick airtoground missiles. The wild weasel and suppression of enemy air defense mission is.
The first wild weasel success came soon after the first wild weasel mission 20. The dial has a front profile of the f 16cj aircraft, an image of willie the weasel with ygbsm, and 50 incorporated into the 5 position on the watch face. Jun 25, 2017 usaf f 16cj fighter pilot on sead mission, challenges of flying block 50 viper. The 35 fw is part of pacific air forces, fifth air force. Operations combat in southeast asia, dec 1971 apr 1973. And so i give you the f 15f strike eagle wild weasel the f 15f is dedicated to the sead role and like the f 4g before it works in hunter killer teams with the f 16cj block 5052. Wild weasel is a code name given by the united states armed forces, specifically the us air force, to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radarseeking missiles and tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses.
F 16cj wild weasel after the f 4g wild weasel phantoms r f 16 fighting falcon military aircraft vietnam s wild weasels f 16cj wild weasel pilot then this is bremont military hobby master 1 72 air power series ha3824 lockheed f 16cj wild weasel legacy an f 16cj wild weasel. Tamiya aircraft 148 f16cj block 50 fighting falcon. Having his name on the same f 16 his father flew is just one part of continuing his familys legacy of defending freedom. Feb 21, 2018 wild weasel was a concept tied to various aircraft serving the united states military in the electronic warfare aircraft ewa role. Born in response to lwf light weight fighter program, to meet the u. Air forces f16 wild weasels hunt missile sites, destroy them. For this role the f15f is fitted with the litton trw anapr52 precision direction finding pdf system. Legacy of the southeast asia wild weasels national museum. Air forces f 16 wild weasels hunt missile sites, destroy them. Your wild weasel patches are 4 tall, and 100% embroidered with velcro backing. Many of the airframes were later used as target drones and aircraft battle damage repair training aids. For those who are not familiar, that stands for youve gotta be shitting me. Usaf f16cj fighter pilot on sead mission, challenges of. Wild weasel simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Genesis of the successful f16 fighterattack aircraft lies in reaction to severe. Us air force f 16 patches 510th fs red air asif shamim collection 22nd fs jennifer stallion 08 michael weinberger collection fs f16cj wild weasel patch haruki nakamine collection 22nd fs anatolian eagle 2008 asif shamim collection 555 fs friday patch 2009 emiliano guerra collection 510 fs f 16 silhouette emiliano guerra. Nov 25, 2008 my plan is to use wpnsgts f 16c blk 5052 for an accurate i. F16cm fighting falcon wild weasel 50th anniversary. Oct 31, 2019 the 35th operations support squadron is a component of the 35th operations group, 35th fighter wing, misawa air base, japan. Provided detachment to loring afb, me, to take over alert commitment from the 101st fis while the ma ang unit was converting to f 15, 1987. Along with airtoair and interdiction roles, the th is now the world\s premier \ wild weasel \ squadron, performing the suppression of enemy air defense mission. The f 4g wild weasels were now based on the improved f 4g airframe, the phantom regarded by many as one of the finest combat aircraft ever to fly. A brandnew wild weasel pilot prepares to start his block 52 f16cj at mcentire jngb, preparing to launch for a training mission. The 35th operations support squadron is a component of the 35th operations group, 35th fighter wing, misawa air base, japan. The 35th fighter wing 35 fw is an f16cj air combat unit of the united states air force and the host unit at misawa air base, japan. This specialised version of the f 16 can also carry the alq119 electronic jamming pod for selfprotection.
Pretty cool 35th fighter wing wild weasel f16 swirl patch. Wild weasels were treated by a capes capabilities briefing on the f16cj. Legacy of the southeast asia wild weasels national museum of. F 16 news archive wild weasels enter the fray at red flag may 04, 2015 pilots from the th fighter squadron and maintainers from the 35th maintenance group are currently engaged in the aerial training exercise red flag held at eielson and elmendorf air force bases, alaska. The bespoke rotor showcases all of the historic wild weasel. In 1980, the wing received the new f 4g and its advanced wild weasel system. The f 100f was the original wild weasel, and it was followed by the f 105fd thud during the vietnam war. These aircraft were specifically outfitted with equipment to detect surfacetoair missile sam threats and neutralize them typically with antiradiation missiles.
Usaf f16cj fighter pilot on sead mission, challenges of flying. The first wild weasel f 100fs arrived at korat royal thai air force base in november 1965. The f 4g advanced wild weasel, was the last model still in the active air force inventory, until it was replaced by the f 16cj dj in the role of increasing the survivability of tactical strike forces by seeking out and suppressing or destroying enemy radardirected antiaircraft artillery batteries and surfaceto. I remember seeing thud weasel patches with the words wild weasel ygbsm. Many has claimed that the transfer from dualseat f 4gs to single seat f 16cj s would cause a great problem in fulfilling the role of wild weasel, but modern technology has compensated this to a large extend. This is the reason wild weasel pilots have a low survival rate. The 35th fighter wing 35 fw is an f 16cj unit of the usaf and the host unit at misawa air base, japan. Desert storm was the first and last war for the f4g. The usafs deadliest f 16 viper pilot on women, combat, and the f 35. The f 16cj timepiece is based on the mbiii with a bespoke dial, dial ring, hand and rotor.
Home military aviation heres how an f16 wild weasel pilot earned the silver star decoration during operation allied force. The official designation for these aircraft is f16c block 5052. F4g advanced wild weasel f4 phantom ii military aircraft. It is a combatready fighter group composed of two deployable f 16cj wild weasel fighter squadrons, one operational support squadron, and one air control flight. The usafs deadliest f16 viper pilot on women, combat. The riskiness of the job is illustrated in a vintage unit patch, which depicts an anxiouslooking cartoon weasel and the letters, ygbsm, short for. Ww, one operational support squadron, and one air control flight capable of conducting and supporting air operations worldwide. In the wild weaself16 teams training for that kind of conflict, the. Also known as wild weasel the mission is to enter enemy airspace early and disrupt or destroy their air defenses. May 10, 2016 and so i give you the f15f strike eagle wild weasel the f15f is dedicated to the sead role and like the f4g before it works in hunter killer teams with the f16cj block 5052.
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