Audio of a B-52 Mission Over Hanoi
Even with the advances in weapons, avionics, and communication that bring situational awareness to new levels, the human element in warfare remains constant; the heightened senses, the reflexive reliance on training, the anxiety tempered with professionalism. Almost 40 years ago, during Operation Linebacker, B-52 crews were executing bombing runs over Hanoi, while flying through a hornet's nest of SAM (Surface to Air Missile) sites.
This video contains audio, with caption, of a B-52 mission over Hanoi. For those who haven't worn the uniform, or who haven't been on this type of mission, this will give you a taste, albeit a bitter one. For those who have lived this, well, … I reckon it's personal. I'm hoping my pulse will return to normal at some point. Early in the recording, one of our aircraft takes a direct hit. The buzzers you will hear signal open parachutes, though several on board were killed instantly. As the mission continues, you will hear the pilot and crew navigate a seemingly endless maze of SAM sites, and SAM launches as they continue to their target. According to the ticker, this recording lasts just under 10 minutes, but it must have been hellishly long for the aircrew.
If you have ten minutes to spare, listen to what these men did for each other, and for you. Just as those who currently wear the uniform sign their oath to the Constitution in blood, so too did those who served in Vietnam. Their valor and fidelity will not be forgotten.
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Jul '11
Re: Audio of a B-52 Mission Over Hanoi
To all you military pilots in here. You have parts of you made of brass and steel. I showed this whole thing to Marine Intruder pilot today who spent a large amount of time there. He helped me sort some of that audio out. It was a privilege just watching him ebb and flow with it.
Sep '10
Re: Audio of a B-52 Mission Over Hanoi
Seconded! And it's funny to realize that it read like plain English to me, too--but that's because I'm an airplane geek and I've read a lot of pilot's accounts of the air war over Vietnam. Last one I read was Palace Cobra by Ed Rasimus, who flew SAM suppression missions in an F-4 out of Korat on his second tour.
I'd love to hear about Ricochet's veterans' experiences, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Edited on April 3, 2012 at 3:45amOct '10
Re: Audio of a B-52 Mission Over Hanoi
I was in the 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Korat AB. 24 aircraft per squadron and 3 squadrons of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing TDY from Myrtle Beach SC. Every pilot in the wing had already flown a combat tour in an F-100 or F-105. Few pilots in the wing were happy to be back but nobody quit. This was the first and only time to date the Buffs (B-52s) had to fly into the teeth of integrated air defenses with SAMs and AAA. They earned their combat pay flying on autopilot in that environment.
Dec '10
Re: Audio of a B-52 Mission Over Hanoi
In my opinion, the most heroic and tragic part of the air war over North Vietnam was Rolling Thunder. The F-105 pilots, who flew those Rolling Thunder missions, daily flew into parts of Hell the Devil wouldn't go. The F-105 was a dive bomber which meant the pilot had to point the nose at the the ground and dive down to the release altitude to drop the bombs on the target. The area around Hanoi, Route Pack 6, had the most intense air defense system ever assembled. Not only were their SAM's but the radar guided Triple-A was withering. Thud pilots daily flew missions in RP 6 and no matter how horrific their losses, they never blinked or flinched, they just kept right on fighting. The mountain range north west of Hanoi was called Thud Ridge. The well known heuristic for the tour of duty of an average F-105 pilot was ... "Shot down twice and picked up once".
Thud pilots, the guys sitting in the O Club with a mustache, Aussie hat, and a 25 cent drink, set the gold standard for courage.
May '10
Re: Audio of a B-52 Mission Over Hanoi
Dave, thanks for sharing this. Even with video the true experience is unimaginable.
It reminded me of an audio track I heard while I was in college. I couldn't believe the tension and the way it made my heart race to listen to the air crew talk to each other, deal with the fear that focuses the mind, and figure out what they needed to fulfill their mission and survive. It was the 1989 Gulf of Sidra incident off the coast of Libya between two F-14 Tomcats and two MiG-23 Floggers. (direct link to mp3)