Termite Hill (Vietnam Air War Book 1) by Wilson Tom

Author:Wilson, Tom [Wilson, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2016-01-27T05:00:00+00:00

20/2305L—Mu Gia Pass, Laos

Bear Stewart

It had been a busy few days for Benny and the Bear. They had flown two more missions to the lower route packs, and now the two-ship night mission in support of a B-52 mission to the Laotian side of Mu Gia Pass, which straddled the North Vietnamese border. Mu Gia was a favorite bombing area for headquarters planners for it was a narrow valley through which the meandering Ho Chi Minh trail was funneled.

Benny and the Bear never saw the bombers. The B-52's flew their "Arc Light" missions at much higher altitudes. The F-105 Weasels were escorts, tasked to attack any SAM threats that might appear. SAM sites had never deployed into the areas the B-52's bombed, but the Americans couldn't take the chance of losing one of the big, expensive bombers.

When the bombs began to explode in the distance they watched in awe.

"My God," exclaimed Benny. "I've never seen so many bombs going off."

They watched as one long string of bombs after another flashed and danced brightly in the eerie darkness of the distant valley. Each bomber released more explosives than an entire flight of F-105's. The Bear wondered aloud why the hell the big bombers weren't being used up north in pack six.

"I don't think they believe the BUFs could survive there," answered Benny.

"Maybe," said the Bear, "but it would sure as hell give the gomers something to think about. The B-52 radar navigators are damned accurate. One string of those bombs would take out any of the targets we pound on for days. I flew in 'em, but I never actually saw what they could do from a ringside seat like this."

He looked at his scopes. "No threats, Benny. I think they've taken the night off."

"No threats," Benny radioed on a blind frequency, then turned back toward North Vietnam, fifteen miles distant. He returned to their conversation on the intercom. "You were an EWO in a BUF. You think they could survive in pack six?"

"They'd have to change some things. Their war plan is to fly up there in three-ship cells. Ten cells of bombers one behind the other across North Vietnam. They'd drop their bombs, then make a nice right-hand turn and leave."

"Sounds crazy."

"Amen. If they ever bomb up in pack six they'd better either change their plan or prepare to lose a lot of aluminum and men. The crews know that, but they're being led by generals who flew in World War Two and never saw a SAM."

Benny returned to business. "Any threats?"

The Bear surveyed his scopes again. "Not a peep. I've got a long-range radar, but it's not generating enough power to be a Barlock like the one I saw when I was running around on the ground. I guess Sam and his flight destroyed it."

"Can you tell where the signal's coming from?"

"It's probably the old Token radar they've got up at Phuc Yen."

They were quiet for a while as the Bear observed the multiple signals of the distant radar rise and fall on his analysis scope.

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