Air Force national museum adds ‘Wild Weasel’ exhibit

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DAYTON, Ohio (AFPN) --  An exhibit commemorating the accomplishments of the "Wild Weasels" during the Vietnam War was unveiled recently at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The exhibit contains an F-105G "Thunderchief" aircraft; an SA-2 surface-to-air missile and launcher; items such as maps, flight gear, helmets, gloves, patches, photos; and other artifacts used by the Wild Weasels.

The name "Wild Weasel" originates from the U.S. Air Force's first anti-SAM program, known as "Project Wild Weasel," that took place in 1965 during the Vietnam War.

The Wild Weasels were specialized U.S. Air Force crews and aircraft that suppressed enemy air defenses, including the Soviet SA-2, with direct attacks from 1965 to 1972. These attacks were some of the most dangerous missions in the Southeast Asia War.

"We are extremely honored to have an exhibit that pays tribute to the kind of courage and bravery exemplified by the Wild Weasels," said retired Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force director. "Their story is one that we are excited to share with the public because they accomplished their mission despite the long odds and great risk to themselves."

Developed in the mid 1950s, the SA-2 was the first effective Soviet surface-to-air missile. The Soviets used it to shoot down Gary Powers' U-2 over the United Soviet Socialist Republic in 1960 and Maj. Rudolph Anderson's U-2 over Cuba in 1962.

Shortly after the start of "Operation Rolling Thunder" in the spring of 1965, North Vietnam began receiving SA-2s, and with Soviet help, built several well-camouflaged sites. In addition, the North Vietnamese also ringed SA-2 sites with anti-aircraft artillery, making them even more dangerous to attack.

The Air Force placed great hope on the success of the Wild Weasel concept. Project Wild Weasel used modified two-seat F-100Fs, with the pilot flying and firing the weapons from the front seat, while an electronic warfare officer tracked enemy radar systems in the back seat. These trailblazers created, tested and proved SAM suppression tactics in combat.

The two-seat F-105F, or "Thud," formed the backbone of the U.S. Air Force SAM suppression during Operation Rolling Thunder. The F-105 Wild Weasels continued to develop tactics, flying two types of missions: strike support, by far the more common of the two, and "hunter-killer" search-and-destroy attacks.

On strike support missions deep into North Vietnam, Wild Weasels ranged ahead of strike forces to suppress SAM sites and destroy radar sites in the target area. Ideally, the Wild Weasels would destroy them, but intimidating the radars to shut down and keeping them occupied also accomplished the main mission of protecting the strike force. To complete their mission, the Wild Weasels selflessly kept themselves between the enemy defenses and the strike force. They remained in the area until the strike force was gone -- hence their motto "First In, Last Out."

The other type of Wild Weasel mission, search and destroy, involved hunting SAMs to destroy them as a primary mission. Usually flying in the southern part of North Vietnam, the Wild Weasel would "troll" for SAM sites, acting as bait to tempt them to fire. When a SAM site fired, the tell-tale smoke and dust created by the SA-2 launch visually revealed its exact location. After the trolling Wild Weasel outmaneuvered the missile with a "SAM break," the aircrew or another aircraft would attack and destroy the SAM site.

The Wild Weasels in Southeast Asia created an essential and lasting capability for the Air Force. Though some believed that SAMs would be "the death of the flying Air Force," the Wild Weasels provided an effective counter measure, paving the way and protecting strike forces over North Vietnam. The Wild Weasels accomplished their mission at great risk to themselves -- 34 Wild Weasels were killed or missing in action and 19 became POWs. In addition, they lost a third of their aircraft in combat.

Visit http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum for more information on this exhibit or other exhibits at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.