Interesantna priča o nepoznatom asu u Vijetnamu

[Roy]

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_344.shtml

On the other side the general public opinion is that the first American „ace“ (means: pilot that shot down five enemy aircraft in air combat) of the Vietnam War, was USN Lt. Randy Cunningham (and his RIO, Lt. William Driscol), who scored his fifth kill in May 1972. However, if drones would „count“, this would be VERY far from the truth! Namely, during 1970, AQM-34Ls were equipped with the HATRAC-system, which could not only recognize a SAM- or airborne interception, but also steer the drone into deception or evasive manoeuvring (HATRAC supposedly also had a very small picture of one not very popular officer mounted somewhere on it, who then „took over the responsibility“ if anything went wrong). Suddenly, the rate of scrambles, as well as successful interceptions by North Vietnamese MiGs fell, as SRVAF records showed only six encounters and not a single kill during that whole year!

Actually, there were kills, but they were scored by Americans - and indirectly. In May 1970, an AQM-34L was on a mission over Hanoi area, acting as a manned reconnaissance aircraft. Finishing its photo-run, the drone turned toward the Tonking Gulf, where it was to ditch after spending its remaining fuel. Almost everything was going according to plan - down to one detail: the drone was intercepted by an MiG-21 of the 921st FR. The fighter closed and tried to shot it down by two K-13/AA-2 Atoll air-to-air missiles. Both malfunctioned however, and the Vietnamese continued the pursuit, trying to down the drone by tackling its wing. By doing so, the SRVAF-pilot forgot to control his fuel reserves: after the drone fell harmlessly into the sea, he found out that he had not enough fuel to return to base. The Vietnamese ejected while flying back toward the coast. This was the first air-to-air kill scored by an unmanned aircraft in the history of air warfare.

This drone was salvaged and it continued its interesting carrier. On 9 March 1971 it was on a photo-run, most probably over the SRVAF’s Tho Xuan AB, when intercepted by two MiG-21s. Manoeuvring behind the drone, one of Vietnamese pilots „finally“ acquired the target and fired an K-13/AA-2 missile. A direct hit was scored - however, not on the drone but on the leader of the Vietnamese section, flown by pilot Luong Duc Truong, who was killed. Only several weeks later the same drone flew straight into fierce Vietnamese air defence fire and was simultaneously intercepted by an MiG-21 of the SRVAF. While the drone came away the unlucky MiG-pilot experienced the excellent marksmanship of his colleagues on the ground: he was shot down. By the end of 1971, the same drone „scored“ two further „kills“, becoming the actual first US air-combat „ace“ of the Vietnam War!

[...ska]

Roy kaže:

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_344.shtml

On the other side the general public opinion is that the first American „ace“ (means: pilot that shot down five enemy aircraft in air combat) of the Vietnam War, was USN Lt. Randy Cunningham (and his RIO, Lt. William Driscol), who scored his fifth kill in May 1972. However, if drones would „count“, this would be VERY far from the truth! Namely, during 1970, AQM-34Ls were equipped with the HATRAC-system, which could not only recognize a SAM- or airborne interception, but also steer the drone into deception or evasive manoeuvring (HATRAC supposedly also had a very small picture of one not very popular officer mounted somewhere on it, who then „took over the responsibility“ if anything went wrong). Suddenly, the rate of scrambles, as well as successful interceptions by North Vietnamese MiGs fell, as SRVAF records showed only six encounters and not a single kill during that whole year!

Actually, there were kills, but they were scored by Americans - and indirectly. In May 1970, an AQM-34L was on a mission over Hanoi area, acting as a manned reconnaissance aircraft. Finishing its photo-run, the drone turned toward the Tonking Gulf, where it was to ditch after spending its remaining fuel. Almost everything was going according to plan - down to one detail: the drone was intercepted by an MiG-21 of the 921st FR. The fighter closed and tried to shot it down by two K-13/AA-2 Atoll air-to-air missiles. Both malfunctioned however, and the Vietnamese continued the pursuit, trying to down the drone by tackling its wing. By doing so, the SRVAF-pilot forgot to control his fuel reserves: after the drone fell harmlessly into the sea, he found out that he had not enough fuel to return to base. The Vietnamese ejected while flying back toward the coast. This was the first air-to-air kill scored by an unmanned aircraft in the history of air warfare.

This drone was salvaged and it continued its interesting carrier. On 9 March 1971 it was on a photo-run, most probably over the SRVAF’s Tho Xuan AB, when intercepted by two MiG-21s. Manoeuvring behind the drone, one of Vietnamese pilots „finally“ acquired the target and fired an K-13/AA-2 missile. A direct hit was scored - however, not on the drone but on the leader of the Vietnamese section, flown by pilot Luong Duc Truong, who was killed. Only several weeks later the same drone flew straight into fierce Vietnamese air defence fire and was simultaneously intercepted by an MiG-21 of the SRVAF. While the drone came away the unlucky MiG-pilot experienced the excellent marksmanship of his colleagues on the ground: he was shot down. By the end of 1971, the same drone „scored“ two further „kills“, becoming the actual first US air-combat „ace“ of the Vietnam War!

Haha, citao sam ovo nekad davno, dobra !