Background: General Robin Olds, commander of the 8th TFW between 1966-1967 while a Colonel, is something of a legend in the USAF. A W.W.II ace with 12 victories, he scored four MiG victories in Vietnam, falling just one short of being the first Vietnam War ace. However, the following story (true or not) still makes the rounds of the 8th TFW Officer Club in Kunan AB, ROK, the present home of the 8th TFW.
Near the end of his tour in 1967, Col. Olds and his wingman were vectored onto a flight of MiG-21Fs by the "Red Crown" AEW. Approaching head on, the two Phantoms acquired radar lock-on before visually spotting and confirming that the flight was indeed MiGs. Both launched Sparrows, but during the missiles' flight it became uncertain as to whose missile actually hit, downing a MiG. No other MiGs were shot down during the ensuing fight before the MiGs broke off and headed home. Although his wingman was certain it was Olds' Sparrow which downed the MiG-21, Olds refused credit, stating in effect, "If I'm going to be the first Vietnam War ace, my fifth kill will be a clean kill" It was the last time Col. Olds encountered MiGs before the end of his tour.
Maps
Game Length: 20 game turns.
Notes:
1. The MiGs are spotted and #1 and #2 are locked-on to by Phantom #1 and #2 respectively. The MiGs are silver, the F-4s are camouflaged. The MiGs must still be visually I.D.ed.
2. F-4C Loads: Stations 1,5= 1200L FT. Stations 2,4= two AIM-9B IRM each. Station 3= SUU-16 20mm GP. Stations 6,7,8,9= one AIM-7E RHM.
3. MiG Loads: Stations 1,3= AA-2A A toll IRM. Station 2= 600L FT.
4. Crew Quality: F-4#1= V (Tactics Master, Sierra Hotel), a.k.a. Col. Olds/R. F-4#2= V/R. MiGs = R (Combat Hero), R, V, N. All attributes are average.
5. Weather: Clear, LO Haze, Contrails at 28.
6. Fuel: F-4 start= 470, bingo= 270, Tanker availability # = 7 MiG start= 200 (still using FT), bingo= 85.
7. Special Rules: The MiGs must climb using sustained climbs until they either reach the level of the lowest Phantom, or sight a Phantom or missile, or are attacked. They have GCI radar support and may maneuver freely after meeting the climb and/or sighting requirements.
8. The F-4s must both launch at least one AIM-7 on the turn that visual ID is established provided they have lock-ons.
9. Victory: To win, Col. Olds must score at least one kill and the USAF player must have more points overall. The NVAF player may win by preventing Col. Olds' fifth kill and or shooting Col. Olds down, or by having more points overall.
10. If you do no own "The Speed of Heat" but have the F-4C card from issue #8 of Air Power and the Mig-21F from Desert Falcons, you may still play the scenario using Air Sup. maps as follows:
Place the aircraft in the following hexes: F-4s in A-1114, A-1116. Mig in B-0807, B-0706, B-0804.
The Speed of Heat New Scenarios
Back to Table of Contents -- Air Power # 21
Back to Air Power List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Magazine List
© Copyright 1992 by J.D. Webster
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com