Warbird Information Exchange (Website)

[Kira]

As usual, I'm unfamiliar with the site, so accuracy is questionable - but - there are some rather interesting stories behind these photographs (captions), assuming they're accurate.

 

The picture thread that brought me there:

 

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=476142

 

Base site:

 

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/index.php?sid=7f1caf1188960cc20f9fa3701dca12ab

 

I might point out the one that grabbed my attention immediately, that of USAF 1st Lt Karl Richter, who flew 198 (officially, unofficially, he was over 200) missions over North Vietnam in an F-105 before being shot down over the mountains.  (That's twice the required number of 100.)  He died, at 24, en route to hospital after being picked up by a rescue helicopter.  His story is a prime example, in my mind, of the waste of amazing talent in that mess that was the Vietnam War.

 

As I understand it, 38% of the total F-105 production run ended up as scrap metal due to combat losses in Vietnam.  It's absolutely astounding how dense, rather outright stupid, leadership can be as evidenced by our country's "leadership's" botching of the conduct of that conflict.