Emberassing Vietnam Air War Jargon Question

[Jeremiah Weed 0]

I am pretty up on most of the Vietnam Air War Jargon used by the pilots, I know all the major stuff like where the RPs were, and Thud Ridge, the Red River, etc. But I have not found an definitive answer of what is talked about when stuff is said like "The MiG-17s were in the grass" is this a location, like where they waited to intercept flights, does it mean they were low below radar?

 

I should know this, but for some reason I don't. I'm sure the answer is widely available, just not looking in the right place.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Syrinx 13]

I'd have thought it meant really low altitude.

 

Someone who was there (ezlead where for art thou?) will know for sure.

[Caveman 1]

I would think the same thing myself but don't know for sure

[FastCargo 412]

Well, I know we still use the term 'in the weeds' for being very low...so my guess would be low altitude as well.

 

FC

[Jeremiah Weed 0]

Well, I know we still use the term 'in the weeds' for being very low...so my guess would be low altitude as well.

 

FC

 

That is what I thought, but I wasn't sure if this referred to an actual location, but in retrospect, most of what I have heard was referring to Banana Valley, so I'm pretty sure it is just low altitude. Thanks for the help everyone.

[JediMaster 451]

Maybe the MiG-17 was just smoking a lot of reefer?

[ezlead 42]

"In the Grass" "In the Weeds" is the same thing.

Usually when the NVAF was moving planes from one place to another they would take off and stay right on the treetops to avoid being seen or picked up by radar.

Being that low was a terrible disadvantage for them if jumped by fighters.

However,with the guidance capabilities of the AIM-9 and the AIM-7 back then

,down 'in the grass' was sometimes an advantage(no look down-shoot down) .

Our Attack pilots sometimes used the same tactic to avoid AAA and SAM radars.

[+Jug 99]

"In the Grass" "In the Weeds" is the same thing.

Usually when the NVAF was moving planes from one place to another they would take off and stay right on the treetops to avoid being seen or picked up by radar.

Being that low was a terrible disadvantage for them if jumped by fighters.

However,with the guidance capabilities of the AIM-9 and the AIM-7 back then

,down 'in the grass' was sometimes an advantage(no look down-shoot down) .

Our Attack pilots sometimes used the same tactic to avoid AAA and SAM radars.

Actually, in the weeds with my mother-lovin Thud is the place to be..................................NVAF missiles were just as bad as ours in the look down, shoot down scenario. Its down to mud and guns.

 

Oh God, I'm beginning to sound like a Marine...................................

[TalonOne 0]

That's not a bad thing ;)

[+Typhoid 231]

"In the Grass" "In the Weeds" is the same thing.

Usually when the NVAF was moving planes from one place to another they would take off and stay right on the treetops to avoid being seen or picked up by radar.

Being that low was a terrible disadvantage for them if jumped by fighters.

However,with the guidance capabilities of the AIM-9 and the AIM-7 back then

,down 'in the grass' was sometimes an advantage(no look down-shoot down) .

Our Attack pilots sometimes used the same tactic to avoid AAA and SAM radars.

 

also used by us radar surveillance guys since when the targets (bandits) went "into the weeds" they also went into "the grass" on my scope. So scope dopes like me couldn't pick them out of "the grass".

 

still a radar term so far as I know.