No. 75 Squadron (NZ) 8th TFW USAF Vietnam 1967-72

[+dtmdragon 2,704]

No. 75 Squadron (NZ) 8th TFW USAF Vietnam 1967-72

 

 

In the mid 1960’s the US was firmly entrenched in the Vietnam conflict. So far New Zealand’s contribution to the conflict was the minimum required to meet its expectations as an ally of the US and member of the ANZUS alliance.

With Rolling Thunder underway the US once again pressured its allies in the South Pacific for further commitment to the conflict. Despite heavy commitments in Malaya NZ and Australia both deployed further infantry units, plus the RNZAF offered a squadron of pilots to the USAF.

 

At the time the RNZAF was operating Canberra interdiction bombers and Vampire day fighters. The Vampires were clearly obsolete for the conflict and the Canberras (ideal for close air support over South Vietnam) were committed to their SEATO role in Malaya. The RNZAF it was decided would lease (on paper anyway) a squadron of the new F-4D Phantoms rolling off the production line. 75 Squadron pilots and their ‘leased’ Phantoms would deploy to California and enter the USAF RTU (replacement training unit) pipeline leading to Vietnam.

 

The F-4 RTU pipeline was geared up for taking what the USAF called ‘universal pilots’ flying other USAF aircraft as well as pilots straight from training and turning them into Phantom crews for service in Vietnam. The 75 Squadron pilots were experienced and competent flyers in their own right with most having flown Venoms and/or Canberras in combat over Malaya.

 

Once qualified on the Phantom the squadron was originally going to operate in a CAS role over South Vietnam, this was partly due to domestic political considerations about dropping bombs over North Vietnam. The Squadron would slot into the command structure of the appropriate USAF TFW and operate as a USAF squadron, much like the Commonwealth Squadrons in the RAF during WWII.

 

However during the RTU pipeline the Kiwi aircrews having come from the Vampire which only had guns as its air-to-air armament immediately demonstrated a high level of proficiency at Basic (and advanced) Fighter Maneuvering (BFM). This was something the USAF was struggling with over Vietnam due to its doctrinal shift to beyond visual range combat preceding the Vietnam War. Due to this it was decided to attach 75 Squadron to the 8th TFW to operate in an air superiority and fighter escort role.

 

The Squadron was assigned the squadron code ‘K’ (for kiwi) this combined the 8th TFW wing code gave Kiwi Phantoms the tail code of ‘FK’. Although the squadron slotted into the structure of the 8th TFW as a nominal USAF squadron carrying USAF style codes etc the aircraft were still leased by the NZ government and so carried NZ national insignia (changed from the fern leaf to the kiwi roundel in 1970/71). Squadron tail stripes and the later colored fin tips were done in the colors/ style of No. 75 Squadron’s colors.

 

 

 

No. 75 Squadron (NZ) 8th TFW USAF Operation Rolling Thunder 1967

 

 

 

 

No. 75 Squadron (NZ) 8th TFW USAF Operation Rolling Thunder 1968

 

 

 

 

No. 75 Squadron (NZ) 8th TFW USAF Operation Linebacker 1972

 

Edited July 17, 2016 by dtmdragon

[Spinners 15,986]

A first-class backstory!

[+dtmdragon 2,704]

Cheers, I even have what if Rolling Thunder and Linebacker campaigns in my Vietnam air and ground war expansion install for it.

[dsawan 624]

Cool backstory, hope ya can release.

[SayethWhaaaa 245]

Gotta love those Kiwi FKers...

Edited July 17, 2016 by SayWhatt

[Piglet_7 106]

The Kiwi's know how to make it look good :D

 

http://combatace.com/gallery/image/32338-img00042/