Wolverine and Chiefs

[Matt Wiser]

That's quite an extreme way to complain about the content of a radio station!

Four GBU-10s are a very appropriate way to complain about said station's programming!

[Belushi TD]

That's quite an extreme way to complain about the content of a radio station!

Four GBU-10s are a very appropriate way to complain about said station's programming!

And effective. Don't forget effective.

[Matt Wiser]

That's quite an extreme way to complain about the content of a radio station!

Four GBU-10s are a very appropriate way to complain about said station's programming!

And effective. Don't forget effective.

That, too.

[Poohbah]

That's quite an extreme way to complain about the content of a radio station!

If they're not playing arena rock, they deserve it...

[Matt Wiser]

Folks, the next segment is in work.

[Matt Wiser]

Getting set for the last mission of the day; there will be three more pieces to wrap this one up, then the RAF gets ready to head to San Diego.


335th TFS, Sheppard AFB, TX: 1450 Hours Central War Time:


In his office, Major Wiser sat at his desk, reviewing some papers. The never-ending stream of paperwork only seemed to pause when he was out on a mission. Fortunately, this wasn't anything that either Tenth Air Force or MAG-11 had sent him, but was all squadron business. Namely, enlisted evaluations from the various department heads. Soon it would be time for enlisted promotions again, and though they couldn't promote everyone eligible, there would be more than a few who would have the opportunity to sew on another stripe. And, as usual, there would be those who, though deserving of promotion, would have to wait. Then came a knock on his office door, followed by the XO coming in. “Boss.”

“Mark, what's up?” The CO asked.

“Eastbound C-141 is here, and besides the West Coast Newspapers, they've got some things for us,” Capt. Mark Ellis said, handing Guru a paper with the listed items.

Major Wiser scanned the list. He then looked up a the XO. “Two dozen kits for GBU-10s?”

“You did tell Chief Ross to find those 'by any means necessary,'” Ellis reminded the CO.

“I sure did,” Guru said. “Okay, tell him to find some GBU-12 kits. There may be times where we may have to drop the smaller ones. And there's this: mount a TER on our inboard stations, put a GBU-12 on the bottom rack, and still carry four Sidewinders.”

“That legal?”

“Dave Golen tells me they do it over there,” the CO said, referring to their Israeli AF “Observer” who did a lot more than “observe.” “It's a valid load, so why not?”

“Eglin might not like that,” Ellis pointed out, referring to the Armament Test Center at Eglin AFB in Florida.

“If I have to, I'll go through General Olds and then General Tanner. Being able to do an LGB strike and still carry four Sidewinders can only be a good thing.”

“Not arguing that, Boss,” the XO nodded as there was a knock on the door.

“Show yourself and come in!” Said the CO.

Goalie, the CO's GIB and girlfriend, came in with some papers. “Got some personnel stuff for you. Two of the enlisted airmen who work for me want permission to get married.”

Guru raised an eyebrow. “And...?”

“Before you say any more,” said Goalie. “One wants to go back to Yakima, Washington and marry his high-school sweetheart. The other wants the same thing, only he's headed to some small town in Vermont.”

“They know what they're getting into?” Asked the XO.

Goalie nodded. “They do, even though one's an inter-service marriage. The one from Washington: she's a Marine. The other? She's in the 158th TFS out of Burlington. Prewar Vermont Air Guard. They help handle air defense for New England.”

“As long as both couples know what they're up for,” Guru said. He scanned the forms, then signed APPROVED. “Here you go,” Guru said, handing back the forms.

“Thanks,” Goalie said. “What were you two talking about when I got here?” She asked. “Or do I need to know?”

Guru smiled, then told her what he had just told the XO.

“Think they'll go for it?” She replied.

“General Olds certainly will,” the Major said. “This is kind of like his ordering his entire wing being rewired to carry Sidewinders in twenty-four hours after that Falcon fiasco,” Guru continued, recalling then-Colonel Olds' disgust with the wretched AIM-4 and that weapon's failings cost him what he thought was his fifth MiG over North Vietnam before knowing his one probable was actually a kill.

“And Olds approves it, it goes to General Glosson,” Goalie said, referring to Tenth Air Force's Chief of Staff, then Tanner, then further up.”

“And knowing General Tanner,” Mark Ellis chipped in, he'll send it direct to Sundown, and that will be that.”

Guru nodded. 'That it will.” Then came another knock on the door. “Yeah? Come in and show yourself!”

The door opened to reveal Kara. “Boss, we've got a mission. Ops has the briefing packet, and before you ask, Dave and Flossy have their own.”

“We have the RAF?”

“As usual,” Kara nodded.

“Okay.” Guru said. “The XO have one?”

“Four-decimal Zero.”

Guru nodded. “All right. Mark, you might as well come with me and get yours. Goalie?” He turned to his WSO. “You and Kara round everybody up from our flight and get them to our briefing room.”

Goalie asked, “When?”

“Fifteen, and not a second over. Even if they're at the gym. Tell anyone there showers can wait.”

Goalie and Kara looked at each other and nodded. “We're gone,” Goalie said as she and Kara left the office at a run.

“Shall we, Mark?” Guru said as he headed to the door.

“After you, Boss,” the XO replied.


CO and XO went to the Ops Office, and found Don Van Loan waiting for them, though he had his own strike to get ready for. “Boss, and XO,” he said.

“What have you got for us, Don?” the CO asked.

“Ask and ye shall receive,” Van Loan said, handing a mission folder to the Major. “And you won't like it.”

Guru took the packet and opened it to get the Frag Order. Then he scanned it, then looked at the Ops Officer. “You are shitting me.”

“Boss, before you tear my head off,” the Ops Officer said, “Tenth Air Force sends these. I just-”

“I know, you just put them together,” Guru finished. “Okay, you two? Don't take any chances. This may be the last one for today, but treat it like it's the first. Complacency kills, as we all know.”

“You got it, Boss,” Mark Ellis replied.

Guru nodded. “All right. You guys have a good one.”

“You too, Boss,” the XO said.

Guru went to the former classroom his flight used as a briefing room, but before he got there, Sin Licon, the SIO, found him. “What is it, Sin?”

“Major,” Sin replied. “I have a couple of friends at Tenth AF's Intel Shop, and they do send me anything they can on any of our crews who go down and aren't recovered. They found something on the two RAF guys who went down a day or two after they started flying here.” He handed the CO an envelope.

Guru took the envelope and opened it. He read the paper enclosed, then looked at Sin. “This on the level?”

“Yes, sir, as best they can figure. And before you ask, you can show it to Squadron Leader Gledhill. That's why I found you.”

“Okay. Come by the briefing room after I finish, and I'll give this back to you.” The CO knew the document was still classified.

“I'll be there, sir,” Sin nodded.

Guru then went to the briefing room and found Buddy, the squadron's mascot, waiting for him. He must have a sixth sense, the CO thought as he opened the door for the dog, who immediately went inside, found a place to curl up, and went to sleep.

Sweaty saw Guru as he came in behind the dog. “Boss,” she said. “Time for the fourth quarter?”

“It is that,” Guru said as he put the mission folder on the table. He then saw Dave Gledhill. “Dave, I've got something for you, and I'll talk with you after the brief.”

“Understood,” Gledhill replied. “So what's on tap for this one?”

“They saved this one for last,” the CO said. “Stephenville Municipal Airport.”

“East German Army HQ,” Kara noted. “We've been here how many times?”

Guru nodded agreement. “I know what you're saying, and I'm not disagreeing with you. But, until the battle lines move south....”

“So we go back and do it again,” Hoser said, a strong hint of disgust in his voice.

“That we do,” the CO said, his own disgust coming to the fore. “Now, ordnance: No CBUs on this one, as the target's too close to the town.” He handed out several low-level photos, presumably from an RF-4C run and a few high level ones that looked to be from SR-71s. “So we all have six M-117Rs on centerline MERs.” That meant the M-117 750-lb bombs with Snakeye retarders. “And six Mark-82Rs on the wing pylons with TER. Kara? You and I have the Daisy Cutter fuze extensions.”

“That makes up for no CBUs,” Kara observed.

“It does,” the CO agreed. “Now, Sweaty?” He turned to his second element lead. “You and Hoser don't have the fuze extensions due to your targets.”

“And those are?” Sweaty asked.

“Kara and I have the west side of the field. The ramp areas-both prewar and what Ivan's built, hangars, anything and anyone on the ramps.”

Kara then asked, “And still no credit for ground kills?”

“You said it, I didn't,” replied Guru. “That won't change unless Big Air Force says so.”

“Had to ask,” Kara said, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“Don't blame you,” Guru said. He went on. “Sweaty? You get the runway. Just angle your run so that you get a few bombs in both the runway and taxiways.”

Sweaty nodded. “Any word on more Durandals? Then this place would be out of business for more than overnight.” She was referring to the French-designed and made antirunway bombs that they had used on BOLO II.

“No, and I'm not using the ones we have left until I know we're able to get restocked. And Tenth AF has a query into Big Air Force about that.”

Sweaty nodded. She understood, but had to ask anyway.

“Hoser? The CO finished. “Fuel dump, here, east of the runway. Make that go up and away, if you please.”

“Will do,” Hoser said. “And how are we getting there?”

The CO took out a TPC and a JOG map. “We go down to Tanker Track EXXON north of Mineral Wells, then we go down low. Follow the Brazos, just inside the Nicaraguan sector as usual, and before you ask, they haven't had much attention today, so the gunners will be lax as usual.”

“We hope,” Goalie added.

“That we do,” Guru agreed. “Follow the river down to Lake Whitney, then we overfly the lake. About two-thirds of the way down, we turn right onto a Two-seven-zero heading, bypassing Meridian to the south, then pick up State Highway 6. Follow that road to just short of Hico, then we turn north and pick up U.S. 281. The IP is a farm pond just east of 281, at 32-16-59 North, 98-14-30 West. Climb, pick up the target, make your runs, and egress over the town. Then you get your asses north to I-20.”

“Air to air-ordnance and threats?” Sweaty asked.

“Four AIM-9Ps, two AIM-7Fs, full twenty mike-mike, ALQ-119 pod, and two wing tanks,” said Guru. “As for MiG threats? They're unchanged since this morning. And before you ask, if I see Dave Golen before we go? I'll touch base with him and if they're nearby. If MiG trouble comes, he and Flossy will come to the party.”

“Not that we need the help,” Flight Lt. Paul Jackson, Dave Gledhill's pilot, said.

“But it is appreciated,” Flight Lt. Karen McKay, their wingmate, added.”

Dave Gledhill nodded. “It is that,” he said. “As for us? Four AIM-9Ls, four Sky Flash, two wing tanks, and an SUU-23 gun pod.”

“Sounds good,” Guru nodded. He then noticed an Ops NCO coming to collect the briefing materials. “If that's it for questions, let's gear up. See you at 512. Dave? A moment, please.”

Gledhill nodded as the others got up to leave, but he did say, “Buddy's still asleep.”

“Let him sleep,” Guru said.

When the others had left, Guru and Gledhill were alone. “Major?” Gledhill asked.

“Sin Licon has some contacts at Tenth Air Force's Intel Shop. This is about your crew that went down on the first day here for you guys.” The CO handed the RAF Squadron Leader the envelope that Sin had given him.

Gledhill read the paper. He had been waiting for any information on Flight Lts. Ian Black and Michael Barker, who had been shot down on a strike the Major had led back in November, just after 74 Squadron had arrived at Sheppard. “Says here 'according to various sources, two RAF pilots shot down in Central Texas were sent to Cuba for intensive interrogation,” he spat. Gledhill knew what that meant.

“And that's it,” Guru said. He had read the paper. “I'll have Sin see if he can get any further information on them before you guys go to San Diego.”

“That would be appreciated,” Gledhill said. He reread the paper, then handed it back to the CO. Though he knew the material was classified, he asked, “Can I-”

“Just tell the rest of your people that you've picked up a strong hint they're alive,” Guru said. “Anything else?”

“As you're fond of saying, 'We have someplace to be.”

“That we do,” the CO agreed. “Let's go.”

They went to gear up, and Guru came out of the Men's Locker Room to find Goalie waiting for him as usual. “Ready?” She asked.

“Yep, and once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,” Guru said.

Goalie nodded. “Just as long as that 'close the walls up with our glorious dead' shit gets left out,” she said. “What were you and Dave Gledhill talking about, or do I need to know?”

“Well, you were six feet behind me,” Guru said. “That crew of theirs who went down the first day here?” He saw Goalie nod, then went on. “Sin Licon found some indicators they were captured and then sent to Cuba.”

Goalie shook her head. “And they're in a Caribbean version of the Hanoi Hilton.”

“Unfortunately,” Guru agreed. Then Sin came looking for him. “Sin, I guess this is yours.” He handed him the envelope.

“Thanks, Major,” the Intel said. “I'll see if I can't get any more information before they go to San Diego.” Sin was referring to the RAF's departure for San Diego and turning their F-4Js back over to the Navy. Even if the Navy wound up scavenging them for parts.

Guru nodded. “You do that, Sin,” he said. “Hold down the fort until we get back.”

“Will do, Boss.”

Guru and Goalie left the squadron office and found Dave Golen and Flossy, with Oz and Jang, their respective GIBs. One thing the IDF officer liked was to have his mission briefs outside if possible. “The atmosphere is less stuffy”, Dave had told him once. “Dave,” Guru said.

“Guru,” the Israeli ace said. “Just getting set to go.”

“Okay,” the CO said. “You going to the Stephenville area?”

“Just southwest of there,” Dave replied. “You're going to the same area?”

Guru nodded. “That I am, and if you hit MiG trouble? Holler, and I'll have Dave Gledhill's element with me.”

“Good, I'm Cobra Lead on this one,” Golen said. “You call if you need a hand.”

“Corvette for me,” Guru replied. They shook on it, as they had done many times before. Then the CO turned to the other three in Dave's element. “You all be careful out there,” he said. “And don't get complacent. That kills.” He saw heads nod. “Dave? You all have a good one.”

“You too,” Golen said, both of them shaking hands again.

Then Guru and Goalie went to 512's revetment, where the rest of the flight was gathered. “Okay, people,” Guru said, ready to give his final instructions.

“Usual on the radio?” Kara asked. That was call signs between them, or even first names, while mission code was to AWACS and other interested parties.

“Always,” Guru said. “Now, no word on being diverted to CAS, but that can happen while we're in the air,” he reminded them.

Several crewers shook their heads, then Hoser said, “Nice.”

“Depending on your point of view,” Guru said. “Now, remember that complacency kills. I don't want anyone shot down because they got sloppy. This may be our last one of the day, but we treat it like the first, comprende?”

“Loud and clear, Major,” Kara said. When she-or anyone else in the squadron-used Guru's rank, it signaled they were treating that subject with full attention.

“Anything else?” Heads shook no. “Meet up at ten grand overhead. We've got somewhere to be and people and things to burn, bleed, and blow up.” Guru clapped his hands for emphasis. “Let's hit it.”

The crews went to mount their aircraft, and as Guru and Goalie went into the revetment, the Crew Chief was waiting. “Major, Captain,” Sergeant Crowley said, snapping a salute. “Five-twelve's ready to rock.”

“Thanks, Sergeant,” Guru said. He and Goalie did their preflight walk-around, then after the CO signed for the aircraft, both crewers mounted up. After getting strapped in, putting on their helmets and hooking up to the oxygen system and IC, pilot and GIB began their preflight in the cockpit.

They were nearly done when Goalie said, “Want to bet we're going to get CAS? Say, when we're either hooking up on the tankers or just coming off?”

“Don't even say it,” Guru said. “Arnie?” He was asking about the ARN-101 DMAS.

“Arnie's set and so is the backup INS,” said Goalie. “Well, somebody had to. Ejection seats?”

“Armed top and bottom, check yours,” the CO said. “Don't blame you for asking.”

In the back seat, Goalie nodded. “That's it. Checklist complete and ready for engine start.”

“So it is,” Guru said. He gave a Thumbs-up to the Crew Chief, and Crowley gave the “Start Engines” signal. First one, then both J-79 engines were up and running. When the warm-up was finished, he called the Tower. “Tower, Corvette flight with six, requesting taxi and takeoff instructions.”

A tower controller replied immediately. “Corvette Lead, Tower. Clear to taxi to Runway Three-Five-Lima. Hold prior to the active, and you are number two in line.”

“Roger, Tower. Corvette Lead rolling,” replied Guru. He gave the “Chocks” signal to the crew chief, and the wheel chocks were pulled away. Then Crowley gave the “Taxi” signal, and after Guru released the brakes, he began taxiing out of the revetment.

After clearing the revetment, Sergeant Crowley snapped a salute, which both Guru and Goalie returned. Then Guru taxied the F-4 towards Runway 33L. As he taxied, the rest of the flight fell in behind him. When the flight got to the holding area, a Marine flight of four F/A-18s was ahead of them, while a Special-Ops C-130 was landing. Once the Herky-Bird taxied off the runway, the Hornets then taxied onto the runway, and Guru taxied into the holding area.

The armorers removed the weapon safeties as the Hornets thundered down the runway and into the air. Once that was done, Guru called the Tower. “Tower, Corvette Lead requesting clear to taxi for takeoff.”

“Corvette Lead, Tower,” the controller replied. “Clear to taxi for takeoff. Winds are Two-eight-zero for ten.

“Roger, Tower,” Guru said. He taxied onto the runway, with Kara's 520 taxiing behind them and tucking in on the right. Guru glanced at 520, and both Kara and Brainiac gave thumbs-ups, which Guru and Goalie returned. Then it was time.

“Tower, Corvette Lead requesting clear for takeoff.”

As usual, the tower didn't reply on the radio, but flashed a green light. Clear for takeoff.

“Ready?” Guru asked Goalie on the IC.

“Ready,” Goalie called back. “We need to be someplace pretty soon.”

Guru grinned beneath his oxygen mask. “And so we do.” He firewalled the throttles, released the brakes, and 512 thundered down the runway and into the air, with 520 right alongside. Thirty seconds later, it was Sweaty's element, and after that the RAF. They formed up at FL 100, then headed south for the tankers.

[jemhouston]

Someone is getting a very five o'clock surprise

[Wolfman]

Candygram for Mongo!

[Poohbah]

Candygram for Mongo!

Mongo like candy...

[Matt Wiser]

Last run of the day, and no, the crews don't like this one....


Over North-Central Texas: 1600 Hours Central War Time:


In 512, Major Wiser was seething. Corvette Flight had just come off the tankers and was preparing to get down low for their ingress into enemy territory when AWACS called. “Corvette Lead, Crystal Palace. Request you contact Hillsboro for CAS tasking.”

When he heard that, the CO was furious. Two minutes. Two more minutes and they would've been down on the deck, making the initial penetration into bad-guy land. He slammed his left fist on his thigh, then called back. “Crystal Palace, Corvette Lead. Say again?”

“Roger, Corvette Lead, Hillsboro requests you contact them for CAS tasking,” the controller called back. Aboard the AWACS, the controller had heard the disgust in Guru's voice. They all knew the fast-movers, to a man and a woman, despised CAS. And yet, the Army was calling for some more help. With the Hogs, SLUFs, and Scooters all busy or rearming, the birds had to come from somewhere.

Kara called her lead. “Lead, Two, This on the level?”

The CO heard the disgust in her voice. So did everyone else in the flight. “Two, Lead. Looks like it.” Guru replied. Then he called back to the AWACS. “Roger, Crystal Palace. Contacting Hillsboro.” Hillsboro was the EC-130E ABCCC that controlled air-to-ground ops when it came to CAS. Guru then called the converted Herky-Bird. “Hillsboro, Corvette Lead with six Echo-model Phantoms and two Juliets.”

“Roger, Corvette Lead,” an EC-130 controller replied. “Say aircraft and type of ordnance.”

“Echoes have six Mark-82 Snakeye and six Mike-117 Romeo.” Romeo meant the retarding fins on the M-117 750-pounders. “Plus full gun and air-to-air. Juliets have full air-to-air.”

“Roger, Corvette,” said the controller. “Be advised Hogs and SLUFs have been working this area, but need to refuel and rearm. Get in line at Flight Level One-five-zero and wait your turn.”

At least he's being honest, Guru thought. The controller directed him to a holding pattern north of I-20 and about twenty miles to the west of their ingress route where he and the rest of the flight saw other aircraft, mostly Marine F-4s and F/A-18s, but at least one four-ship of 335th birds, waiting. One thing about being just off the tankers, the CO mused. They had plenty of gas to burn up while loitering.

As some flights went down to contact FACs, Corvette Flight descended. While they did, others joined up above, and as one A-7 flight arrived just in from rearming, their lead was told “Get in line at 25,000 and wait your turn.” How many times had Guru been told that before?

“Better him than us,” Goalie said as she maintained her visual scanning. One thing that would definitely throw a curveball into this exercise would be MiGs doing a sweep.

“Not the only one thinking that,” Guru replied. Then the controller got on the horn. “Drop down to FL 100 and continue to hold.”

“Roger, Hillsboro.” Guru replied. Then the flight dropped down to 10,000 Feet.

Kara then called again. “Lead, Two. How much longer?”

Guru could tell she wanted it over and done. So did he. And if they were feeling that way, Sweaty, Hoser, and their GIBs would be feeling the same. Along with the RAF crews. Yes, when they had to, they did fly CAS, and did it well, helping out the guys and girls on the ground. But they all resented doing someone else's mission. “Two, Lead. When they tell us,” the CO replied.

“Lovely,” Kara said to Brainiac in 520. “Copy that, Lead. Just want this over and done.”

“Not the only one, Two,” Guru called back.

Two more flights went in, then came the 335th flight ahead of them. Everyone recognized the XO's voice on the radio. After the Exec went in, it was their turn.

“Corvette Lead, Hillsboro,” the controller on the EC-130 called. “Contact Nail Two-four for tasking.”

“Roger, Hillsboro,” replied Guru. He then got in touch with the FAC. “Nail Two-Four, Corvette Lead. How copy?”

A FAC in the back seat of an A-7K got back to him. “Corvette Lead, Nail Two-Four. Say aircraft and type of ordnance, please.”

Guru said, “Roger, Nail. Corvette has four Foxtrot-Four Echoes with six Mark-82 Snakeye and six Mike-117 Romeo, with air-to-air and full gun. Two Juliets also with full air-to-air.”

The FAC got back right away. “Copy that, Corvette. Target is a regiment-sized force moving north along Foxtrot-Mike Five-seven-one and Four-eight zero. West of Perrin Lake.”

“Corvette Lead copies. Can you mark the target?”

“That's affirm, Corvette,” the FAC replied.

“Nail, Corvette,” Guru said. “Say Sierra-Alpha threat?” That meant the threat from the bad guys' SAMs and AAA.

“Corvette, Nail. Threat is MANPADS and light flak. No radar missiles or flak.”

Hearing that, Goalie said, “Always good to beat up on those guys.”

“It is that,” Guru agreed.

The FAC came back.”Corvette, Nail. How many runs can you give me?”

Beneath his oxygen mask, Guru frowned. How many times do they have to keep asking this? “Nail, Corvette. One run only, south to north.” One run in the target area, unless there were no defenses, was a squadron policy going back to the early days of the war. And Guru wasn't about to change it, no matter what the FACs thought or felt.

“Copy that, Corvette. Marking the target,” said the FAC. Guru and the others watched the A-7K roll in on the target area and shoot several WP rockets. “There's your target.”

“Roger, Nail.” Guru then called the flight. “Flight, Lead. Switches on, music on, and let's go.”

“Roger, Lead,” Kara replied, then both Sweaty and Hoser did so.

“Five and Six,” Guru called the RAF element. “Go on in ahead and kill any Red air you see, then TARCAP and kill party-crashers.”

“Roger that, Lead,” Flight Lt. Paul Jackson replied, then both RAF F-4Js went in. They were disappointed that no Red helos or fast movers were in the area, then they climbed to assume a TARCAP.

Goalie saw the RAF climbing away to assume the TARCAP. “No Reds in the air. Switches set,” she added.

“Then let's go,” Guru said, accelerating to full military power and taking 512 in on the bomb run.



Below, moving on two parallel roads, the Soviet 151st Motor-Rifle Division was moving forward. The division was a Mobilization-only formation from the Turkestan Military District, and had been called up in 1986. The Division Commander had been an instructor at the Tashkent Higher Military Combined Arms School, and had avoided the Chinese nuclear strike on the city by being in a Field Training Exercise with cadets at the time. After reporting to the Tashkent Higher Tank Command School, which was well outside the blast zone, the Colonel was promoted to Major-General and given the 151st when it was called into service. The new General had been disappointed to see that it was a Mobilization-only formation, with old T-54s and BTR-152s in the motor-rifle regiments with M-30 122-mm guns left over from the Great Patriotic War, and early-model T-62s and BMP-1s, with M-1 152-mm howitzers in the tank regiment, while the artillery regiment had old BM-14 MRLs and additional M-1s. There were 2K6 rocket launchers with the conventional-warhead 3R9 missile (NATO FROG-3), while the anti-aircraft artillery regiment had to make do with 37-mm 61-K AA guns. As for manpower? Except for a few officers in each regiment and in Divisional HQ, who had been serving there in peacetime, all were reservists. With an average age of thirty-one.

The commander began whipping his division into shape, hoping that by the time they were ready to deploy, the war would be over. It wasn't to be though. In June, 1987, the division moved to Odessa on the Black Sea, then embarked aboard ship bound for Cuba in a convoy that suffered from American and British air and naval attack in both the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic. Upon reaching Cuba, the division had to wait to deploy further as the division's losses had been serious: roughly forty percent of its equipment had been lost, along with the personnel of the 1267th Motor-Rifle Regiment. They had been embarked on a freighter that had been torpedoed by a submarine-whose the General didn't know, and apart from a few lucky men who had been taking in fresh air topside, the entire regiment was lost. It took four months for replacement equipment and a new regiment to arrive from the Rodina, then more training time before the division's deployment to Texas.

Initially, his division was supposed to go to West Texas and the 9th Army, but his orders had changed upon arrival in Corpus Christi, and instead, the division went to the 32nd Army to replace a division that had been shattered in its first engagement. When he met General Sisov, his new Army Commander, the General was impressed with his new Commander, but also noted his cynicism. Front Headquarters had ordered a series of probing attacks and reconnaissance in force, hoping to find a gap in the American lines so that armor could go on a raid behind the American lines. When asked if this was related to the attempted assassination of the General Secretary, Sisov didn't say a word, but the expression on his face said a lot. The Army's Chief of Staff later took the General aside and told him that Moscow had ordered the attacks, that the Army had been burned the day before, but had been ordered to go again.

Now, he was leading his division into combat, right behind the two lead Motor-Rifle Regiments with divisional reconnaissance out ahead. The General had been told he was facing hardened veterans from the Americans' II Corps, which had fought in Colorado, that he was to find an undefended or weakly defended area, so that the 78th Tank Division could go on an armored raid in II Corps' rear. Easier said than done, he knew, but the General went ahead. From his BTR-50 Command Vehicle, he stood up in the hatch, scanning with binoculars. So far, so good. Minimal resistance so far, and the debris from previous battles, both Soviet and American. Maybe, just maybe, the division might be able to pull this off. Then he saw an aircraft orbiting overhead and fire White Phosphorous rockets among his advancing force. He then turned and saw smoke trails to the south growing larger, with black dots at the head. Air attack! He shouted into his throat microphone, “Disperse! Air Attack!”


“Lead's in!” Guru called as he took 512 down onto the Russians below. A few scattered tracers came up, as both machine guns and ZU-23s mounted on BTR-152s, but he ignored the flak. Guru saw a column moving north along F.M. 571 and selected that as his target. With no CBUs, and his Mark-82s having the Daisy Cutter fuze extensions, the CO picked out the lead vehicles, intending to trap them on the road. As he dropped lower, an SA-7 came up but failed to guide, passing by on the left. Not today, Ivan, he thought as several APCs and tanks grew larger in his pipper. “And... Steady... And... And.. HACK!” Guru hit his pickle button, sending his dozen bombs onto the Russians below, then he pulled up and away, jinking as he did. Then he called, “Lead's off target.”


“Sookin sin!” the General muttered aloud as he watched from his command track. Son of a bitch. This was his first time under air attack, let alone any other combat, and he watched with a kind of fascination as Guru's F-4 came in and released its bombs onto the lead elements of the
1265th MRR. Bombs tore into several BTR-152s, blasting them apart, while another bomb flipped a T-54 tank onto its side, as another tank took a direct hit and became a fireball. Several soldiers in APCs fired Strela-2 shoulder-fired missiles, but none connected, for the F-4 made a clean getaway. Then he turned and saw another smoke trail and dot at the head. Another aircraft coming in..

“SHACK!” Goalie shouted from 512's back seat. “And there's secondaries!”

“How many?” Guru asked as he jinked to avoid an SA-7, which flew by the right side of the aircraft.

“A few good ones,” she replied.

“That's enough for now,” the CO said as he headed north.


“Two in hot!” Kara called as 520 came in on its run. She picked out the column moving north on F.M. 480. Another regimental-sized force, she thought as the flak came up. She saw not only the CO's run, but that the unit she was about to attack begin to disperse. Lot of good that'll do, she thought as she picked out a company's worth of APCs and a few tanks. Your turn. Ignoring the Flak, Kara came in and lined up a couple of BTRs in her pipper. And.. Steady... And.. “NOW!” She hit her pickle button, releasing her bombs, then Kara made a sharp pullup before jinking. As Kara got 520 clear, she made the call. “Two's off safe.”

“This isn't happening,” the General said to no one in particular. His Zampolit opened another hatch and stood in it, watching with fascination. The man was another Reservist who had hoped his comfortable Party work would keep him from being recalled, but it wasn't to be. Both watched helplessly as Kara's F-4 came in, shrugging off the anti-aircraft fire directed at it, and planted its bombs onto the lead of the 1266th MRR. Bomb blasts erupted among the lead company, and fireballs announced the death of several BTRs and tanks. Several burning tanks revealed themselves, while some soldiers tried to help those tossed out of their APCs. The General was about to get on the radio to the regimental commander when the Party man tapped him in the shoulder and pointed south. Another American coming in.

“BULLSEYE!” Brainiac shouted from 520's back seat. “And we have secondaries!”

“How many?” Kara asked as she jinked left, then right, then left again. She saw a missile trail go past beneath the F-4 and shook her head.

“Several,” her GIB replied.

“Good enough,” Kara said. She turned north and easily picked up the CO's trail, then his bird.

“Three in hot!” Sweaty called as she came in. She decided on the left-hand column, the one the CO had hit, and went down on the trailing elements. Sweaty managed to pick out some trucks towing artillery pieces, and she selected those for her ordnance. Your bad day, Ivan, she thought. She, too, drew flak and a couple of SA-7s, but ignored it as she concentrated on her bomb run. “And...And....” The artillery prime overs and guns grew larger in her pipper, then... “HACK!” She hit her pickle button, then pulled up and thundered away, jinking on the way out, while her dozen bombs landed on the Russians. After clearing the target, she gave her call. “Three's off target.”


“Of all the..” the General watched as the rear of the 1265th's column was hit. He saw Sweaty's F-4 come in and make its run, leaving bomb blasts in its wake, As the F-4 thundered past the General's vehicle, he saw sympathetic detonations where the bombs had landed. Ammunition trucks for the regimental artillery, he thought. Or the guns and prime movers. Or both. Shaking his head, he contacted the 1265th's commander and ordered him to hold while he brought up both the divisional tank regiment and the regiment mounted in BMP-1s. Then he turned back south, and saw another F-4 coming in. The General ordered his driver to head for some trees and get under cover as the American got closer....



“BULLSEYE!” Preacher shouted from Sweaty's back seat. “And there's some secondaries!”

“What kind?” Sweaty wanted to know. She was jinking right, then left, then right again, and as she went right, an SA-7 flew by on the left.

“Big and righteously good!” The ex-seminarian turned WSO called back.

Sweaty smiled underneath her oxygen mask. “Good enough for the man upstairs, good enough for me.” She turned north, and spotted Kara's bird directly ahead. Where Kara was, the CO would be just ahead.


“Four in hot!” Hoser made his call as he came in for his run. As he did, he spotted some tanks and APCs on F.M. 480 that hadn't yet gotten off the road. Good enough, Hoser thought as he came in on what was the third battalion in the 1265th Regiment's column. Like the others, he drew light flak and even a couple of SA-7s, but Hoser ignored it as he concentrated on his bomb run. He saw the tracers come up as he selected a platoon's worth of APCs and a couple of tanks. “Steady... And.. Steady... And.. And.. NOW!” He hit the pickle button, then pulled up and away. Just as the others did, he began jinking to give the SAM-shooters down below a harder shot. Then he made his call. “Four's off.”


The General watched as Hoser's F-4 came in and made its run. He saw the bombs come off and land in the 1265th's trailing battalion, with several BTR-152s either blown apart or tossed aside like toys. One BTR was even flipped end-over-end before landing upside down, with its soldiers and crew tossed out like so many rags. Shaking his head, he called for the tank regiment and heavy MRR to come forward and pass through as quickly as possible. For there would be more American aircraft coming, and somewhere to the north were the Americans on the ground. The General wanted to get as far forward as possible before he ran into something he couldn't handle. And yet, “This has been a bitch of an afternoon,” he said to his Zampolit, who, much to his surprise, didn't disagree with him.


“GOOD HITS!” KT shouted behind Hoser.

“Any secondaries?” Hoser asked has he jinked left, then right, then left again.

“Several,” said KT as she watched an SA-7 pass by on the right.

“Good enough,” Hoser said as he spotted his element leader up ahead, and accelerated to catch up with Sweaty.


“Four in and out,” Goalie said in 512. “Now we fly for ourselves.”

“That we do,” Guru agreed. “One-five and One-six, get your asses clear and headed north.”

“Roger, Lead,” Paul Jackson replied as the two RAF F-4Js thundered over the strike area and headed north to meet up with the rest of the flight.

The FAC then came on the radio. “Corvette Lead, Nail. Good hits on target. Too bad you didn't have any Charlie Bravo Uniform ordnance.”

“Nail, Corvette. Maybe somebody behind us has some. We are Winchester and headed out,” Guru said.

“Roger that, Corvette, and thank you,” the FAC called, then he got on the radio with some Marines coming in.

In 512, Guru said over the IC, but not the radio, “You're welcome.”

“Now we head home,” Goalie said. She not only heard the disgust in Guru's voice, but shared it herself.

Guru nodded. “That we do.” He then called the flight. “Flight, Lead. Let's head back to the barn.”

Bypassing the tankers, Corvette Flight headed back to Sheppard. They had to wait a few in the pattern as some outgoing strikes left, along with the Eastbound C-141 shuttle, before those waiting to land could do so. Two Marine flights and the XO's were ahead, and behind them, after a C-130 and a Marine F-4 flight, were Dave Golen and Flossy. Had they been diverted to CAS? Well, the CO thought, no harm in asking.

After Corvette Flight landed, they taxied back to the Squadron's dispersal area, and as Guru taxied 512 into its revetment, he was pleased to see no ordnance or armorers waiting. Good. After getting the “Stop” signal from his Crew Chief, the ground crew put the wheel chocks in place, he popped the canopy, then shut down. “That's done,” the CO said as he and Goalie went through the postflight checklist.

“And no Ordnance guys waiting, which is good,” Goalie said as they finished the checklist, while the ground crew brought the crew ladders.

“That it is,” Guru agreed as he unbuckled and then stood up in the cockpit before handing his helmet to Sergeant Crowley. After climbing down, he accepted a bottle of water from the CC, before he downed half of it right then and there.

“How'd it go, Major?” Crowley asked as he handed Goalie a water bottle.

“CAS,” the CO spat. “Tore up a bunch of tanks and APCs, but we were still doing somebody's mission for them.”

“At least they told us why,” said Goalie. “SLUFs and Scooters were all busy, so...”

Guru nodded. “Yeah.” He looked around and saw no one coming with an ordnance cart. That meant the flying day was done. “Okay, Mike,” he said to the CC. “Get her ready for the morning. You guys get some chow when you're done, and have a good evening. Tomorrow, we're back at it. And before you ask, no weather for a few days, so no stand-down.”

“Yes, sir. ” Crowley said, hiding his disappointment about not having a weather stand-down for not just catching up with maintenance, but also just some plain time off.

“Whatever you're doing? Don't change a damned thing. Five-twelve's truckin' like a champ, and I want her to stay that way,” the CO said.

“Yes, sir!” Crowley beamed. “All right, people! Let's get the Major's bird prepped and ready for the morning.”

After putting on their bush hats, Guru and Goalie went to the revetment entrance, where Kara and Brainiac, along with Sweaty, Preacher, Hoser, and KT were waiting. “Well?”

“At least they told us why we got Shanghaied into CAS,” Kara spat. “Still, we caught them moving in column along those two roads, as if they were fat, dumb, and happy.”

Sweaty nodded. “Probably waiting to deploy,” she said. “Those guns and prime movers sure weren't set up.”

“And you sent some up,” Hoser pointed out.

“We did,” Preacher said.

Then the RAF crews came over. “Dave,” Guru said. “You guys did your job, but no Red Air around.”

“There were some off to the West, and some to the East, but there?” Gledhill said. “Not even a chopper.”

“There's always tomorrow,” Karen McKay pointed out. “And maybe the MiG-29s will show up.”

“There is that,” Guru said, and he saw Kara nodding agreement. Both of them wanted that next scalp. Then Dave Golen and Flossy, with Oz and Jang behind, showed up. “Dave, how'd it go?”

The IDF Major spat. “Got diverted from our tasking to CAS. Hit two columns that were moving in between two roads that were choked with wrecks and even some secondaries still going off.”

“Nail Two-four?” Guru asked.

Golen nodded. “He sent some Marines in ahead of us, then before we went, he said some Air Force people had been there also.”

“That was us,” the CO said. “He was upset we didn't have CBUs.”

“We did,” said Flossy. “He was kind of glad we had some. Some of those APCs must've been open-topped, because they went up when the CBUs hit.”

“Let the intel weenies sort that,” Guru said. “Let's get debriefed, then you all need to clear your desks, because the elves never take care of it while we're gone. Then we can unwind.”

Kara nodded. “And we do all this again come morning.”

“Without the CAS,” Hoser added.

The CO nodded. “We can hope. Let's go.”

[jemhouston]

The Russians are more likely to be on the receiving end of a Thunder Run than carrying out one.

[Wolfman]

Sucks to be Ivan, now doesn’t it?

[jemhouston]

Sucks to be Ivan, now doesn’t it?

They did ask for it.

American revenge methodology = Irish passion / long term memory, German planning, and American ingenuity

[Wolfman]

Sucks to be Ivan, now doesn’t it?

They did ask for it.

American revenge methodology = Irish passion / long term memory, German planning, and American ingenuity

Too true!