I just watched my whole interview and want to thank Steve for not making me look like a dick. However, I need to make a few clarifications for things I got wrong or misspoke. In no particular order: - I received my F-111F assignment in the summer of 1983 and got to Lakenheath in the summer of 1984. I went to Fighter Lead-In training at Holloman, not Albuquerque. - Only the FBs had star trackers. - At Lakenheath, we normally carried a SUU-21 with 6 practice bombs each on the two inboard pivot pylons. That gave us 12 opportunities to drop bombs every sortie. - I got my callsign "Jose" from the movie "The Right Stuff." In the movie Alan Spepard repeats Bill Dana's famous skit about the first astronaut, Jose Jimenez.
Great interview José! As a former Tornado GR driver, I found your account of the TF descent and the raid riveting, & could relate to many of the issues you described like maintaining your timing contract in the face of varying winds, managing wingsweep on the tanker etc. Fortunately, the SAM WEZ on a crossing/retreating target doing 660kts is pretty small! I worked with RAAF F-111s on Red Flag and they could really move! Respect to you sir, I look forward to your other interviews with Steve. 🙏
Thanks Nick. Night TFR is no big deal until it isn't. Did you fly in the Gulf War? I think the Tornado guys laying down airfield denial munitions had the most challenging sorties in the war.
No, I joined the front line in 97 & was an IP at the equivalent to Lead In To Fighter Fundamentals between 00-03 so I missed OIF too. It was no fly zone enforcement (north & south) on my 1st tour & coalition troop support (counter insurgency) thereafter...
From my experience flying TFR on the Tornado GR, I didn’t experience an issue FOLLOWING other jets in 30sec stream as described by José I did have the TF try to pull me up into a Cessna that was above me once in day/VMC and I had to paddle the system out. On the other hand, chaff from the jets ahead threat reacting could definitely be seen by the TFR as terrain, and command a pull up. As a pilot, you could (on the Tornado at least) differentiate between chaff and terrain on the E Scope and manually fly through the chaff whilst enduring the warnings! I started my flying career at Bristol Filton in 1989 and they did depot maintenance on the UK F-111s there. I can testify to the mind bending noise of their departure! #soundoffreedom!
It was a more "speckled" return rather than the solid line that the terrain would give. Chaff was also higher in elevation than the terrain as you'd expect given it was dispensed from an aircraft ahead.
Thanks for sharing you story FoursinHot! I have a late 80's book that has a PAVE-TACK and SR-71 photos of the aftermath. It's amazing to me that I got to hear a really good first person history of one persons experience on that raid. Cheers.
You should interview some of the F-111 pilots involved with the GBU-28 development. It's a pretty impressive story, going from final design to fully operational within 2 weeks in February of '91.
Great stuff, Jose! Brought back a whole lot of memories of that era, and it's great to hear the story told with such enthusiasm and good humor. Can't wait for Episode 2!
Jose @FoursInHot, I'm an ex-F111 WSO and was at Lakenheath from Dec '82 - Nov '84 but don't know if we ever met. (Due to cataracts discovered in both eyes just as I was finishing RTU at Mtn Home, I didn't fly at Lakenheath or anywhere afterwards.) So I spent my time at Lakenheath leading the WOMIS project for our Wing CO Col Ed Bracken. Anyhoo, just partway into this interview with Steve and wow, what a terrific storyteller you are!
Thanks, Jim@@FoursInHot. It was a pet project of Col Bracken's, and we piled in an enormous amount of work (including one memorable 40 hour day) to get it up and running. Nowhere near as exciting as flying the swingwinged wonder low level at the speed of heat, but the system played its part. BTW, you probably knew (or still know) Bob Pastusek, who I spent a lot of time with. You'll know him from all his brilliant planning work on Operation Eldorado Canyon. (He told me a great story about flying a few carrier sorties as part of the enormous prep work he did for that operation.) A great guy...
One of the best podcasts I ever listened to. Riveting start to finish. I was not aware first-hand accounts of the mission were only recently made public. I felt privileged to listen to this. Skill, courage, professionalism, humility. Wow.
Another masterpiece; again by virtue of the interviewer and interviewee! Jim Jimenez’s animated account of his Eldorado Canyon mission was truly astonishing and needs to be heard; especially so if anyone has recently acquired a copy of the book “Operation Eldorado Canyon: The 1986 US Bombing Raid on Libya” by Jim Rotramel. While this is my favorite of Jim’s podcast, his follow-on interviews are also entertaining!
Thanks Tony. Jim Rotramel (Rotro) and I are good friends and go back to our days in the 493rd together. Back in 1985, the F-111Fs received a significant upgrade to their computers... Effectively increasing the waypoint storage capacity from tens the thousands. Anyway, Rotro came out with a neat little inflight guide he called, "The Pilot's Brain." It organized, paired, and listed thousands of significant waypoints through Europe. Instead of looking up coordinates, we could just go direct to any of the thousands of stored points. Besides helping plan Eldorado Canyon, I think this was Rotro's greatest contribution to the Vark. Oh, he turned out to be a pretty Sierra Hotel modeler too.
Thank you both - smooth interview. Jim's story upon return and dismount after mission gives a whole 'nutha saying of "hold my ****"! My memory from then (just before I joined the USAF) was more emphasis on the stance France had of not allowing flight into their airspace. I recall the news stating it, and I was amused that the punk band "The Meatmen" had it in the lyrics of their song "French people suck". And my father was an Aerospace Engineer on F-111 at McClellan AFB Logistics center at the time.
10 years old when this happened and lived on Lakenheath village. Dad was blue section MSGT Mroczek assigned to AGS. He's spoken about this day and it always brings back memories.
I was an NCO in 48 Wing Intelligence and knew Jose then… I helped plan the Eldorado Canyon missions that they went out and flew. Those months were the very definition of job satisfaction for me. Won’t fail to mention Ribas/Lawrence RIP…
Sorry you couldn't make the F-111F reunion this past summer at the Heath. The active duty folks really did a great job making us feel welcomed. Great time. Clay Cash was there and we talked a lot about the intel side of things. Hope all is well with you and yours.
What I wish I would have said when asked why I was chosen. I had the good fortune of getting assigned to the 493rd TFS (Yellow tails) when I got to Lakenheath. The Ops Officer for the 493rd was a WSO, LtCol Dick Cathers. Great guy. Well respected within the Vark community and the Wing. As a new guy, I was crewed with LtCol Cathers, and as Forest Gump would say, "We fit together like peas and carrots." It doesn't hurt to be liked by the leadershipl.
I can relate to how 'Jose' felt when he got assigned to the F-111F. I was enlisted in 1977 and after basic training I was assigned to avionics maintenance for the F-111A, and assigned to Mtn. Home AFB ID after tech school. No high tech F-15 or F-16 with HUD displays and digital radars, but the analog 'steam gauge' F-111A, which was a disappointment. But Mtn. Home was great, and the F-111A trained a lot of pilots and WSOs who later moved on to the Ds and Fs that did the heavy lifting.
Steve, I’m sure this other guy’s book will be great, but I was looking forward to one from you after reading two of yours last year. I thought when you mentioned you had received the (unclassified) de-brief , that was was an indication that maybe you are working on one about El Dorado. I sure hope so. You are a talented author and -much like Mike Guardia- your passion for the subject seeps through in the read. I know some of the pilots and aviators don’t want to be identified but hopefully- as we get on in time- that will change. Any way you can do a pod cast with one of the Navy guys involved? SEAD would be interesting but hoping one of the A-6 guys. They did a tremendous job
I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath during El Dorado Canyon. I was an Electronic Warfare Technician who worked on the AN/ALQ-131 ECM Pod for my entire tour. I was also one (1) of two (2) techs who crafted the post raid analysis based upon the histories electronically stored in the pods which went on the raid. I have seen this incorrect item spoken as truth on several of the El Dorado Canyon stories ..... Parts DID NOT fall out of the 131 pod after the mission. If you have seen inside of the pod - you can see that it is impossible for this to happen. There was issues unique to the 131 pod and the F-111F, but none of these issues were a factor during El Dorado Canyon. In fact, the AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod suffered from the same thing which afflicted Pave Tack ->>>> The 131 was not turned on until just before the attack and it did not have time to warm up. I can into detail on this .... and other items .... (i.e. Crotale ... and 131 Programming - [ its has a computer and is programmed) ... Reach out if interested ....
I can't remember mentioning the 131 pod and did not intend to disparage it if I did. My crewmate and I were very well aware of the tape installed in our pod, its capability, the power-up requirements, and its limitations. We placed it in TXMT 1 and 3 pushbuttons depressed about 5 minutes out. Never looked at it again. So, did the pod save us from all the SA-3s, 6s, 8s, and Crotales that were fired that night? I think it protected us pretty damn well against the 3s and 8s. I think the pod, together with the search radar jamming of the EF-111s were very effective. I personally never heard the story about parts falling from the 131 pod. Sounds like BS to me.
@@FoursInHot Steve mentioned the parts falling out story. it has been written other places and is partially based on truth. The F-111Fs broke the 131 pod in ways that A-10s and F-16s never even thought of. There was a ribbon cable (called digibus) which would intermittently fail because the vibration caused by low level flight would crack the solder joints on that cable. But on the Raid there was a number of pods which were still warming up when attack began ... You just mentioned the tape .... There was a NATO load and then several EWO loads ... The 131 was programmed based upon what threats the mission would encounter. Interestingly enough, the NATO load was for jamming friendly systems ... The EWO load tended to be location based on Intel. I knew that we (You actually) were going to Libya when our shop received the request for that EWO tape. The only other time EWO loads were requested was for the Victor Alert birds. But thanks for the reply .....
I asked about alleged broken jamming pod parts in my interview with PUFFY 12, so I think that's what he's referring to. PUFFY 12 said that the pods were "fried", but not that parts had come off.
@@10percenttrue @FoursinHot .... BTW ... Before I launch into my story .... Was the two of you aware that Remit 31 Tail #2390 is on display at the USAF Museum @Dayton Ohio? .... I saw her and got into trouble because I reached out to touch her radome .... She is dressed out with GBUs and PaveTack .... Painted in the the post - El Dorado Canyon color complete with Ribbon
Hey Steve, this this the first time I've seen you on youtube and wow you got a great interview. Jim is an incredible storyteller. I also realized that I read "Red Eagles" years ago, thanks for writing a great book!
Hey 10 Percent True, keep seeing these great videos on the F-111 and El Dorado Canyon and keep wondering when you’re going to interview my father who not only along with Brad Insley has the most logged hours in the F-111, but was number 2 behind Col. Franklin during the raid and having more experience flying the Aardvark than basically everyone in the world besides Brad Insley (and they’re really close on hours) and also as a Flight Instructor has some great insight on the aircraft, the Lydia Raid, and much much more. Gotta get all these stories before the people that flew them are gone. Love your videos, hearing the stories, and seeing some familiar faces as well.
I met your father in London when he was on a layover many years ago, but I didn't tape the conversation. Would love to get his story down on tape, but I contacted him a couple of years ago on LinkedIn and never got a response. If you want to put us in touch, feel free to complete the contact form at the bottom of my website: www.10percenttrue.com/
Is your dad Dick Brown? We flew in the same flight during ElDorado Canyon and met-up for TV series in Fort Worth a couple of years ago. Great guy. Great aviator. Great experience... and great sense of humor. Hope to see/hear his stories soon.
@@FoursInHothe is my father and he’s spoken very highly of you many times. Was great to hear your experience on the Raid. I can still remember the dinner we had before he left and that night not knowing what was happening, but knowing it was something important. I’m sure we must have met when I was younger. Hope you’re doing well.
Epic stuff Steve. Would be really cool to hear someone from the Navy who was involved and how their plans went from that night. Jose thank you for bringing this story to all of us!
We had lived in Rota for 4 years and just left in 85. We were kinda surprised France didn’t approve flying through their airspace with as much military intervention and involvement they have in Africa, but France is France. Was even worse when Spain denied the use of their airspace considering their entire air defense was really protected by the USAF F-15s in TJ and F-16s at ZAB. I recall my father really “feeling” for the crews that had to endure that flight then go all the way back.
We routinely flew over France and Spain both before and after the raid. Heck, we deployed to Spain. Also, the Tornados, F-16s, and F-4s routinely overflew both countries. I think sensitivities were a bit more than the fact the F-111 was nuclear capable.
@FoursInHot Wed fly over France on the way back from Incirlic, but we were not armed. The real pain was flying between Greece and Turkey. ATC in Greece never wanted to talk to us. One time, going to Incirlic, Greece wouldn't talk to us so we had to go back and spend the night at Sigonella.
@FoursInHot Spain had one of the only ranges we could use for live bombs ( Zaragoza) but they didn't seem to mind us being there. Great nude beaches and swimming pools there too!!!
Excellent interview! Thank you Colonel! Outstanding job! I was stationed at Plattsburgh AFB as a jet engine mechanic that day and we did a sudden "comm out" launch of a tanker (KC-135A) out of our alert pad to support the mission. Jet only had 3 engines with water injection working, but we got it in the air anyway. I never worked the F models, but was on the FBs for almost 10 years. Loved that jet! Also worked the B-1B, but it just wasn't the same. 🙂
Small world... I was born in Plattsburgh... Way back before anyone envisioned the 1-11. Some day I hope to hear all the "Alert" stories we all shared through those Cold War years. It was a different time.
Apologies if I missed it, don't think I did, but I'm going to guess the "Jose" callsign. I'll proffer it's because of Alan Shepard's alter ego, "Jose Jiminez" as shown in The Right Stuff. And the old TV show. Unrelated you've convinced me and have pre-ordered your republished book. I will hold you to the high standard that you have a pretty signature for it 😂
This is Jim. You nailed it. The movie the Right Stuff was very popular in the aviation world and the old Bill Dana bit about the first astronaut was still a killer. Jimenez? I became Jose by osmosis. In another assignment in a land far, far, away they called me Hose B, because they already had a Hose A.
Super interesting, thanks guys. I watched the F111Fs in Suffolk in the 80s at Lakenheath, at Airshows :-) and around other USAF bases close to where I grew up. Also the first military jet I saw air to air as an Air Cadet. Might have seen Jim fly past low level back in the day, who knows :-)
In order to be designated as "strike" (nuclear) capable, each crew had to study their procedures, route, and target; and then brief their route to a "council of elders." Before the briefing began, we had to take a test of the aircraft boldface and a 10-20 question test of nuclear security procedures. It was a 100% pass fail type of test. Then, the council of elders was normally chaired by DO (OG), with other experts from the wing. The whole affair last 30-60 minutes per crew as the panel asked questions to probe and assess knowledge. As a young officer and new crewmember, it was intimidating... Often the only face time a young pilot or WSO would get with the Wing leadership.
Thank you for your explanation! I’ve always loved the F-111! I grew up going to many air shows seeing the Vark! I grew up around Heyford in the 1980s. My dad was an enlisted avionics tech with the 20th Avionics Maintenance Squadron there and sometimes he would take me into his shop. He spent 10 years at Heyford. I could listen to you for hours recounting your memories from the flying squadron. What a time! Thank you for honorably serving our Country.
I never spoke to any of the tanker crews. Our mother tanker took-off from Mildenhall and we were at Lakenheath. We never met. However, there was an F-111 crewmember that flew with the mother tankers. I'm pretty confident those ride-along Vark types told the tanker crews everything.
@@FoursInHot I’m sorry, I meant the plane captain or the maintenance guys that shook your hand when you took off. I thought you said you told them. Was just curious. Thanks for your service and a great interview. Semper Fi 😉
Brian, I'm sorry I momentarily forgot how to read English. Yes, we told our crew chief everything! We showed him our map, our route, and explained our plan. We even invited him to help us personalize the bombs.
Jim Jimenez's predictament about being a top graduate out of the Air Force Academy, and trying to get into fighters and being stonewalled by the "system" for not being blond, blue eyed. and White reminds me of a reciprocal inverse systemic injustice where John McCain of the Navy Royalty McCain family greatly benefited from the inherent built-in greased tracts that benefit members of Navy Royalty. For the record, McCain graduated far below dead last from the Naval Academy. McCain was well known for not attending his classes and barely turning in some of his assignments. Upon graduating dead last and many levels below the next guy above him, McCain got to pick his assignment to pilot school where he damaged and crashed 3 to 5 planes (Navy cover-up or not), but somehow the investigations always avoided a pilot error conclusion after the first one. Even with these crashes, McCain was never in any jeopardy of being washed out like any Asian, Hispanic, or Black cadet would have been. Real life is not fair so, like Jim Jimenez. make your own lemonade.
I just watched my whole interview and want to thank Steve for not making me look like a dick. However, I need to make a few clarifications for things I got wrong or misspoke. In no particular order:
- I received my F-111F assignment in the summer of 1983 and got to Lakenheath in the summer of 1984. I went to Fighter Lead-In training at Holloman, not Albuquerque.
- Only the FBs had star trackers.
- At Lakenheath, we normally carried a SUU-21 with 6 practice bombs each on the two inboard pivot pylons. That gave us 12 opportunities to drop bombs every sortie.
- I got my callsign "Jose" from the movie "The Right Stuff." In the movie Alan Spepard repeats Bill Dana's famous skit about the first astronaut, Jose Jimenez.
Great interview José! As a former Tornado GR driver, I found your account of the TF descent and the raid riveting, & could relate to many of the issues you described like maintaining your timing contract in the face of varying winds, managing wingsweep on the tanker etc. Fortunately, the SAM WEZ on a crossing/retreating target doing 660kts is pretty small! I worked with RAAF F-111s on Red Flag and they could really move! Respect to you sir, I look forward to your other interviews with Steve. 🙏
Thanks Nick. Night TFR is no big deal until it isn't. Did you fly in the Gulf War? I think the Tornado guys laying down airfield denial munitions had the most challenging sorties in the war.
thank you the amazing interview
No, I joined the front line in 97 & was an IP at the equivalent to Lead In To Fighter Fundamentals between 00-03 so I missed OIF too. It was no fly zone enforcement (north & south) on my 1st tour & coalition troop support (counter insurgency) thereafter...
very interesting interview!
That's an indicator of absolute gold spoken history by a person who was part of it. Keep it coming!
From my experience flying TFR on the Tornado GR, I didn’t experience an issue FOLLOWING other jets in 30sec stream as described by José I did have the TF try to pull me up into a Cessna that was above me once in day/VMC and I had to paddle the system out. On the other hand, chaff from the jets ahead threat reacting could definitely be seen by the TFR as terrain, and command a pull up. As a pilot, you could (on the Tornado at least) differentiate between chaff and terrain on the E Scope and manually fly through the chaff whilst enduring the warnings! I started my flying career at Bristol Filton in 1989 and they did depot maintenance on the UK F-111s there. I can testify to the mind bending noise of their departure! #soundoffreedom!
Fascinating, Nick. What were the indications on the escope that helped you disambiguate chaff from terrain?
It was a more "speckled" return rather than the solid line that the terrain would give. Chaff was also higher in elevation than the terrain as you'd expect given it was dispensed from an aircraft ahead.
Thanks for sharing you story FoursinHot! I have a late 80's book that has a PAVE-TACK and SR-71 photos of the aftermath. It's amazing to me that I got to hear a really good first person history of one persons experience on that raid. Cheers.
The pilot in the SR-71 was likely Brian Shul, probably the most famous SR pilot ever. RIP
So glad the full episode is here! Thanks very much!
I've been looking forward to this. Thank you for the phenomenal entertainment and education!
Been waiting for this one and it didn't disappoint one bit, an intense episode all the way. Thank you all.
You should interview some of the F-111 pilots involved with the GBU-28 development. It's a pretty impressive story, going from final design to fully operational within 2 weeks in February of '91.
Agreed! The GBU-28 is a great story.
This was a sublime example of aviation interview and aircrew story-telling.
Absolutely stonking natter chaps.
Cheers Steve and Jim.
Great stuff, Jose! Brought back a whole lot of memories of that era, and it's great to hear the story told with such enthusiasm and good humor. Can't wait for Episode 2!
Jose @FoursInHot, I'm an ex-F111 WSO and was at Lakenheath from Dec '82 - Nov '84 but don't know if we ever met. (Due to cataracts discovered in both eyes just as I was finishing RTU at Mtn Home, I didn't fly at Lakenheath or anywhere afterwards.) So I spent my time at Lakenheath leading the WOMIS project for our Wing CO Col Ed Bracken. Anyhoo, just partway into this interview with Steve and wow, what a terrific storyteller you are!
Thanks! WOMIS? Oh my... What an acronym and at the time, quite the technology breakthrough!
Thanks, Jim@@FoursInHot. It was a pet project of Col Bracken's, and we piled in an enormous amount of work (including one memorable 40 hour day) to get it up and running.
Nowhere near as exciting as flying the swingwinged wonder low level at the speed of heat, but the system played its part.
BTW, you probably knew (or still know) Bob Pastusek, who I spent a lot of time with. You'll know him from all his brilliant planning work on Operation Eldorado Canyon. (He told me a great story about flying a few carrier sorties as part of the enormous prep work he did for that operation.) A great guy...
One of the best podcasts I ever listened to. Riveting start to finish. I was not aware first-hand accounts of the mission were only recently made public. I felt privileged to listen to this. Skill, courage, professionalism, humility. Wow.
Eu tbm gosto de amarelo , mais fácil de identificar.
I was a Second Grader at Lakenheath Elementary and will never forget how awesome those F-111s were. Great episode
Incredible Jim- total respect and so grateful to you for sharing your experience. Absolutely amazing.
Another masterpiece; again by virtue of the interviewer and interviewee! Jim Jimenez’s animated account of his Eldorado Canyon mission was truly astonishing and needs to be heard; especially so if anyone has recently acquired a copy of the book “Operation Eldorado Canyon: The 1986 US Bombing Raid on Libya” by Jim Rotramel. While this is my favorite of Jim’s podcast, his follow-on interviews are also entertaining!
Thanks Tony. Jim Rotramel (Rotro) and I are good friends and go back to our days in the 493rd together. Back in 1985, the F-111Fs received a significant upgrade to their computers... Effectively increasing the waypoint storage capacity from tens the thousands. Anyway, Rotro came out with a neat little inflight guide he called, "The Pilot's Brain." It organized, paired, and listed thousands of significant waypoints through Europe. Instead of looking up coordinates, we could just go direct to any of the thousands of stored points. Besides helping plan Eldorado Canyon, I think this was Rotro's greatest contribution to the Vark. Oh, he turned out to be a pretty Sierra Hotel modeler too.
Thank you both - smooth interview. Jim's story upon return and dismount after mission gives a whole 'nutha saying of "hold my ****"! My memory from then (just before I joined the USAF) was more emphasis on the stance France had of not allowing flight into their airspace. I recall the news stating it,
and I was amused that the punk band "The Meatmen" had it in the lyrics of their song "French people suck".
And my father was an Aerospace Engineer on F-111 at McClellan AFB Logistics center at the time.
That was an epic interview, Steve. Thanks for all that you do.
10 years old when this happened and lived on Lakenheath village. Dad was blue section MSGT Mroczek assigned to AGS. He's spoken about this day and it always brings back memories.
E os registros dessas histórias, gente. Ainda existem?
As good of an aviation yarn-weaver as I've ever heard. Both funny as hell and really jived with interviewer. Good mojo, Sirs.
I was an NCO in 48 Wing Intelligence and knew Jose then… I helped plan the Eldorado Canyon missions that they went out and flew. Those months were the very definition of job satisfaction for me. Won’t fail to mention Ribas/Lawrence RIP…
Sorry you couldn't make the F-111F reunion this past summer at the Heath. The active duty folks really did a great job making us feel welcomed. Great time. Clay Cash was there and we talked a lot about the intel side of things. Hope all is well with you and yours.
This man is pure Diamond!
What an incredible interview Steve, as always ^^
That was a spectacular interview. Great questions, loved the detail that was shared, beautifully told. I can't wait for the second chapter!
What I wish I would have said when asked why I was chosen. I had the good fortune of getting assigned to the 493rd TFS (Yellow tails) when I got to Lakenheath. The Ops Officer for the 493rd was a WSO, LtCol Dick Cathers. Great guy. Well respected within the Vark community and the Wing. As a new guy, I was crewed with LtCol Cathers, and as Forest Gump would say, "We fit together like peas and carrots." It doesn't hurt to be liked by the leadershipl.
this is one of the best interviews so far, it deserves more views.
I can relate to how 'Jose' felt when he got assigned to the F-111F. I was enlisted in 1977 and after basic training I was assigned to avionics maintenance for the F-111A, and assigned to Mtn. Home AFB ID after tech school. No high tech F-15 or F-16 with HUD displays and digital radars, but the analog 'steam gauge' F-111A, which was a disappointment. But Mtn. Home was great, and the F-111A trained a lot of pilots and WSOs who later moved on to the Ds and Fs that did the heavy lifting.
the F111 guys are the best interviews by far....
Steve, I’m sure this other guy’s book will be great, but I was looking forward to one from you after reading two of yours last year. I thought when you mentioned you had received the (unclassified) de-brief , that was was an indication that maybe you are working on one about El Dorado. I sure hope so. You are a talented author and -much like Mike Guardia- your passion for the subject seeps through in the read. I know some of the pilots and aviators don’t want to be identified but hopefully- as we get on in time- that will change.
Any way you can do a pod cast with one of the Navy guys involved? SEAD would be interesting but hoping one of the A-6 guys. They did a tremendous job
*didnt intend to cross out Mike Guardia…I guess the computer doesn’t think hyphen-breaks are a thing
I’m trying not to be a dick 😂
Another spectacular addition to the catalog. Brilliant episode.
Thanks for you indexing, Jim :)
46:38 "If you have to abort during launch, take it into the dirt. DO NOT BLOCK THE RUNWAY." Ya, that's an indicator.
Great story telling, thank you Jose and Steve.
Piddle packs lol!🤣
1:52:08 Finally getting on the tanker with 10-12 minutes left. Wow!
Just fantastic!!
I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath during El Dorado Canyon. I was an Electronic Warfare Technician who worked on the AN/ALQ-131 ECM Pod for my entire tour. I was also one (1) of two (2) techs who crafted the post raid analysis based upon the histories electronically stored in the pods which went on the raid. I have seen this incorrect item spoken as truth on several of the El Dorado Canyon stories ..... Parts DID NOT fall out of the 131 pod after the mission. If you have seen inside of the pod - you can see that it is impossible for this to happen. There was issues unique to the 131 pod and the F-111F, but none of these issues were a factor during El Dorado Canyon. In fact, the AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod suffered from the same thing which afflicted Pave Tack ->>>> The 131 was not turned on until just before the attack and it did not have time to warm up. I can into detail on this .... and other items .... (i.e. Crotale ... and 131 Programming - [ its has a computer and is programmed) ... Reach out if interested ....
I can't remember mentioning the 131 pod and did not intend to disparage it if I did. My crewmate and I were very well aware of the tape installed in our pod, its capability, the power-up requirements, and its limitations. We placed it in TXMT 1 and 3 pushbuttons depressed about 5 minutes out. Never looked at it again. So, did the pod save us from all the SA-3s, 6s, 8s, and Crotales that were fired that night? I think it protected us pretty damn well against the 3s and 8s. I think the pod, together with the search radar jamming of the EF-111s were very effective. I personally never heard the story about parts falling from the 131 pod. Sounds like BS to me.
@@FoursInHot Steve mentioned the parts falling out story. it has been written other places and is partially based on truth. The F-111Fs broke the 131 pod in ways that A-10s and F-16s never even thought of. There was a ribbon cable (called digibus) which would intermittently fail because the vibration caused by low level flight would crack the solder joints on that cable. But on the Raid there was a number of pods which were still warming up when attack began ... You just mentioned the tape .... There was a NATO load and then several EWO loads ... The 131 was programmed based upon what threats the mission would encounter. Interestingly enough, the NATO load was for jamming friendly systems ... The EWO load tended to be location based on Intel. I knew that we (You actually) were going to Libya when our shop received the request for that EWO tape. The only other time EWO loads were requested was for the Victor Alert birds. But thanks for the reply .....
I asked about alleged broken jamming pod parts in my interview with PUFFY 12, so I think that's what he's referring to. PUFFY 12 said that the pods were "fried", but not that parts had come off.
Thanks for the info. Would definitely like to learn more.
@@10percenttrue @FoursinHot .... BTW ... Before I launch into my story .... Was the two of you aware that Remit 31 Tail #2390 is on display at the USAF Museum @Dayton Ohio? .... I saw her and got into trouble because I reached out to touch her radome .... She is dressed out with GBUs and PaveTack .... Painted in the the post - El Dorado Canyon color complete with Ribbon
Absolute gold listening. What a character 👏 Jim. Thank you Steve.
Hey Steve, this this the first time I've seen you on youtube and wow you got a great interview. Jim is an incredible storyteller. I also realized that I read "Red Eagles" years ago, thanks for writing a great book!
Thanks for tuning in. Glad you enjoyed it!
Hey 10 Percent True, keep seeing these great videos on the F-111 and El Dorado Canyon and keep wondering when you’re going to interview my father who not only along with Brad Insley has the most logged hours in the F-111, but was number 2 behind Col. Franklin during the raid and having more experience flying the Aardvark than basically everyone in the world besides Brad Insley (and they’re really close on hours) and also as a Flight Instructor has some great insight on the aircraft, the Lydia Raid, and much much more. Gotta get all these stories before the people that flew them are gone. Love your videos, hearing the stories, and seeing some familiar faces as well.
I met your father in London when he was on a layover many years ago, but I didn't tape the conversation. Would love to get his story down on tape, but I contacted him a couple of years ago on LinkedIn and never got a response. If you want to put us in touch, feel free to complete the contact form at the bottom of my website: www.10percenttrue.com/
Is your dad Dick Brown? We flew in the same flight during ElDorado Canyon and met-up for TV series in Fort Worth a couple of years ago. Great guy. Great aviator. Great experience... and great sense of humor. Hope to see/hear his stories soon.
@@FoursInHothe is my father and he’s spoken very highly of you many times. Was great to hear your experience on the Raid. I can still remember the dinner we had before he left and that night not knowing what was happening, but knowing it was something important. I’m sure we must have met when I was younger. Hope you’re doing well.
@@FoursInHotBtw your interview for the show was fantastic!!! I remember when y’all had the interview.
Epic stuff Steve. Would be really cool to hear someone from the Navy who was involved and how their plans went from that night. Jose thank you for bringing this story to all of us!
Awesome story!
We had lived in Rota for 4 years and just left in 85. We were kinda surprised France didn’t approve flying through their airspace with as much military intervention and involvement they have in Africa, but France is France. Was even worse when Spain denied the use of their airspace considering their entire air defense was really protected by the USAF F-15s in TJ and F-16s at ZAB. I recall my father really “feeling” for the crews that had to endure that flight then go all the way back.
Spain and France blocked flights of nuclear capable aircraft after a broken Arrow incident.
We routinely flew over France and Spain both before and after the raid. Heck, we deployed to Spain. Also, the Tornados, F-16s, and F-4s routinely overflew both countries. I think sensitivities were a bit more than the fact the F-111 was nuclear capable.
@FoursInHot Wed fly over France on the way back from Incirlic, but we were not armed. The real pain was flying between Greece and Turkey. ATC in Greece never wanted to talk to us. One time, going to Incirlic, Greece wouldn't talk to us so we had to go back and spend the night at Sigonella.
@FoursInHot Spain had one of the only ranges we could use for live bombs ( Zaragoza) but they didn't seem to mind us being there. Great nude beaches and swimming pools there too!!!
Excellent interview! Thank you Colonel! Outstanding job! I was stationed at Plattsburgh AFB as a jet engine mechanic that day and we did a sudden "comm out" launch of a tanker (KC-135A) out of our alert pad to support the mission. Jet only had 3 engines with water injection working, but we got it in the air anyway. I never worked the F models, but was on the FBs for almost 10 years. Loved that jet! Also worked the B-1B, but it just wasn't the same. 🙂
Small world... I was born in Plattsburgh... Way back before anyone envisioned the 1-11. Some day I hope to hear all the "Alert" stories we all shared through those Cold War years. It was a different time.
This was a blast, thank you!
Great video!!
Apologies if I missed it, don't think I did, but I'm going to guess the "Jose" callsign. I'll proffer it's because of Alan Shepard's alter ego, "Jose Jiminez" as shown in The Right Stuff. And the old TV show.
Unrelated you've convinced me and have pre-ordered your republished book. I will hold you to the high standard that you have a pretty signature for it 😂
This is Jim. You nailed it. The movie the Right Stuff was very popular in the aviation world and the old Bill Dana bit about the first astronaut was still a killer. Jimenez? I became Jose by osmosis. In another assignment in a land far, far, away they called me Hose B, because they already had a Hose A.
Best aero channel on you tube.
F-111 ! 🤪
Super interesting, thanks guys. I watched the F111Fs in Suffolk in the 80s at Lakenheath, at Airshows :-) and around other USAF bases close to where I grew up. Also the first military jet I saw air to air as an Air Cadet. Might have seen Jim fly past low level back in the day, who knows :-)
What were the nuclear cert the pilot mentioned that were high stakes pass/fail. Can you elaborate?
In order to be designated as "strike" (nuclear) capable, each crew had to study their procedures, route, and target; and then brief their route to a "council of elders." Before the briefing began, we had to take a test of the aircraft boldface and a 10-20 question test of nuclear security procedures. It was a 100% pass fail type of test. Then, the council of elders was normally chaired by DO (OG), with other experts from the wing. The whole affair last 30-60 minutes per crew as the panel asked questions to probe and assess knowledge. As a young officer and new crewmember, it was intimidating... Often the only face time a young pilot or WSO would get with the Wing leadership.
Thank you for your explanation! I’ve always loved the F-111! I grew up going to many air shows seeing the Vark! I grew up around Heyford in the 1980s. My dad was an enlisted avionics tech with the 20th Avionics Maintenance Squadron there and sometimes he would take me into his shop. He spent 10 years at Heyford. I could listen to you for hours recounting your memories from the flying squadron. What a time! Thank you for honorably serving our Country.
Phenomenal interview
Jim, just curious. Were you allowed to tell your crew chief the target or was it simply a matter of trust and respect? Love it either way. thanks!
I never spoke to any of the tanker crews. Our mother tanker took-off from Mildenhall and we were at Lakenheath. We never met. However, there was an F-111 crewmember that flew with the mother tankers. I'm pretty confident those ride-along Vark types told the tanker crews everything.
@@FoursInHot I’m sorry, I meant the plane captain or the maintenance guys that shook your hand when you took off. I thought you said you told them. Was just curious. Thanks for your service and a great interview.
Semper Fi 😉
Brian, I'm sorry I momentarily forgot how to read English.
Yes, we told our crew chief everything! We showed him our map, our route, and explained our plan. We even invited him to help us personalize the bombs.
Hi Steve, any chance you could put the operation debrief documents somewhere we can get to them? Thanks.
Great episode! I still have difficulty in understanding the design of the f111
Great storytelling, and historically, it's very real and relevant to what's going on in Yemen
would you kindly provide a link the report you obtained on Eldorado canyon please?
Did he fly by the barometric altimeter then ?
We always set the baro altimeters on take off, before TFR operation on low level.
On 29.92 ?@@nickclark9240
I had the privilege of working on the F-111 at Cannon AFB in the late 80's.
What an incredible aircraft!!!
It was ahead of its time, but you knew the drill. Shut-down #1, open panel 4. Restart #1, shut-down #2, open panel 5.
what is eldroado canyon book that is coming out?
A book by JIm Rotramel. Should be out about April time.
Tremendous!!
Need better audio for the host
Jim Jimenez's predictament about being a top graduate out of the Air Force Academy, and trying to get into fighters and being stonewalled by the "system" for not being blond, blue eyed. and White reminds me of a reciprocal inverse systemic injustice where John McCain of the Navy Royalty McCain family greatly benefited from the inherent built-in greased tracts that benefit members of Navy Royalty. For the record, McCain graduated far below dead last from the Naval Academy. McCain was well known for not attending his classes and barely turning in some of his assignments. Upon graduating dead last and many levels below the next guy above him, McCain got to pick his assignment to pilot school where he damaged and crashed 3 to 5 planes (Navy cover-up or not), but somehow the investigations always avoided a pilot error conclusion after the first one. Even with these crashes, McCain was never in any jeopardy of being washed out like any Asian, Hispanic, or Black cadet would have been. Real life is not fair so, like Jim Jimenez. make your own lemonade.
😴
wet start McCain - he and his daddy were just zog bootlickers...