Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Great Pic...BTW is the RIO asleep or did you just pull a lot G's that day?
F-105 and 'Nam
- Thread starter MikeD
- Start date
aloft
New Member
Fixed.
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Sorry Navy vs AF issue I guess.
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Care to clue me in then? I though they both did the same thing. Run the weapons systems, radios, and electronic warfare packages.
RIO was in the F-14 and was primarily air-air radar runner, hence Radar Intercept in the name. When the Tomcat became a bomb dropper, the RIO duties became much the same as any other WSO; they just kept the name. F-model Hornet backseaters are now called WSOs. The RIO name went away with the Tomcat.
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Thank you for the explanation. I was sad to see that plane get retired. It is the reason I am pilot today. I saw one at my first air show and wanted to be a pilot since about the age of 5.
For the backseaters of tactical planes, you have:
RIO- Radar Intercept Officer, from F-14s.
WSO- Weapons System Officer, from the F/A-18D/F, F-15E, F-4E
RSO- Reconaissance Systems Officer, from the RF-4C recce photo plane
BN- Bombadier/Navigators from the retired A-6 Intruders
EWO- Backseaters that were in the retired F-4G/F-105G Wild Weasel planes
ECMO- USN/USMC Electronic CounterMeasures Officer, right/back seater in EA-6B Prowler
COTAC- USN Copilot/Tactical Officers, right seaters in the now-retired S-3 Viking
RAN- Radar Attack Navigators, backseaters in the retired RA-5C Vigilante planes
Bombers have:
B-52s, in addition to an EWO, have a Radar Nav (RN -bombardier) and a Nav (Navigation)
B-1s rear seat compilation is a Offensive Systems Officer and Defensive Systems Officer (OSO/DSO), now called WSOs since both guys can do both jobs (they used to only do one or the other).
AC/MC-130s, as well as RC-135s, carry different combos of Navs and EWOs.
AF soon to be calling all Nav-winged people CSOs, or Combat Systems Officers, thus combining the previous tracks of Navs (classic table Navigators), WSOs, and EWOs.
Old Pete
Cockpit Authoritarian
That was an awesome slide show. I went to college with a guy whose father was wing commander for the 388tfw iirc. He told quite a few fascinating stories. I remember him telling one of Iceal Hambleton's evading capture and being rescued after being shot down in a eb-66?. He said it would make a good movie if it were ever made. It eventually was made into a movie (Bat 21).
One of the guys in the slide show looked like Robin Olds. But I'm not sure.
One of the guys in the slide show looked like Robin Olds. But I'm not sure.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
Not actually me in the pic.
I took the photo.
The airplane is "mine" -- ergo, it is the one that had my name written on the side of it, and that's the noseart I painted.
Unlike back in the day, in the AF we as pilots aren't married to a particular airframe. The airplanes are all part of a fleet managed by the maintenance operation, and we fly whatever jet we're given on a particular day by maintenance.
So, on this day I had been painting the noseart and as luck would have it, the jet was given to my flight lead to take on this particular mission. It is one of the only in-flight shots I have of it during combat ops. I only actually flew that jet once or twice during a 6 month deployment.
Note that the noseart is actually incomplete: the red and white checkerboard pattern hasn't been painted on yet.
I don't remember who the WSO was on that day, but it's probably just a short dude.
CFIscare
Well-Known Member
I'm sure a lot of guys just signed up for the shirtless volleyball.Don't lie, it was because of Top Gun.
It was. He was standing on stage in the left of the photo, with Chappie James on the right.
gna_in_lgb
New Member
What greta slideshows; thanks Mike. I forwarded the link to my Dad, a Marine tail gunner in Vietnam so he'll appreciate it.
And it is a different AF, just this weekend my squadron held a naming convention and "Bareback" (for a female LT who rides horses competitively) and "Threeway" (for a male Type A multi-tasker) were shot down. I mean, come on!! :dunno:
And it is a different AF, just this weekend my squadron held a naming convention and "Bareback" (for a female LT who rides horses competitively) and "Threeway" (for a male Type A multi-tasker) were shot down. I mean, come on!! :dunno:
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Don't lie, it was because of Top Gun.
LOL, nope. Not unless Top Gun was in the 70's. It was an F-14 demo team that hooked me...
The last time I saw the F-14 Demo was in the mid to late 90's at a MKG air show. It was still an impressive show and freaking loud... I wish the Navy would have kept a few airframes alive just for shows.
ETAV8R
Well-Known Member
Mike great find. Thank you for posting.
Our country, and our world, has changed so much since then. Bring back the cold war!
I am forwarding the links as well to my parents old ANG Alumni association. Although they were/are a transport unit they all served during that time and will appreciate it greatly.
Our country, and our world, has changed so much since then. Bring back the cold war!
I am forwarding the links as well to my parents old ANG Alumni association. Although they were/are a transport unit they all served during that time and will appreciate it greatly.
juan valdez
Well-Known Member
ppragman
No pasa nada.
That kind of sucks... nothing that's "yours" so to speak?
ChasenSFO
hen teaser
Close enough.
Great slide show. A very good friend of mine is becoming a crew chief on the KC-135 and one of the first things he was told in class was that nose art is not okay. He was really shocked and I kind of was too.