About jenorv
John E. Norvell is a retired Air Force Lt Colonel, decorated air combat veteran of the Vietnam War, and former Assistant Professor of American and Military History at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has written freelance for the Washington Post, the Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy and History, and for several newspapers around the country.
45 years ago, this week in April, I boarded a “Freedom Bird” heading home from Thailand after a year-long remote combat tour. It was a year filled with many things: honing my flying skills as a backseater in the F4, … Continue reading →
Posted in 13 TFS, American History, Cambodia bombing 1973, F-4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Fighter Aircraft, Fighter pilot slang, SEA, U Dorn RTAFB, Udorn RTAFB, Veterans, Vietnam War
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Tagged Coming Home, Fast FAC, Forward Air Controller, Laredo F4 Fast FAC, Red River Rats, Sawadee
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Originally posted on An American Family:
Each spring in Thailand, there is a festival called Songkran. This is the traditional Thai water festival celebrated with the Thai new year in April. According to Wikipedia: The Songkran celebration represents purification…
At one time, there was a belief among some aviators that there is “no lift” at night, therefore night flight was not possible. Clearly this is not true, and is regarded as a joke among flyers, but it does reflect … Continue reading →
Posted in 13 TFS, 43 TFS, American History, F-4 Phantom II, F4 Phantom II, F4 PhantomII, Fighter Aircraft, Fighter pilot lingo, Vietnam War
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Tagged Night combat, Night flight, Richard Bach
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National Vietnam War Veterans Day will be observed on March 29. The nine million who served in the armed forces between November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, and their families are honored. Of this number: 304,000 were wounded. 1,253 … Continue reading →
I was thinking today about how I would have spent this day during the Vietnam War My squadron the 13TFS had an air to mud mission, so unlike the 555th which was mostly air to air, we spent a lot … Continue reading →
46 years ago, in 1973, the American POWs that were held captive in North Vietnam were repatriated to the United States. On January 27, 1973, the United States and North Vietnam agreed to the release American prisoners of war. Operation … Continue reading →
I was complaining on line about the cold today, it was 4 degrees when I got up. A former F4 jock suggested I Suck it Up. Hadn’t heard that in many years and I replied to him, “Yeah no Puss … Continue reading →
