Re: Rescue in Laos, "Streetcar 304"

On Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:30:24 +0100, Luca Morandini
<lmorandini@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Ed Rasimus wrote:
On Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:27:02 +0100, Luca Morandini
<lmorandini@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

In practice, the slow-mover FACs survived in some environments where
it would seem improbable because the enemy learned that if they
exposed themselves by firing upon the FAC they would be the recipient
of a fairly rapid response from fast-movers.

One more question: what was the CEP with unguided bombs in SEA ?

I was amazed (and sceptical a bit) by the level of bombing precision
reported in "Streetcar 304": I understand that shallow-dive bombing at
high (jet) speed with sleek bombs is a completely different story from
the WWII level bombing sorry tale... but, still... was that precision
typical of SEA ?

CEP in combat situations is very difficult to measure. When asking
about SEA, you have to recognize that there were a number of very
different "wars" going on--what conditions were in S. Vietnam versus
the more intense gun threats in Laos versus the very sophisticated
integrated air defense of NVN, would have an influence on accuracy.
Delivering from a comfortable box pattern in a permissive environment
versus high speed pop-up, random heading one-pass/haul-ass conditions
are very different.

Let me just offer that the qualification criteria for operational
crews was 140 feet for high-angle dive bomb (30 degree or more), 100
feet for low-angle/low-drag (20 degree) and 50 feet for
low-angle/high-drag (10 degree). That's controlled conditions and
known winds.

Accuracy was generally much better than the high-altitude,
level-release, bomber-box bombing of WW II. And, SEA accuracy was
pathetic when compared with today's PGMs.

In a SAR situation where Sandys are delivering, their accuracy because
of their low-speed and minimal recovery altitudes required was quite
good. Their variety of onboard ordnance also was amazing. They had a
tool for every purpose.
Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
www.thundertales.blogspot.com
www.thunderchief.org
.

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