Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad Page 5
Back To Page 4 Q. Was there any one moment or incident that you wished to have included in the book but didn’t? What was it and why didn’t it make it in? A. I think I managed to cover all the major incidents and events involving the 2nd Brigade and its battle for Baghdad. Q. Assuming […]
Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad Page 4
Back To Page 3 Q. “Thunder Run” details an event that presumably will be studied heavily in creating future doctrine for the military. Another example from the Iraq War could be the Apache raid on Karbala that resulted in the downed Longbow and captured crew. What lessons do you draw from your experience about the ability […]
Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad
An Interview with Author David Zucchino by John “Spoons” Sponauer Every war has images that are burned into the public’s mind. Operation Iraqi Freedom has several… the blinding sandstorms, or the photos of Iraqis and GIs tearing down statues and paintings of Saddam. The other memorable event of the war for many was the sight of […]
Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad Page 3
Back To Page 2 Q. Military writers like Ralph Peters suggest that much of future of war will revolve around cities. Do you think the US military has the appropriate hardware, technology, and training to do it right? In the process of writing the book, did you hear of soldiers consistently wishing for something that […]
Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad Page 2
Back To Page 1 Q. When did you realize this was a story that you had to record in a book for history? A. I realized it at a memorial service in late April 2003 in Baghdad for the soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd ID, who had been killed in action. I started talking to […]
A SuperPak4 OCA Mission Page 9
Back To Page 8 Keeping a high and tight pattern in case I flame out I manage to squeak out a decent landing. As I taxi in I take one more look at the gauge… …and realize how close I cut it! The mission is a success!The airfield was almost totally destroyed. The only […]
A SuperPak4 OCA Mission Page 8
Back To Page 7 As the CCIP pipper crosses the control tower I mash the pickle button one more time and pull hard off the target toward the south. My bombs hit just short of the control tower near the wood-line, but when you drop 4000 pounds of high-explosive in one spot you don’t […]
A SuperPak4 OCA Mission Page 7
Back To Page 6 After making our own hole to drive through, I order my flight to rejoin and pull up my A2G mode.With the radar slaved to the strike waypoint I punch the buttons a couple of times to give me the DBS2 mode (Doppler Beam Sharpening) giving me a good picture of […]
A SuperPak4 OCA Mission Page 6
Back To Page 5 My missile only burns for a few brief seconds before finding its mark. Boom! That’s a kill! Not taking time to savor my victory I lock up what I suspect to be his wingman… …declare him to AWACS… …and launch my second AMRAAM at about 4 miles. As soon as […]
A SuperPak4 OCA Mission Page 5
Back To Page 4 With the onrushing MiG-29s carrying long range air-to-air missiles I know we are probably already inside of their engagement envelope. In an attempt to break up their attack I order my element (wingman #3 and #4) to engage them. Wingman #4 fires first and later analysis will show he draws […]
A SuperPak4 OCA Mission Page 4
Back To Page 3 The MiG-29 has his hands full already though as one of our F-16 escorts has engaged him and a vicious gun fight ensues. The F-16 and the MiG-29 twist and turn through the skies becoming both the hunter and the hunted several times. A second F-16 joins the fray and the […]
A SuperPak4 OCA Mission Page 3
Back To Page 2 The Horizontal Situation Display (HSD) is one of the most useful MFD pages for maintaining SA. It shows your planned route, waypoints, bulls-eyes, and direction. The large white arrow always points due north and when the crap really hits the fan in the Korean theater you will almost always be […]