Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Oct 29, 2014 0:16:25 GMT 9
This was posted in AFA Magazine On-Line.
Jack Broughton 1924-2014.
Jacksel M. Broughton, a retired Air Force colonel and fighter pilot who flew a total of 216 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, and also made his mark as an author, died on Oct. 24 after a short illness. He was 89. Broughton was a valued contributor to Air Force Magazine; his most recent article, The Heart of the North, appeared in April 2014. Broughton was the recipient of the Air Force Cross for action in Vietnam, as well as two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, and four Distinguished Flying Crosses. In addition to his storied Air Force flying career—Broughton commanded the Thunderbirds in the 1950s, leading their transition to the supersonic F-100—he wrote two critically acclaimed books about the Vietnam air war: Thud Ridge and Going Downtown. A West Point graduate, he flew P-51s and P-47s in Europe before transitioning to the first jet-powered aircraft in Korea. During Vietnam, he was the vice commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, and led ground-attack missions in the F-105. An incident in which he tried to protect two pilots who inadvertently broke rules of engagement led to a court-martial that ended his career; it was widely described as a miscarriage of military justice. Post-retirement, Broughton flew as a charter pilot, worked in the space shuttle program as a flight test and technical planning advisor, as an entrepreneur, and as an author. He wrote the memoir Rupert Red Two. (For more on Broughton, see The Man From Thud Ridge from the March 2012 issue of Air Force Magazine.) ----------------------------
Jack Broughton was commander of 5 FIS when I was in the squadron.
He was a tremendous commander and did a lot for troop moral, which was zilch when he go there.
He was also a great Six pilot and was instrumental in getting rid of the Rocket Seat and having the Zero-Zero seat installed.
He will be missed, as will all of his generation of Fighter Pilots.
Jim Too
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Post by Jim on Oct 29, 2014 0:43:16 GMT 9
Jim Too, isn't there something about Col. Jack in common with General Billy Mitchell? Wonder if 2 Fingered Jack was there to roll out the Red Carpet when Col. Jack arrived on scene? Thud Ridge was a contemporary wartime memoir of his tour in Southeast Asia. Broughton was highly critical of the U.S. command structure then directing air operations against North Vietnam. The book resulted from the court martial of Broughton and two of his pilots for allegedly conspiring to violate the rules of engagement regarding U.S. air operations. Although acquitted of the most serious charges, Broughton was subsequently transferred to an obscure post in The Pentagon,[n 4] allegedly as a vendetta because his punishment was so slight. Required by office protocol to work only two or three days a month, he used both his extra time and his bitterness at the Air Force to compose Thud Ridge while he awaited approval of an application to appeal of his conviction to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records.[12] After his conviction was overturned and expunged from his record because of "undue command influence", Broughton retired from the Air Force in August 1968 and had the memoir published by J.B. Lippincott.[12] www.historynet.com/air-force-colonel-jacksel-jack-broughton-air-force-general-john-d-jack-lavelle-testing-the-rules-of-engagement-during-the-vietnam-war.htm
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Oct 29, 2014 5:15:24 GMT 9
While at Ubon, 1967, I had a conversation one day with a major who had been the number two man in the 5th FIS Chief of Maintenance section.
He asked if I had heard about Col. Broughton being in big trouble.
Since I hadn't, he told me what he knew, which was pretty much the facts.
We later heard that Col. B had been relieved of duty and was going to be tried.
If there was ever a sham of a trial, his was it.
He was banished to a desk, all because he was not PC, and retired.
His book, Going Downtown, is a strong indictment of the "leadership" of our nation and the Military during Nam.
Jack Broughton and Billy Mitchell were both vindicated, but not less hated by the bureaucrats in the Puzzle Palace.
I am proud to say I knew him personally, even on a non duty basis, and feel he was a Fighter Pilot's Fighter Pilot.
The Military is still being run by a similar bureaucracy of people who are more interested in looking good, than in getting the job done.
Lt. Gen. "Whip" Wilson would fly in from Clark to "tour" Ubon, and get under Robin Olds' skin.
While there, he made a habit of going around looking in tool boxes, to make sure there was nothing in them that was not a real tool.
No, screws, safety wire, rags or anything else he deemed was not a tool.
That was more important to him than finding out if the maintainer had the ability to fix a bird, as well as all the equipment and parts he needed.
I suspect it has only become worse.
I would not want to be a crew chief on a F-35, as I would probably be relieved of duty and sent packing.
We didn't lose the War in Viet Nam, we gave it away.
Jim Too, fully disgusted with what happened, is happening and will be happening to our Military.
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tmbak
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Post by tmbak on Oct 29, 2014 9:11:25 GMT 9
I was at Takhli when Col. Broughton was Vice Commander. I remember the day when the two pilots came back from the mission where they had shot up the Russian ship in Hyphong Harbor. After that incident there was a lot of brass on base from 7th Air Force. Col. Broughton was one great pilot and leader. What happened to him was was such a disgrace. I had a personal copy of Thud Ridge that was signed by Col. Broughton but I lent it to a young F-16 pilot a few years ago and never got it back. Col. Broughton will be greatly missed. He was the way the Air Force should be. Tom Baker
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Post by Mark O on Oct 29, 2014 14:23:40 GMT 9
I read "Rupert Red Two" during one of my trips to the desert, and remember posting my thoughts about it here. An amazing officer, and I'm sure he saved the lives of many F-106 pilots.
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Post by pat perry on Apr 6, 2016 3:44:21 GMT 9
I was at Takhli when Col. Broughton was Vice Commander. I remember the day when the two pilots came back from the mission where they had shot up the Russian ship in Hyphong Harbor. After that incident there was a lot of brass on base from 7th Air Force. Col. Broughton was one great pilot and leader. What happened to him was was such a disgrace. I had a personal copy of Thud Ridge that was signed by Col. Broughton but I lent it to a young F-16 pilot a few years ago and never got it back. Col. Broughton will be greatly missed. He was the way the Air Force should be. Tom Baker
Amen, Happy Birthday Tom Baker. Thanks for that Loring Video you sent us recently. Ya done good!
Pat P.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2016 8:41:59 GMT 9
I didn't even know he died...
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