Wall Panels from Southwest Asia

These graffiti-covered wall panels came from the Air Terminal Operations Center (ATOC) at Al Udeid Air Base, about 25 miles west of Doha, Qatar. Newly arriving personnel and aircrews who passed who passed through Al Udeid in support of Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, left evidence, often humorously, that they had been

Willys Quarter-ton Jeep

"[The] equipment ... among the most vital to our success in Africa and Europe were the bulldozer, the jeep, the 2 1/2 ton truck and the C-47 airplane. Curiously enough, none of these is designed for combat." - Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower The jeep, first used by the U.S. military during World War II, was an all-purpose vehicle for reconnaissance and

Williams International F107-WR-101 Turbofan

The F107-WR-101 is an advanced, two-shaft turbofan engine that powers the USAF AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile. The engine's design emphasizes light weight and compact size because of the limited space in the ALCM. The F107-WR-101 uses a special high-density aviation turbine fuel that has more energy for a given volume than standard fuels. The

W53 Thermonuclear Bomb

Based upon the Mk-53 "hydrogen" bomb, the W53 was modified to be carried by the Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). With a yield in the megaton range, the W53 fit into a Mk-6 re-entry vehicle installed on top of the Titan II.This artifact is on loan courtesy of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.Click here to return to

Wild Weasels and Linebacker Operations: The War Ends

Operations Linebacker and Linebacker II initiated the end of the Southeast Asia War. During those offensives, U.S. airpower stopped the North Vietnamese ground offensive and B-52s vigorously bombed previously untouched targets in North Vietnam. The Wild Weasels challenged North Vietnamese defenses that had been heavily built up over the course of

Wild Weasel Flight Gear

A Wild Weasel crewman wore a hard helmet and an oxygen mask with an integrated microphone. A survival vest held a first aid kit, escape map, survival kit and other items useful should he be shot down or forced to eject. Over the waist and legs is a g-suit, which fills with air during sharp turns to keep him from passing out from high g-forces. On

Wild Weasel Missions: Strike Support and Search and Destroy

Strike Support: First In, Last OutOn strike support missions deep into North Vietnam, Wild Weasels ranged ahead of strike forces to suppress SAM sites and gun laying radars in the target area. Ideally, the Wild Weasels would destroy them, but intimidating the radars to shut down and keeping them occupied also accomplished the main mission of

What is a Wild Weasel?

"Wild Weasel" describes the specialized USAF crews, aircraft and missions that suppress enemy air defenses with direct attacks. It originates with the name of the USAF's first anti-SAM program in 1965 -- Project Wild Weasel.Click here to return to First In, Last Out: Wild Weasels vs. SAMs.

War over Radio Waves: Signals Intelligence

The Radar War: Electronics IntelligenceThe enemy's air defense system depended heavily on radar signals. Enemy radars detected incoming U.S. aircraft, guided surface-to-air missiles and directed anti-aircraft fire.Air Force RB-66C, RB-47H and RC-135 crews identified enemy radar locations and recorded their signals. This electronics intelligence

Wilson Hurley: Painting the FACs in Action

Since pre-historic times, artists have attempted to convey the experience of warfare through art. Oftentimes, these artists base their interpretations of military actions on written or verbal accounts. Wilson Hurley, a FAC during the Southeast Asia War, put his personal memories of the war in Southeast Asia to canvas.A pilot with the New Mexico Air