The boomer told the KC-135 pilot to push over into a dive – probably 10 to 20 degrees nose low and then talked him into position in front of the flamed-out F-105.
The KC-135A Stratotanker and the commercial 707 passenger plane were both based on the Boeing Company’s model 367-80. The first 29 of the Air Force’s future 732-plane force were acquired in 1954. The first aircraft flew in August 1956, and in June 1957, Castle Air Force Base in California received the first Stratotanker in production. In 1965, the Air Force received the last KC-135.
During the Vietnam War, the KC-135 was extremely crucial because the Stratotanker not only made it possible for heavy fighter-bombers to reach and return to North Vietnamese targets, but it also towed them back to their bases when enemy action severely damaged them.
One Stratotanker even crossed Vietnam’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to save two F-105s that were low on fuel.
‘In the book Thud Ridge – Wing Commander Jack Broughton was leading a 2 ship of F-105s that was attempting the rescue of a downed Lt who had been down for a week,’ says Richard Crandall, former USAF F-111 and F-15E Pilot at US Air Force (1980-1998), on Quora.
‘They had helicopters inbound but one had problems and both left – in accordance with “doctrine”. He commented that it was within the rules but in previous rescues, one helicopter had been willing to continue alone. As an A-1 was leaving it was hit and caught fire – it called a Mayday. Broughton and his wingman with no fuel to do so returned to CAP him in case he too ejected. The A-1 went into a vertical high-speed dive – gutsy move Maverick – as the high speed could have caused the wing root where the fire was to fail from the weakened hot metal. The fire however went out.
‘Broughton and his wingman, Ken Bell, now had no fuel to make it home. They called for help – eventually, a Strategic Air Command KC-135 answered. I think the call was “do you have any gas for us?” and the reply was along the lines of “not really, but what little we have sounds like you need more than us”. The tanker broke the rules from SAC and headed North of the DMZ to meet them. The tanker was a Strategic Asset – needed for Air to Air refuelings for B-52s in case nuclear war with Russia occurred.’
Crandall continues;
‘Normally fighters will turn onto the tanker. The fighters and the tanker fly towards each other in the opposite direction. When a certain distance away the fighter does a 180-degree turn and rolls out behind the tanker. Col Broughton was told by Bell “Boss, I’m hurting” as he was so low on fuel. Wingman never ever ever say that – the calls are “2, Joker, Bingo, Mayday and I’ve got the ugly one (at the bar)”. Colonel Broughton knew they had minutes only.
‘The tanker did a fighter turn onto the fighters instead – a descending turn to roll out in front of the 2 F-105s. As the tanker rolled out Bell’s jet flamed out. The boomer told the pilot to push over into a dive – probably 10 to 20 degrees nose low and then talked him into position in front of the flamed-out 105. Bell had likely extended its Ram Air Turbine to have electrical and hydraulic power without the engine running. Remember that the pilot in the tanker cannot see the 105 – it is behind and below him – has to solely go by the directions of the boomer. The boomer stabs the boom into Bell’s 105 and pumps the gas. On the boom Bell does an airstart. Meanwhile, Col Broughton’s jet is chugging – just like in a car about to run out of gas. He jumps onto the boom before his engine quits and gets gas. All 3 aircraft returned to Col Broughton’s base in Thailand – the 135 had to go there as no gas to return home.
‘I am sure that the entire tanker crew was hospitalized due to massive alcohol poisoning from the drinks they were given at the bar that night. Every fighter pilot who hears of this story has tremendous respect for all involved in this incident. Truly awesome aviation on everybody’s parts. On Col Broughton and his wingman for not abandoning an aircraft in distress and for the tanker that saved both of them.’
Crandall concludes;
‘This is the picture of this that I have signed by Colonel Broughton:
Photo by Mike Machat