World: Into the Barrel

Most of the planes that went on last week's deadly missions into North Viet Nam flew out of Thailand, from which 80% of all U.S. Air Force strikes over the North originate. Of the U.S.'s 40,000 military men stationed in Thailand, some 28,000 are Air Force pilots, mechanics and othsr ground-support personnel who maintain or fly 300 strike aircraft and 250 support planes from six U.S.-operated bases. Under Thailand's "gentlemen's agreement" with the U.S., the bases are considered Thai bases and are commanded by Thai officers. Thai air police control access to the bases; U.S. air police who help them cannot even carry guns. Command of the American units, however, lies with U.S. wing commanders and their Seventh Air Force headquarters in Saigon.

Detecting Fingerprints. Out of the Thai bases flies the most extraordinary air-combat team that has ever been as sembled. From Udorn, just 40 minutes by air from Hanoi, supersonic, unarmed RF-101 and RF-4C reconnaissance jets streak into target areas immediately before and after a raid to click pictures. From Korat, Takhli and Ubon come the F-105 Thunderchiefs and F-4C and F-4D Phantoms that actually deliver the bombs. From U-Tapao airfield in the Gulf of Siam, the largest jet field in Southeast Asia, four-engine KC-135 refueling tankers take to the air and gas up the bombers just before and after they hit the North. From Takhli fly EB-66 electronic-warfare jets with special equipment that can detect the "fingerprints" of enemy radar in the sky and then send out a signal that fouls up the screen below. Flying out of Takhli, F-105s armed with radar-guided Shrike missiles have the job of knocking out SAM sites.

Finally, from Nakhon Phanom comes every pilot's best friend: the air-rescue-and-recovery team. Flying ungainly looking, green and brown CH-30 choppers, or "Jolly Green Giants," R. &. R. pilots have even gone into Hanoi's outskirts to rescue downed fliers. Every pilot carries a small radio to bring in rescuers—along with a Jolly Green Giant calling card that has rescue instructions and the pledge: "The bearer of this card, upon being suitably rescued, agrees to provide free cheer at the nearest bar for those making said rescue possible." More than 200 American pilots have been glad to pay off that debt.

Tunnel Vision. On their bombing runs, U.S. pilots need all the sophisticated hardware and know-how they can get. Never have they gone up against such a dense and withering air-defense system. There is flak, small-arms fire from rooftops, increasingly frisky MIG fighters and portable surface-to-air missiles. To complicate their mission, Washington demands high-precision pinpoint bombing to avoid endangering civilian populations; pilots must get in close, fast, and make no mistakes.