SUBJECTS >> OPERATIONS >> Africa
AIRCRAFT >> FIGHTERS >> F-105
Catalog Number:
1965.079
Location:
BLDG 201, 1ST FLOOR, C WING HALLWAY
Description:
An F-105 Thunderchief Tactical Fighter Makes A Low Pass Over The Desert Post Of El Uotia. Located 80 Miles Southwest Of Wheelus Air Base In Libya, North Africa. Close By Is The Weapons Range Whore F-101 Voodoo, F-100 Super Sabre, And The F-105 Thunderchief Combat Jets Practice Bombing And Strafing. Essentially, The Range Consists Of Two Ranges Side By Side, Both Capable Of Accommodating All Types Of Weapons Training. Pilots Fly A Race Track" Type Of Pattern, Keeping Always To The Outside Of The Range, And Make Passes Targets At Staggered Intervals On Both Ranges Simultaneously. The Bombs Dropped Are 25 Pound Practice Bombs Containing A Black Powder Charge For Spotting. Flying Out Of Wheelus Combat Jets Complete More Than 200 Sorties Daily Over El Uotia. Generally, Each Combat Qualified Pilot Of The Usafe Tactical Unit Completes Two Tours Annually At Wheelus Air Base. It Is Necessary To Transport 2600 Gallons Of Water To This Desert Outpost Every Other Day. And Food Must Be Brought In On A Regular Routine Basis Because Of Limited Refrigeration Facilities. Of Course All Provisions Must Come In By Air. At Times There Are Wind And Sand Storms Of 18 Knots Velocity Capable Of Lifting A 200 Pound Airman Off The Ground."