Dateline: Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand – November, 1966
A visit with the USAF 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron
USAF F105 Film
United States Air Force used the Republic F105D Thunderchief as a supersonic attack bomber. This fighter was used during the Vietnam War. The US Air Force has produced this USAF F105 film in 1967 named “There is a Way.” The film is based on the life of the pilots and servicemen. During the Vietnam War, the pilots and servicemen of the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron used USAF F105 Thunderchief in their Squadron.
The film producers interviewed the pilots of the F105 and the related personnel. They shared their experiences, tribulations and trials faced in the war. In this film, the life of the pilots and servicemen is described. What a life they lived! How they lived being far away from their homes! Fighting a War that nobody really understood at the time.
The late Ed Rasimus:
Raz, the late Ed Rasimus is the pilot who looks the youngest in this film. He has a moustache and appears to be in his mid 20s in 1966. In this film he is shown completing his 100th mission over North Vietnam and is amongst the three landing pilots at the start of the film. When Ed Rasimus was interviewed in Vietnam, he jokes and explains “if I will be remembered as a jet ace fighter”. During recent years, Ed Rasimus wrote about his flying experiences in Vietnam. He published his experiences in a book titled as “When Thunder Rolls”. In this book, he described his first experience of flying. He said, he got frightened and wanted to quit at once before flying towards his first fighting mission. It sounds very honest and personal demand of him. Like the other typical Hollywood persona of jet fighter pilot, Ed Rasimus sounds different. This USAF F105 film shows Spider Spelius and Ed Rasimus. Also, the film shows the third pilot along with the “middle fingers” on their thuds.
The F105 Buffs
In this film, the aircraft action is absolutely fabulous. Listen and watch out for the footage of a full afterburner F105 takeoff. You’ll see how the 105 goes full throttle at first and then goes into full afterburner. The feathers and tail open up and you’ll see the afterburner flames. After that, you’ll experience a full afterburner with a loud bang. The film presents the history of aviation and war buffs and the producers made this film as a very special kind of archival document of the Vietnam era..
The film runs about 30 minutes. As there is no end credits or conclusions found in this film, we can conclude that this is only one part of the film. Nevertheless, we have this first part of the USAF F105 film to cherish.
Watch the USAF F105 Vietnam Film Here.
