Val Johnson

Night Owl Fighter Pilot Val Johnson

This is a true story about 100 day and night missions over North Vietnam from Ubon, Thailand, during March 6, to August 28, 1966. We were the main Air Force fighter squadron flying night missions over North Vietnam. I related my personal feelings about every mission with the exact dates and mission results from my daily notes. I explained how we operated from a small airfield and described the physical appearance of the base. I read the current magazines from the States and then compared those comments to our actual mission results. I also provided my personal background about growing up in Northern Idaho and attending the University of Idaho. I explained the training required to become a fighter pilot and selecting my first assignment to fly the F-102 fighter interceptor. Our fighter squadron was later ordered from Torrejon, AB, Spain, to become part of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at George, AFB, California. We received new F-4C Phantom II fighters in 1965 and became one of the first fighter units sent to the Vietnam war. I detailed all the training that we received and how I later discovered that it did not prepare us for war.