HAMMER FLIGHT – HANOI, DEC 18 1972 BELLES/KELLY HAMMER 01 BREMER/BERGMANN HAMMER 02 FLOYD/PALMER HAMMER 03 TIDWELL/HANEY HAMMER 04 During this mission Hammer flight provided SAM suppression for a B-52 bomber force attacking targets in the immediate vicinity of Hanoi. Hammer flight provided coverage of all threat radar emitters in the western half of the target area. They succeeded in continually harassing the active SAM sites in the western half of this area, easing the entrance and exit of the B-52 calls flying over their area of coverage. Their aggressive and sustained attacks resulted in four probable kills of Fansong emitter radars and suppression of five other sites numerous times. These efforts were dramatically illustrated on the following night, when the noticeable lack of all but rare, Fans6ng signals was observed. Further, only twenty SAMs were fired the second night, compared to sixty the first. And all SAMs fired the second night were ineffective, resulting in no damage to any strike or escort aircraft. Hammer flight drove to a point northwest of the target area and split, each aircraft working as an individual entity. Working separately gives the threat radar operators more targets to keep track of, and allows better coverage of defensive installations by these electronically equipped aircraft. Each F-4C, armed with AGM-45 anti-radiation missiles then established a working pattern within firing distance of their assigned radar emitters, and were usually within range of at least six SAM sites at all times. Hammer 01, immediately upon reaching their area of responsibility, acquired six SAMs visually, and noted SAMs continuously airborne during their entire time on station. Due to the location needed to optimize the number of sites they could shoot at, they found themselves initially hampered by extensive AAA firings. At this time one of the SAM sites in Hammer 0l’s area of coverage began tracking them. Each time they turned into the site to fire, the radar emitter would cease emitting. Hammer 01 fired an ARM at the location of this site during one of their runs. They then broke from the site. The site once again came on to track them on their outbound leg. Disregarding the danger of placing this emitter at their 6 o’clock position, Hammer 01 continued outbound from the site to allow their ARM sufficient time to reach the victim radar. This SAM site’s emitter went off the air, and did not reappear. Finding another site active, they fired their remaining ARM resulting in a probable kill. Although out of armament, they continued operating in their assigned area to further confuse and frustrate the remaining active SAM, AAA and GCI sites. Hammer 02, after splitting with 01, entered their working area just to the west of 01. Maneuvering of the aircraft to effect an optimum signal intercept and firing position was constantly hampered by heavy and accurate AAA. Because of the AAA, Hammer 02 was forced into an awkward position for working their two primary sites and maintain a safe position on the AAA. However, Hammer 02 soon realized that one site was not active and they altered their position to provide maximum suppression of the second site and then continued maneuvering until the site began tracking and subsequently launched four SAMs at them. Hammer 02 fired an ARM at this site as they began their evasive maneuver. At the correct time for the ARM to impact, the radar signal ceased, and the missiles went ballistic. Realizing this site was no longer a threat, Hammer 02 began to work the other site of their concern, that was not active. After receiving the correct electronic indications, Hammer 02 fired their remaining ARM at this site. The site shut down almost immediately, causing two of the missiles it had just launched to loop over and impact the ground. Hammer 03, noting the AAA that separated their sector from Hammer 02’s, continually repositioned themselves to intercept radars emitting from one of the sites they were covering. Receiving strong electronic indications from one of these sites, Hammer 03 fired an ARM. Almost simultaneously the site fired three SAMs at one of the bomber cells Hammer flight was providing coverage for. But then the site shut down, and the missiles proceeded on only a ballistic course with no threat to either the strike or strike protection forces. The site once again came on the air, this time looking directly at Hammer 03. Hammer 03 continued on a course to permit this site to track them, to allow their ARM to work. At the correct time, electronic indications from this site ceased. Maneuvering to achieve optimum position to fire at another SAM site, Hammer 03 received strong electronic indications that a AAA site was near. This was confirmed shortly, when they found themselves surrounded by accurate and heavy, large caliber AAA. Performing evasive maneuvers they broke themselves loose from this radar emitter, and thereby evaded further accurate AAA. They fired their remaining ARM at another Fansong that went down immediately after launching the AGM-45. Hammer 04 experienced electronic equipment cooling problems that required that both engines be held to 95% or less to prevent equipment damage due to overheating. Noting that by working at a lower altitude they could maintain sufficient maneuvering energy to perform effectively, Hammer 04 elected to continue on their assigned mission. Hammer 04 worked the sector southwest of the target area. Having established their initial working pattern, Hammer 04 noted electronic indications form a AAA site at their one o’clock position. They continued to line up for an optimum shot at a SAM site known to be in the path of an entering bomber cell. By this time, the AAA site had full threat indications for Hammer 04, at their five o’clock position. A different AAA site appeared at their ten o’clock position, and Hammer 04 noted AAA bursting off their right wing. At this time, the SAM site came up electronically. The site then fired three SAMs at the bomber cell. Lining up on the site, Hammer 04 fired an ARM, then broke hard left to avoid the more accurate AAA coming from their right side. The SAM site stayed on the air long enough for the ARM to impact, then went down. Hammer 04 then began to work a SAM site that had been intermittently tracking them, to the southeast of their position. They fired an ARM at that site with a signal present, then immediately turned outbound to lure the site to stay on the air. The site maintained intermittent surveillance for thirty seconds, then shut down. Hazardous conditions encountered by Hammer flight included all defenses available to the opposing force, weather, and possible mid-air collisions. MIG aircraft were airborne in the earliest part of the mission. When the MIGs landed, SAMs were abundant and AAA was profuse. The 8000 foot undercast forced Hammer flight to maintain higher than normal altitudes, limiting their maneuverability. With hundreds of support aircraft in the area, and thousands of bombs descending from above, chances of a mid-air were tremendously increased. The persistent and aggressive actions by the members of Hammer flight, under these very hazardous conditions, contributed significantly to the effectiveness and success of this first and largest bombing activity in this war. With this mission, Hammer flight brought the first electronically configured F-4C aircraft into this most highly defended area. Their action fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.