Re: F-4 aircraft

John Andrew (J_Andrew@ACAD.FANDM.EDU)
Tue, 07 Oct 1997 10:53:46 -0400

>
>I doubt very much there was significant planning for the F4 to be used
>in Vietnam. The rapid build-up in Vietnam seemed to take most of the
>military by surprise. You can get a better aspect of this from
>MacNamera's book: Blundering into Disaster. For a broader perspective,
>see Barbara Tuchman's, In Pursuit of Folly.
>
>Richard Waddell

But the Air Force was planning a massive construction of bases and buildup
well before any Gulf of Tonkin incident or resolution - they did not admit
that, but it was their intention and was built into their planning - my
father-in-law was in Air Force plans at the time, and he noted (after the
fact) that the AF commitment in SE Asia was hardly a surprise given what
they had been planning by the very early 1960s if not before - perhaps
either the use or results of the use of that force surprised many - but, of
course, why else would it be there (as a bottom line) -
John Andrew

John Andrew email: J_ANDREW@ACAD.FANDM.EDU
Department of History fax 717-399-4413
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA. 17604-3003

"Fantasy Will Set You Free" - Steppenwolf