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bottom-up approach with evolving aircraft system capabilities in a competitive airframe
makes for adaptive, creative aircrews that will have a large repertoire of tactical moves
and a better chance of getting inside an opponent’s OODA loop.

This is true for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions.

As the history of war in the air shows it was a constantly evolving process of human
factors integrated into technology. The Cold War ended well for humanity and a lot of
courageous pilots, bold leaders, and smart technologists deserve a lot of credit for this
success.

The great strength of the American way to fight in the air is combat learning and shar-
ing between the USAF, USN and USMC; all can come together to fight learn, train and
win.

One very powerful example of US combat learning was cited in an interview with the
leading Ace of the Vietnam War, Col. Chuck Debelleue USAF (ret).

(I was told that): You’re going to the Navy Fighter Symposium at Miramar.

I get to go with my roommate from Southeast Asia. He had three kills and spent 23 days on the
ground Hanoi when they got shot down. He was in the class ahead of me.

He flew us out and back in a 237 to Miramar also with his instructor. We got the instructors
into all the briefings, which were classified. Bear Lasseter was there (USMC Mig Killer) – Cun-
ningham (USN ACE) was there – Steve and I were there – all talking about our engagements.
That’s November of ’72.

Question: That is ’72 – just before the Christmas bombing? They called you guys together to re-
ally, really learn from your experiences?

Answer: Right – just before the Christmas one. Cunningham was back in the States – Driscoll
(USN RIO ACE) were back in the States and so were we. This was a weapons symposium to dis-
cuss tactics it was pretty interesting.

Second Line of Defense December 2014

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