By Bill Armstrong, March 2020
The times they are changing as the military and its flying machines become more sophisticated. Fighter pilots are becoming a relic of the past. It appears the pilots who used to fly single engine and single seat aircraft are slowly disappearing. The modern high performance pilot has become a manager of high tech systems that bear decreasing resemblance to fighter pilot requirements of the past. With the advent of the Space Force, this change is becoming yet more evident.
Who was the fighter pilot of yore? He was a fearless aviator who served as his own pilot, navigator, gunner, bombardier, and troubleshooter in complete control of his aircraft and flying environment. His skills involved proficiency in aerial combat, and he knew that for any offensive maneuver there is a counter maneuver. Practice provided the experience to employ defensive or offensive actions and how to gain an advantage to get to that favorable six o’clock position on the adversary. That is how flying aces came to be recognized.
The fighter pilot also knew how to deliver his ordnance, whether using his machine guns to full advantage or sending ordnance, either bombs or rockets, to bad guys on the ground. This entailed how to deliver a nuclear bomb from a LABS maneuver (Low Altitude Bomb Delivery) and how remove his aircraft as far away as possible from the blast. He also was proficient in conventional warfare in close support interdiction with 20mm cannon, how to dive bomb a target from high or low altitude, and how to deliver napalm from low altitude or via a skip bombing technique. Situational awareness required continual eye movement to gain the advantage of sight before the adversary would see you in a rapidly changing environment.
It has often been stated that “you can tell a fighter pilot, but you cannot tell him much!” That may be so, but his training and experiences are such that few would have that capability to perform as a fighter pilot.
To all fighter pilots from Rickenbacker and Luke to all the fighter aces of all wars up to the present – so long, it has been good to know you. You have become a memorable facet of the military history of the United States. Well done and God speed.
Bill Armstrong, USAF, 1952 to 1975 – Pilot Class 54-M
Jet Aircraft Flight Hours:
Lockheed T-33 – 472.9
North American F-86F – 180.7
Republic F-84E &G -249.7
Republic F-84F – 505.6
North American F-100C,D&F – 1445.4
Northrop T38A – 1335.4
Wings Over Cumberland 