Wolf Pack Valor and Virtue

This book describes the valor and virtues of the aircrews of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing "Wolf Pack" in its interdiction campaigns of 1969-1970 under the command of Colonel Donald N. Stanfield. The book details how the Wolf Pack was the sole unit in Southeast Asia to use laser-guided bombs, TV-guided bombs, Igloo White sensors and LORAN navigation electronics, Wolf FACs, night time Owl FACs, and use of AC-130 Spectre gunships and AC-123K bombers. The books details the tremendous valor of Wolf Pack aircrews and the many awards of the wing.

The 8th Tactical Fighter Wing "Wolf Pack" is one of the first 15 numbered pursuit groups of the United States. Historically, the 8th Wing has operated in the Pacific. The Wing was in the Pacific during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. It is now stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. In the Vietnam War, the 8th Wing arrived at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand between September and December 1965. During the initial air war over North Vietnam, the Wing shot down 37½ enemy aircraft and became known as the Wolf Pack. The United States ceased aerial activity over North Vietnam in 1968, and thereafter waged an interdiction mission against traffic and personnel traveling the Ho Chi Minh Trail through southern Laos into South Vietnam in 1969-1970. This book looks at the 8th Wing's interdiction mission under the command of Colonel Donald N. Stanfield. Under this command, the Wolfpack had four squadrons of F-4Ds; each squadron had a unique mission. The 8th Wing was the only wing in Southeast Asia to use certain new weapons, such as laser-guided bombs and Walleye glide bombs. One F-4 squadron flew only night missions. One unit used Long Range Navigation (LORAN) and Igloo White sensors. The wing also had deadly new aircraft like the AC-130 Spectre and AC-123K. The Wolf Pack also had Wolf FAC and night time Owl FACs, or forward air controllers. In this book, the wing's former public affairs officer of the Wolf Pack examines the valor and virtues of the Wolfpack's professionals and their sacrifices.

San Antonio criminal defense attorney John Economidy served as Management Analysis Officer and Public Information Officer of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing "Wolf Pack" in 1969-1970. He has degrees in journalism and government from The University of Texas at Austin, where he was editor of the school newspaper The Daily Texan when Charles Whitman shot and killed 16 persons and wounded another 36 during the nation's first campus shooting. He served two tours in the Air Force and obtained the rank of lieutenant colonel in 11 years. His first tour was in management analysis. He was a judge advocate in his second Air Force tour. He left the Air Force after 14 years and entered private law practice in San Antonio. He has argued one of his cases before the Supreme Court of the United States and two of his cases were used as the basis of two TV shows, including JAG.