A ?? RE: Ed Rasimus' books
 

I have finished reading both of Ed Rasumus' combat memoirs over North Vietnam: When Thunder Rolled & Palace Cobra. Well I have a couple of questions RE: both of these books;

Did 'Raz' omit or alter the names of several of his less than esteemed comrades? Specifically an USAF Major who had to have transferred into flying F105s from 'trash haulers' or somewhere else...I recall his "name" was 'Burris Begley' but because of his balding, nearsighted & tactically clueless demeanor he was known as 'Mr Magoo'---and he soon ended up as a KIA after Rasimus finished his 100 missions downtown. Name real or 'changed to protect the innocent'?

And

In Palace Cobra Raz returned to North Vietnam for the Linebacker campaign flying Phantoms; he recollected an encounter one of his Wild Weasel Comrades had with a "Black SAM" that had a lot more 'game' than the SA-2 Guideline; any idea what this missile was?
And most curiously, Raz made mention of North Vietnam's HUGE Easter Offensive in 1972; He seemed to give the impression that Linebacker was just another politically motivated exercise in election year saber rattling.

Re: A ?? RE: Ed Rasimus' books
 

Nick - why don't you ask him. He posts on the F-105 forum all the time as well as Military Writers

https://www.facebook.com/j.william.m...s/57289657667/



Regards,

Bill

Re: A ?? RE: Ed Rasimus' books
 

Well I sent Raz a friend request on facebook but I don't wanna seem insulting either...we shall see.

Re: A ?? RE: Ed Rasimus' books
 

There is a book called "Vietnam Air Losses" which has details on all the USAF, USN and USMC fixed wing aircraft lost in the VIetnam war. You can probably figure out the real name of the pilot by looking at the losses for Ken's squadron during that time period.

It's quite normal to change the names of fellow aircrew, to protect the innocent and not so innocent, in many war memoirs.

Re: A ?? RE: Ed Rasimus' books
 

That is a good book - it formed the foundation of my Vietnam 355th loss list and Howard Plunkett added the final touches.