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From Germany to Korea: Cold War Life in the F-4E Phantom

Mar 12, 2026 · 27 min

About this episode

Get the full episode: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list Pinbag Shaw | 10 Percent True | EP83 Part 2 In Part Two of our conversation, Thomas “Pinbag” Shaw takes us operational. From Korea to Germany, this is life in a Cold War Phantom squadron — where Victor Alert was real, nuclear strike planning was routine, and NATO air defence timelines were measured in minutes. In this episode we discuss: • What sitting nuclear Victor Alert actually meant • How QRA posture worked in Europe and the Pacific • Intercept geometry against Warsaw Pact aircraft • NATO strike planning and readiness discipline • The psychology of Cold War aircrew culture • Transitioning from Phantom to the Strike Eagle era This is Tactical Air Command at its most serious — a force built around the assumption that the next launch might not be an exercise. If you enjoy long-form, technical conversations with the people who flew the jets, subscribe and join the conversation. 0:00 Intro teaser – North Korean MiG-21 intercept 3:52 Welcome back, Pinbag 4:28 The Nellis influence 9:28 Leaving MacDill – SERE school 20:28 Korea and PACAF disposition 27:15 36th Fighter Squadron 33:35 Introduction to Korea 38:00 Areas of responsibility, command structure, and settling in 44:20 Training, digesting the vault, and other in-theatre assets and threats 49:10 Equipment – F-4E variants 53:25 Radar presentation, trade-offs, and features (TISEO, Combat Tree, Pave Spike) 1:04:44 Turnover of airframes 1:06:02 Operation Paul Bunyan – the axe-handle murders and redeployment of assets (including GBU-15 / AGM-65) for possible engagement with a tree 1:11:35 One year later – the Army’s turn and the lost Chinook 1:15:38 North Korean Air Force and South Korean MiGs (and Beagle) 1:26:12 AN-2s and skunk boats 1:27:30 How a prospective war would have unfolded 1:32:05 North Koreans in Vietnam; Soviets and North Koreans flying with the Egyptians 1:34:24 GCI and bullseye intercepts 1:36:50 Integration, improvement, and the prospective order of battle 1:40:40 Evolution in war planning and the birth of Large Force Employment 1:46:30 Lakenheath leadership influence and differences from PACAF 1:54:40 Battles over the Taiwan Strait and ROKAF checkouts – similarities and rumours 1:57:30 Alert story – possible SA-2 site 2:01:12 Peacetime Aerial Reconnaissance Program (including intro teaser story) and alert scramble