Oral+History+Topic

Oral History Topic Summary

**Interview subject** - Steve Tews (my grandfather)
 * Topic ** - Air Force in Vietnam

The war in Vietnam started with the U.S. providing “advisors” to the South Vietnamese on what to do about the North Vietnamese. The advisors were sent advisors in 1961. Due to the gloomy situation, the advisors required the assistance of many, including a task force with combat troops. In 1964 tensions grew when the North Vietnamese attacked the USS //Maddox,// which was engaged in espionage against North Vietnam. War was never officially declared but this is thought to be the incident that started it all.

In WWII bombing Japan was a logistical problem due to low fuel supplies. Fuel supply was also an issue in the Vietnamese war so the U.S. devised a plan called aerial refueling. The aerial refueling was run by the air force. There are two ways to refuel a plane in the air: by boom and receiver; or by probe and drogue. The boom and receiver tactic involves a straight, long, hollow shaft that is fixed to the rear of the tanker or the plane carrying the gas. The receiving plane flies below and behind the tanker and is hooked up. Valves open up and fuel is pumped into the receiving plane. The other tactic, probe and drone, is when a probe or narrow flexible hose is inserted into the receiver’s probe, and an arm is placed on the side of the receiver’s plane. Again the receiving plane flies below and behind the tanker until the process is complete.

Although the obvious use for this is to keep bombers, fighter jets, and patrol planes in the air for longer another use is to allow the planes to carry a larger payload, more bombs. Planes can only take off with so much fuel so they can take off with only a half full or less fuel tank and then in the air refuel to a full tank.

"Aerial Refueling." //Fact Index//. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. .

"Vietnam War." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 18 May 2010. .