---
title: "How the Vietnam War shaped the modern day U.S. Air Force"
date: "2021-11-28"
modified: "2021-11-28"
authors:
  - name: "Tim Kirkpatrick"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/tkirkpatrick/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/podcast/how-the-vietnam-war-shaped-the-modern-day-us-air-force/"
categories:
  - "History"
  - "Vietnam War"
  - "War History"
---

# How the Vietnam War shaped the modern day U.S. Air Force

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17317644/origin.png>)

---

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In this episode of the Mandatory Fun podcast, the guest is former Air Force Chief of Staff, [General Merrill A. McPeak](<https://generalmcpeak.com/>), who served as a military adviser to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and the President.

He's also a career fighter pilot with more than 6,000 hours under his belt, including time as a solo pilot [with the elite Thunderbirds](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/air-force-thunderbirds-niagara/>).

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17247707/origin.jpg>)
*The salty and well-respected Air Force Chief of Staff General Merrill A. McPeak (Photo from Wikipedia Commons)*

The General currently has three books out, *[Below The Zone](<https://generalmcpeak.com/product/below-the-zone/>),* [Roles and Missions,](<https://generalmcpeak.com/product/roles-and-missions/>) and *[Hangar Flying](<https://generalmcpeak.com/product/hangar-flying/>),* about his time being ringside during one of the most tumultuous moments in recent history: the Vietnam War, where Gen. McPeak was an attack pilot and high-speed forward air controller.

**In this episode, we talk on a wide range of topics, including:**

- \[1:35\] The Mandatory Fun crew introduces General McPeak and his epic resume.
- \[4:00\] How allied troops managed to set traps for their North Vietnamese enemy.
- \[7:00\] The general discusses what it was like kicking off *Operation Desert Storm.*
- \[10:30\] The reasons behind why air doctrine changed since the Vietnam War ended.
- \[13:45\] The general breaks down the stats of the fighter pilots who have been shot down.
- \[21:00\] What it's like flying in an Air Force air show in front of political VIPs.
- \[28:50\] What influences the general had on Ken Burn's PBS Vietnam documentary and what it was like working with the filmmaking legend.
- \[34:35\] How the Air Force attempts to retain it's outstanding and well-trained fighter pilots.
- \[35:30\] What things the general loved about being a fighter pilot.
- \[45:15\] The importance of having nuclear weapons on station.

**Hosted By:**

[Blake Stilwell](<https://www.facebook.com/StilwellAngel/>): Air Force veteran

[Tim Kirkpatrick](<https://www.facebook.com/tkirk35/>): Navy veteran

[Orvelin Valle (AKA O.V.)](<https://www.facebook.com/orvelinvallecreates/>): Navy veteran

*This podcast originally produced in December 2017.*

## Author
Tim Kirkpatrick entered the Navy in 2007 as a Hospital Corpsman and deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion 5th Marines in the fall of 2010. Tim now has degrees in both Film Production and Screenwriting. tim.kirkpatrick@wearethemighty.com