Jacksel M. Broughton, a retired Air Force colonel and fighter pilot who flew a total of 216 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, and also made his mark as an author, died on Oct. 24 after a short illness. He was 89. Broughton was a valued contributor to Air Force Magazine; his most recent article, The Heart of the North, appeared in April 2014. Broughton was the recipient of the Air Force Cross for action in Vietnam, as well as two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, and four Distinguished Flying Crosses. In addition to his storied Air Force flying career—Broughton commanded the Thunderbirds in the 1950s, leading their transition to the supersonic F-100—he wrote two critically acclaimed books about the Vietnam air war: Thud Ridgeand Going Downtown. A West Point graduate, he flew P-51s and P-47s in Europe before transitioning to the first jet-powered aircraft in Korea. During Vietnam, he was the vice commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, and led ground-attack missions in the F-105. An incident in which he tried to protect two pilots who inadvertently broke rules of engagement led to a court-martial that ended his career; it was widely described as a miscarriage of military justice. Post-retirement, Broughton flew as a charter pilot, worked in the space shuttle program as a flight test and technical planning advisor, as an entrepreneur, and as an author. He wrote the memoir Rupert Red Two.
Col Jack Broughton, RIP
-
randy
- Posts: 8354
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:33 pm
- Location: EM79VQ
Col Jack Broughton, RIP
From the Air Force Association daily news letter
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
-
First Shirt
- Posts: 4378
- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:32 pm
Re: Col Jack Broughton, RIP
Clear skies and tailwinds!
There aren't many of those types left, more's the pity.
RIP, Colonel, you've done well.
There aren't many of those types left, more's the pity.
RIP, Colonel, you've done well.
But there ain't many troubles that a man caint fix, with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six."
Lindy Cooper Wisdom
Lindy Cooper Wisdom
-
Rich
- Posts: 2592
- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:11 pm
Re: Col Jack Broughton, RIP
Fighting two wars at the same time can wear you down. The physical war and the political war. I'm glad you wrote about them both.
A weak government usually remains a servant of citizens, while a strong government usually becomes the master of its subjects.
- paraphrased from several sources
A choice, not an echo. - Goldwater campaign, 1964
- paraphrased from several sources
A choice, not an echo. - Goldwater campaign, 1964
-
Old Grafton
- Posts: 1576
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:07 am
Re: Col Jack Broughton, RIP
As with the loss of many of his contemporaries, we're all poorer for his passing. Three-point landing and a smooth roll, Colonel.
I'm not old--It's too early to be this late.
-
Rod
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:08 pm
Re: Col Jack Broughton, RIP
Read both the books. Great man who'll be missed.
one can be a Democrat, or one can choose to be an American.
Good acting requires an imagination; reality requires a person not getting lost in their imagination.
"It's better to have a gun if you need it". Felix's opthamologist
Good acting requires an imagination; reality requires a person not getting lost in their imagination.
"It's better to have a gun if you need it". Felix's opthamologist
-
Rich
- Posts: 2592
- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:11 pm
Re: Col Jack Broughton, RIP
Thud Ridge, Going Downtown, Rupert Red Three.Rod wrote:Read both the books. Great man who'll be missed.
Which did you miss?
A weak government usually remains a servant of citizens, while a strong government usually becomes the master of its subjects.
- paraphrased from several sources
A choice, not an echo. - Goldwater campaign, 1964
- paraphrased from several sources
A choice, not an echo. - Goldwater campaign, 1964
-
Rod
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:08 pm
Re: Col Jack Broughton, RIP
RupertRich wrote:Thud Ridge, Going Downtown, Rupert Red Three.Rod wrote:Read both the books. Great man who'll be missed.
Which did you miss?
one can be a Democrat, or one can choose to be an American.
Good acting requires an imagination; reality requires a person not getting lost in their imagination.
"It's better to have a gun if you need it". Felix's opthamologist
Good acting requires an imagination; reality requires a person not getting lost in their imagination.
"It's better to have a gun if you need it". Felix's opthamologist