The Sidney herald., 1956-10-18
USAF Fighter,
Weapons and
Cunnery Meet

Gunnery Meet
In the deadly earnest compe-
ton of crack combat teams, the
Air Force proves the tactics and
machines of its fighter, intercept
tor, and training forces. Although
war remains in the decisive test
of combat effectiveness, the an
nual USAF Fighter Weapons and
Gunnery meets provide the best
available substitute to compare
and evaluate training methods in
the use of fighter i~nterceptor air.
craft. Underscoring the impor-
lance of the combat-simulated
competition at these Air Force
wide meets is the realization that
decision in modern air war de-
ponds on the thoroughness of
preparation before war begins.
In line with the specialized
capabilities of modern fighter air.
craft, the meet is divided into
three phases: day fighter, special
delivery and ~interceptor rocketry.
1t is the latter of the three, in
terceptor rocketry that this COM
mand is primarily concerned with.
Teams from a wide variety of
Air Force components Air
Training Command, Tactical Air
Command, Far Eastern Air Forces,
United States Air Force in Eu-
rope, Air Defense Command,
Alaskan Air Command, and North
East Aair Command - participate
in the meet. Each team previous
ly has won an elimination COM
petition in its own command.
Each team has four primary and
two alternate members, with a
twenty-five-man support element
of officers, industry technical rep
re~Sentatives, and airmen.
Each competing team in the
.ir-to-air rocket-firing program
pioneered by the Air Defense
is allotted specified
times on the range. Action really
starts on the apron, where
ground-crew specialists condition
the aircraft. The radar-mainten-
ance technician packs the deli
cate Hughes fire-control mechan-
ism in the airplane. The armorer
leads and arms the rockets. The
of the aircraft requires
the best efforts of many highly
trained specialists. During range
time, each team scrambles its
aircraft, intercepts the target, and
its firing passes. Once
he interceptors are airborne, the
,rews follow directions transmit
ed by their Gel (ground con-
%intercept) controllers, the
half of the intercept
cam. The controller vector the
into position for a lead
collision course" to the target,
hat is, a right-angled approach.
airborne radar range of
he target and after the target
las been located, the aircrew it
elf assumes control of the inter
The actual intercept and the
iring of the rockets is non-viSual.
Hoods are pulled into place en-
cute to the range and checked
W the chase pilots, and the en-
ire intercept mission is flown
bind on instruments. The pilot
,ulls the trigger, but the release
for the rockets is decided
automatically by the interceptor's
irborne computer when the prop
r position in the "lead-collision
curse" is reached. Subject to
he speed and altitude capabilities
f the target, every effort is made
0 simulate the actual all-weather
under which the in
erceptor would operate in COM
at.
Rocket-firing passes are made
t $4,000 and 10000 feet. For
ne passes at $4,000 feet a B-29
oes the tow-target chore, drag
ing a 8 x As foot banner tar
ct 5000 feet to its rear. Two
letallic spinners are attached to
lie target for the radar-directed
re-control system to 'lock on"
or the 30,000-foot runs jet Bass
wv the target.
Each Aircraft is allowed six
on the target, three at
ach altitude. Only actual hits
re scored, with 1000 points
Warded for a hit or. hits on the
rst run, 800 on the second run,
nd 600 on the third. Team
ore for any event is the total
the teams aircrew points for
le event.
A less tangible but no less
achievement of the meets
the spirit of friendly competi- I