![]() ![]() ![]() Thorsen's book, Phantom in the Sky, focuses on his experience as a RIO flying in Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 232 and 334 (VMFA-232 and VMFA-334) in 1969. There are very few, if any, on RIOs' or weapon systems officers' experiences. There are many books about F-4 Phantom pilots combat flying in Vietnam. A good RIO was a master at situational awareness, tactical prowess, and a unique sort of leadership skill that, through communication in and outside the cockpit, effectively supported mission safety and success. Nyland, became Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. RIOs eventually commanded squadrons, aircraft groups, and aircraft wings, and one RIO, General William L. ![]() Once trained and qualified, RIOs could be designated section leader (two aircraft), division lead (four aircraft), or mission commander (responsible for mission planning and execution of a mission flown by any number of aircraft). Their importance in the conduct of all F-4 missions was recognized, and RIOs went through all the tactical training that pilots did: air combat tactics instruction, Topgun, and Weapons, Tactics Instructor course. They were expected, through verbal communication with a pilot, to maneuver the aircraft in aerial combat, low-level navigation, close air support, and air-to-ground ordnance delivery. RIOs were expected to not only master routine flight conduct but also tactical flight. RIOs were tactically important, and as time went along, they gained ever more responsibility for a flight's conduct. If a RIO saw that the aircraft and crew were in imminent danger of crashing, they could eject either themselves or the pilot too. RIOs did, however, have one final say over their destinies: the lever in the back, which could be set for single eject or command eject. Fortunately, Marine pilots were extremely professional and RIOs performed their role with well-founded confidence in the person in front. They were at the mercy of the pilot flying the plane. The Navy and Marine Corps' view was that the RIOs had a distinct and important duty. Air Force F-4s, which had flight controls in the back seat, the Navy/Marine Phantoms did not. In the 1986 movie Top Gun, the character Goose depicts a RIO's role in a combat scenario, although he was in a Grumman F-14 Tomcat not the F-4. The RIOs backed up their pilots throughout each flight, monitored instruments, and advised on safety hazards. The RIO was also another set of eyes, valuable in air-to-air combat (dogfighting) to keep sight of the enemy aircraft. While that was their main job, the RIO also handled communications, shared navigation responsibility and flight planning. While tracking an enemy aircraft, the RIO gave verbal direction to the pilot to maneuver the aircraft into firing position for the F-4s missiles. The F-4 RIOs' primary job was operating the air-to-air radar in the Phantom to spot enemy aircraft and "lock" them up with automatic radar tracking so that the F-4's weapon system could produce a firing solution for its guided missiles. All are vitally important for the operation of tactical jet aircraft. ![]() Other NFOs include Grumman A-6 Intruder bombardier/navigators and Northrup-Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic countermeasure officers. A RIO is a branch of naval flight officers (NFOs) that support military aircraft other than pilots or naval aviators. This book relates a unique perspective of air combat in Vietnam, that of a Marine radar intercept officer (RIO), the back-seater in the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom aircraft. ![]()
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