Voice from the Noise: Where there’s Pink Smoke there is ???

700 On the Move

Vs-31 CAG Aircraft 700 is shot down the cat of the USS GW Washington, circa 2006. VS-31's final deployment before being decommissioned was onboard the USS Washington. The NG on the tail is the give away. Airwings attached to West coast aircraft Carriers are assigned the lead nemonic of "N" while those on the Atlantic are given "A". The 700 or double nuts aircraft in each aircraft is typically given special paint over and above that customary for a squadron aircraft and is usually offered to the Air Wing Commander. This aircraft is sporting an AWW-13 Weapons Data Link pod on that starboard wing pylon. This pod us used to relay video from an inflight missile (Maverick or SLAM-ER) or controls from the aircraft to the missile. There is an actual joystick at the Co-Pilot station that allows the operator at that station to actually fly the missle while it is in flight.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Where there’s Pink Smoke there is ???

USAF Photo: Students in the Combat AirmanSkills Training Couorse use a smoke diversion tactic while practicing patrol maneuvers on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. November 12, 2009. U.S. airman assigned to the 421st Combat Training Squadron teach the course to prepare airmen for upcoming deployments. The squadron is assigned to the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol.

You know what they say: Train like you Fight, Fight like you Train. So popping pink smoke goes where???

I think the idea is that smoke in general is used to cover your movement from your enemy. The USAF is using the color of the smoke to set the enemy off laughing their asses off while their "warriors" move. Works either way. I guess you got to have balls to light off Pink smoke on a battle field.

BT: Jimmy T sends.

5 comments:

Buck said...: Now that's just COLD. ;-); November 23, 2009 at 3:33 PM
ASM826 said...: Or, since it's training, you might be using the smoke you have.; November 24, 2009 at 9:05 AM
JimmyT said...: Buck, I now, cold and a cheap shot, but I take as they come to me!!

ASM, yeah but who in the hell in this man's army orders "Pink" somke? Just saying!!

BT: Jimmy T sends.; November 24, 2009 at 11:31 AM
ASM826 said...: Ever have a collateral duty that enabled you to order things? I remember a Sgt. who ordered an extension ladder. He kept his stripes because he kept copies of all ordering paperwork.

He ordered a 20 ft. ladder, a couple of hundred dollars, to allows us access to windows and the roof of the shops behind the hanger.

What he got was a ladder designed to be mounted to a swivel on the back of a fire truck. My memory was $15,000, but I'm not sure. Expensive, and useless, anyway.

The supply system was one way. No method to return. Besides, the numbers matched. Luckily for him, they also matched a 20 ft. extension ladder on the microfiche. That ladder sat behind the hanger for months, in the grass not far from the LOX cart. It might still be there, but someone was friends with a guy in supply who made some calls and it went away in some sort of trade.

So, my point is, I guess, yea, I can see how you might end up with a pallet of pink smoke. They probably ordered helmet liners.; November 24, 2009 at 4:40 PM
JimmyT said...: ASM, yeah that could explain it easily. We had a bunch of issue like the ladder. The aircraft I worked was brand new when we got them and there were a lot of funnies when ordering parts out of the supply system. So, yeah helmet liners could get you pink smoke!

BT: Jimmy T sends.; November 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM