Captain Ehud Chen k in
F - 4E T r a i n i ng
4452
nd
Combat C r ew T r a i n i ng Squadron ( CCTS)
George A F B , Ca l i f o r n ia
1969
by
Captain John A Madden Jr.
Instructor Pilot, 4452
nd
CCTS
In early 1969 the 4452nd learned that it had been selected to train five Israelis fighter
crews to f ly the Mc Do n n e ll F - 4E Phan t om II. As the youngest instructor p i l ot i n the
squadron I was surprised that I had been selected to fly w i t h the Israelis but was pleased
and honored to have been chosen. Eve r yone in the U S AF fighter wo r ld was we ll aware
o f the capabilities o f the Israeli A i r Force and the skill o f their fighter crews.
I remember the day the Israeli crews arrived i n the squadron. Mee t i ng Ehud Chenk in and
Shaul L e vy for the first t ime was an experience that I have never forgotten. A f t er the
f o rmal introductions between the Israelis and 52
nd
crews and wo r ds from our squadron
commander, L t Col Ro l and Solis, Ehud, Shaul and I had a chance to talk among
ourselves.
1 learned that Ehud was married and had a son. His w i f e, Tova, and young son, Am o n ,
were w i t h him. Shaul's w i f e, Dova, was also along for the t r a i n i ng deployment. I t o ld
t hem that my w i f e 's name was Stephanie and that we were expecting our first ch i ld in
June.
One o f my i n i t i al concerns was that o f be i ng able to commun i ca te w i t h Ehud and Shaul.
Fortunately, Ehud 's and Shaul's Eng l i sh was good, especially when we were t a l k i ng
f l y i ng fighters, so we never had any p r ob l em commun i ca t i ng.
I remember b r i e f i ng Eh ud f or our first f l i gh t, Transition # 1. The mission was to go up
single ship, do some a i rwo rk and then come back to the pattern and practice landings.
Ehud impressed me f r om this f l i ght and on that we were commun i ca t i ng on the ground
and in the air and that his f l y i ng skills we re t r u ly exceptional
Ne x t came the I ns t r ument phase. A f t er f l y i ng a f ew flights that covered the range o f
instrument maneuvers to include the various types o f non-precision and precision
approaches, Ehud and I f l ew together f or a practice instrument check. The next day I
gave Ehud his instrument check and f l ew in a chase position in another F - 4 to observe his
performance. Ehud 's performance in all areas was Ou t s t and i ng and that is the grade he
received for a flawless flight.
F o l l ow i ng Instruments came the Intercepts, Basic Fighter Maneuve rs ( BFM ) , A i r Combat
Maneuvers ( A CM ) , and A i r - t o - A ir Gunnery phases. In A i r - t o ־ A ir Gunne ry we fired the
2 0 M M Cannon against a t owed aerial target, the D A R T .
המשך בעמי הבא
145
