I Flew Two Combat Tours in the F-104 Starfighter Over Vietnam

Video Description

In this episode, Harold Alston shares his extraordinary journey from Salt Lake City to the skies of Vietnam, flying some of the fastest jets ever built. From dodging SAM missiles and dropping napalm at 100 feet to flying Mach 2 in an F-104 “missile with a man in it,” Harold’s story captures the thrill, danger, and humanity of a true fighter pilot. He reflects on 36 years in the Air Force, 156 combat missions, the loss of friends in the air, and what it meant to come home. This is the raw truth about flying fighters in Vietnam. Want more incredible stories from Harold? Grab his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Find-Myself-These-Situations/dp/1684862892 🎧 Subscribe for more veteran stories that reveal the untold side of war, courage, and brotherhood. CHAPTERS: 01:05 – Joining the Air National Guard 03:45 – First Flight & Learning to Fly Jets 06:30 – Training on the F-86 and Early Jet Missions 10:15 – Flying Solo & Learning from WWII Pilots 13:40 – Becoming a Fighter Pilot and Joining the Air Force 17:25 – Performing Air Shows and Flying the T-33 20:45 – Getting the Fastest Jet in the Air Force – The F-104 Starfighter 25:10 – First Mach 2 Flight 27:00 – Deploying to Vietnam: Da Nang Air Base 30:00 – First Combat Mission and Losing His Commander 33:30 – Dodging SAMs and Flying at 100 Feet37:50 – How to Survive a Missile Lock 41:00 – Flying 100+ Missions Over North Vietnam 46:00 – Napalm Runs and Close Air Support 50:00 – The Final Mission and Coming Home 54:15 – Training German Pilots & Life After Combat 57:00 – The Honor Flight & Reflections on a Life in the Sky If you or someone you know has a story that deserves to be heard, we’d love to connect at 📧 [email protected]. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UvdMjkOkOgoHM2yIckhlh?si=dcb8d3f6ff96428a Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/curious-humanography/id1854840136