Episode 61: Beyond the Briefing – An Intel Officer’s View from NKP

In Episode 61 of Military Tales, we hear from John Wilkinson, who served as a Second Lieutenant and later First Lieutenant in Military Intelligence at Nakhon Phanom (NKP), Thailand, from October 1968 to October 1969. Wilkinson, who went on to become a brigadier general and the senior Reserve intelligence officer in the Air Force, provides a unique perspective from the intelligence side, particularly on his interactions with the A-1 Skyraider pilots and the realities of supporting missions over Laos.

Wilkinson’s journey into Air Force intelligence, specifically photo interpretation and air intelligence, began at Lowry Air Force Base. He describes the training as intense, like “drinking from the fire hose,” covering everything from technical skills to intelligence analysis and briefing techniques. Upon arriving at NKP, he was initially unexpected but quickly assigned to the Tactical Unit’s Operation Center to brief missions for the 602nd Squadron.

His primary role involved briefing different mission types: Barrel Roll, covering Northern Laos, and Steel Tiger, which encompassed the Ho Chi Minh Trail area. These briefings were comprehensive, detailing targets, known enemy positions, reported ground fire, and escape routes. He also supported the highly specialized Sandy mission, the Search and Rescue (SAR) effort.

A standout moment Wilkinson recounts is an impromptu flight on a two-seater Skyraider with pilot Rich Hall. Driven by a desire to understand the pilots’ experiences firsthand, he seized the opportunity. The flight was a regular strike mission near Lima Site 885 against a suspected target. Wilkinson describes dropping bombs, firing rockets and guns, and getting severely airsick. A dramatic moment occurred during the third pass when a hung bomb finally came loose after firing the guns, causing the aircraft to shake and disorienting him. While they took no ground fire, the mission highlighted how far from home they were if something went wrong. Although the flight provided a greater understanding and fostered camaraderie with the pilots, his boss, Colonel Bob Lambert, later reprimanded him for flying due to his top-secret clearance, which prohibited such flights.

Wilkinson’s intelligence work also critically supported SAR missions. When a pilot went down, his team would analyze previous film to confirm information about the survivor, assess enemy defenses, potential reactions, and identify the best escape routes. During the SAR, they would update this information by listening to radio frequencies in the command post, specifically hearing the Sandy crews and Jolly Green helicopters. While they couldn’t hear the survivor directly (the “fox mic”), they gained a general picture of the situation, including serious enemy reactions or difficulties encountered by the rescue teams. Wilkinson recounts the emotional toll of these missions, including hearing about a PJ finding a downed pilot was deceased and the rescue line breaking. He also describes the immense relief and elation when a survivor was successfully recovered.

The emotional highs and lows of SAR were profound for the crews. Wilkinson notes that the highest high was bringing a survivor home, while the lowest low was losing someone. These experiences were balanced by celebrating successful rescues. Survivors brought back to NKP would often end up at the Officer’s Club (O Club), where they would be helped, sometimes lifted, over the bar to change the number on a plaque behind the bar, representing the number of rescues to date. These survivor parties were a way for everyone to let off steam and celebrate a victory, though they were occasionally told to “tone it down a bit”.

Living conditions at NKP varied significantly. While some units, like Task Force Alpha, had air-conditioned hooches funded separately, many others, including Wilkinson initially, lived in non-air-conditioned barracks with four people per room. These hooches had partition walls that didn’t reach the ceiling or floor, meaning you could hear everything going on in every room, making rest difficult during the hot season, especially with varying work shifts. Eventually, Wilkinson was able to move into air-conditioned hooches with the 602nd Squadron, living with the pilots he supported. This was a rare arrangement for an intelligence officer but fostered a great sense of camaraderie.

Wilkinson reflects on the camaraderie among the crews, describing them as a “very compatible crowd” even decades later. He feels privileged to be included in their reunions, noting the deep bond shared by those who served together. He expresses immense pride in his military service and the work he did. He speaks with deep admiration for the pilots he served with, calling them the “bravest men I’ve ever served with“. He highlights their professionalism, adaptability, and the fact that the system allowed highly capable individuals, regardless of rank, to lead critical missions like Sandy low lead. Despite the significant loss of life – the 602nd Squadron lost about 18% of its pilots during his year there – the dedication and spirit of “That Others May Live” were ever-present.