What They Don't Tell You About Getting Shot Down Over Vietnam

Paul Huber grew up in Mesa, Arizona, the son of an Army Air Corps officer, and went on to fly 220 combat missions in an F-4 Phantom during the Vietnam War. In this episode of Ask A Vet, Paul takes us inside the cockpit — from jungle survival school in the Philippines, to night bombing runs over the DMZ, to the morning in March 1968 when his aircraft was hit over Laos and he had to eject into the jungle.

Paul shares what it was really like to fly one of the most iconic aircraft of the Vietnam era, what he was thinking as he floated down through the jungle canopy, and how he called his wife from a command post phone just hours after being shot down. He also reflects on his post-Vietnam career as an instructor pilot, his time flying F-111s in England during the Cold War, and what 23 years of service ultimately taught him about America.Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS

1:30 – Growing up in Arizona & deciding to fly

4:00 – ROTC, Arizona State & getting commissioned

6:30 – F-4 Phantom training

11:00 – Jungle survival school in the Philippines

14:00 – Arriving at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam

17:30 – Night bombing missions over the DMZ

22:00 – What it was like to drop napalm and fly close air support

27:00 – Getting shot down over Laos

33:00 – The ejection, the jungle, and the rescue

39:00 – Calling his wife hours after being shot down

42:00 – R&R in Hawaii with his family

46:00 – Returning to fly after being shot down

48:30 – Distinguished Flying Cross & 220 combat missions

52:00 – Life as an instructor pilot in Texas

58:00 – Flying F-111s in England during the Cold War

1:13:00 – The meaconing incident: nearly lured into East Germany

1:16:00 – Final years, ROTC command at Utah State & retirement

1:26:00 – Reflections on Vietnam and what service meant

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