This U.S. Air Force recruiting film “There is a Way” is about the Fighting Cavalier Squadron and their F-105s Thunderchiefs in Vietnam. This is Part 1 and was filmed in November 1966, most of the base footage is from Korat Air Force Base in Thailand. This film came about in a peculiar way: in 1965 with F-105 losses mounting, 469th TFS Thud pilot Capt. Tony Gangol started saying after each mission, “There ain’t no way” to complete a tour. The use of the phrase spread among F-105 pilots and alarmed commanders. “There Is A Way” shows pilots successfully completing 100-mission tours of duty.

Opening titles: U.S. Air Force presents ‘There is a Way’ (:10-:48). Three lieutenants are about to land. They have completed an astonishing 101 missions flying the Republic F-105 Thunderchief. Jeep and cars drive down a tarmac (:49-2:30). The date is November, 1966. These men are part of the ‘Fighting Cavalier Squadron’ aka 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron. The pilots are interviewed. Jeeps drive past the men and blow their horns. The pilots celebrate their accomplishment amongst the men in a barrack (2:31-4:04). One of the pilots talks about his future plans with another. A board on the wall is filled out. Pilots discuss mission numbers. The Mission Summary board (4:05-6:12). Men who are stationed share their thoughts on being where they are in the war (6:13-8:07). A pilot speaks on staying for another tour. An officer stands in front of a map and explains the bombing objectives (8:08-10:31). F-105 plane taxis on the runway. A pilot comments on a raid. F-105 takes off down the runway (10:32-12:19). F-105s fly in the sky. F-105s bomb targets in North Vietnam, explosions seen on the ground from high above. Formation of four F-105s (12:20-13:45). Pilots in a truck being transported after the mission, they discuss the mission. They exit the truck and go into an intelligence briefing. The pilots look over maps and discuss while seated at a table (13:46-15:31). An officer drives a car past various buildings that house certain squadrons. A man drives on a truck while passing by some F-105s and giving his thoughts on the plane (15:32-17:02). The officer continues to drive and give his thoughts on the F-105. Mechanics work on the planes. Night falls on the airstrip. Mechanics work on F-105s (17:03-18:42). Bombs are hoisted and then brought over to planes. A truck drives a ton of shells for the planes. Pilots sit and eat in their mess hall. A man and a woman sing ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ for the men. Pilots enter their planes at night. A plane taxis in the darkness. An F-105 takes off followed by another (18:43-20:49). F-105 takes off at night. Morning is approaching as an F-105 taxis. One after another, F-105s take off (20:50-22:36). F-105 gets refueled in mid-air. F-105s fly in the sky. Another 105 moves near the tanker plane and gets refueled (22:37-23:53). F-105s fly through clouds. Pilots exit a truck. Officers discuss neat the Mission Summary board. Pilots discuss (23:54-25:36). A map of Vietnam is looked at and weather patterns are discussed. Tomorrow’s targets are discussed and pointed at. Roscoe the dog is the only dog allowed on base. Roscoe sits in the commander’s chair during briefings (25:37-27:31). F-105s stationary on the air strip. A target is shown enlarged on a screen and it shows SA-2 anti-aircraft missiles that must be destroyed. Pilots give their thoughts on the Hanoi area (27:32-29:49). Pilot talks about being shot at by missiles. Pilots get ready to go on their next mission. They get all their gear and put some of it on. F-105 has bombs ready (29:50-31:37). End of Part 1.

The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was an American supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it was the only American aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates. During the Vietnam War, the Cavalier Squadron lost 33 planes to accidents and combat.

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