A good motto always leaves an impression, and the unofficial catchphrase of the U.S. Air Force’s Wild Weasel crews is no exception. Their saying, “YGBSM,” short for “You’ve gotta be sh****’ me!”, perfectly sums up the daring nature of their missions. Once you hear what these aviators were tasked with, you’ll understand why no other slogan could capture it better.
Wild Weasel is the Air Force codename for any aircraft equipped with anti-radiation missiles, designed to destroy radar systems and surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites within enemy air defense networks. Wild Weasel missions rank among the most dangerous assignments faced by modern fighter pilots.
The development of Wild Weasel tactics and strategies began during the Vietnam War. The idea was first introduced in 1965 as a response to the growing threat posed by North Vietnamese defenses. “Project Wild Weasel” officially launched in the summer of 1965 and was implemented that August. Over the following two years, the Air Force and US Navy relied on volunteer crews to experiment with radar-seeking missile-equipped aircraft platforms.
In Vietnam, the Wild Weasels relied on a daring approach known as the “Hunter-Killer” tactic. Flying Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs—commonly referred to as “Thuds”—they actively hunted down enemy air defense networks. Their missions were closely coordinated with standard strike aircraft like the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, targeting missile radar signals so the Phantoms could move in and destroy the remaining defenses.
The Wild Weasels also assumed the risky job of acting as bait to protect strike formations during routine operations. Pilots in the F-105s deliberately tried to trigger enemy surface-to-air missile (SAM) launches, which left smoke trails that exposed their positions. By lingering over hostile territory, the Weasels not only drew out SAMs but also uncovered other dangers—enemy interceptors, heavy anti-aircraft guns, and hidden missile batteries.
The unofficial motto of “YGBSM” came from Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Electronic Warfare Officer Jack Donovan. When Donavan was introduced to the tactics and mission details, he replied, “You want me to fly in the back of a little tiny fighter aircraft with a crazy fighter pilot who think he’s invincible, hone in on a SAM site in North Vietnam, and shoot it before it shoots me? You gotta be ******** me!”
More from us: FICON Project: When the US Air Force Practiced Hooking Smaller Aircraft Under Large Bombers
Donovan’s reaction encompasses the danger surrounding the Wild Weasels, so it’s no surprise it stuck around as the unofficial motto! Today, Wild Weasel missions are performed by specially-trained General Dynamics F-16J Fighting Falcon crews. They continue to carry on the dangerous tradition and motto established by the F-105s in combat over Northern Vietnam throughout the 1960s and ’70s.