t in identifying the more vulnerable F-105 "Thuds" from the F-4 Phantoms, from their radio frequencies and call signs. Olds came up with Operation Bolo, an airial ambush. He would fly a large F-4 formation using the same routes, altitude, and callsigWhile watching a historical cable program called Dogfights I saw a great example of empowerment with individuals acting on their own skills and leadership abilities.

Robin Olds, a World War II Army Air Corps fighter ace, took over a fighter wing in Vietnam. His group flew the F-4 Phantom, designed for fighting enemy bombers. The F-4s had missiles, but no guns. Opposing them were Vietnamese pilots flying Russian MiG-21s, which were great fighter planes at high altitudes. They were equipped with a 30mm cannon as well as missiles. The MiG-21s were limited in number, but were devastating flights of American F-105 “Thunderchiefs”. The F-105s sometimes called “Thuds,” although designated as a fighter were really designed for low-level penetrate of enemy territory and dropping a single nuclear bomb. They were vulnerable to the MiG-21s.

Col. Olds realized the F-105 and the F-4 formations used the same approaches time after time. Intelligence and flight analysts in Hanoi became expert in identifying the more vulnerable F-105 "Thuds" from the F-4 Phantoms, from their radio frequencies and call signs. Olds came up with Operation Bolo, an airial ambush. He would fly a large F-4 formation using the same routes, altitude, and callsign

g in Vietnam. His group flew the F-4 Phantom, designed for fighting enemy bombers. The F-4s had missiles, but no guns. Opposing them were Vietnamese pilots flying Russian MiG-21s, which were great fighter planes at high altitudes. They were equipped with a 30mm cannon as well as missiles. The MiG-21s were limited in number, but were devastating flights of American F-105 “Thunderchiefs”. The F-105s sometimes called “Thuds,” although designated as a fighter were really designed for low-level penetrate of enemy territory and dropping a single nuclear bomb. They were vulnerable to the MiG-21s.

Col. Olds realized the F-105 and the F-4 formations used the same approaches time after time. Intelligence and flight analysts in Hanoi became expert in identifying the more vulnerable F-105 "Thuds" from the F-4 Phantoms, from their radio frequencies and call signs. Olds came up with Operation Bolo, an airial ambush. He would fly a large F-4 formation using the same routes, altitude, and callsig

with a 30mm cannon as well as missiles. The MiG-21s were limited in number, but were devastating flights of American F-105 “Thunderchiefs”. The F-105s sometimes called “Thuds,” although designated as a fighter were really designed for low-level penetrate of enemy territory and dropping a single nuclear bomb. They were vulnerable to the MiG-21s.

Col. Olds realized the F-105 and the F-4 formations used the same approaches time after time. Intelligence and flight analysts in Hanoi became expert in identifying the more vulnerable F-105 "Thuds" from the F-4 Phantoms, from their radio frequencies and call signs. Olds came up with Operation Bolo, an airial ambush. He would fly a large F-4 formation using the same routes, altitude, and callsig

ate of enemy territory and dropping a single nuclear bomb. They were vulnerable to the MiG-21s.

Col. Olds realized the F-105 and the F-4 formations used the same approaches time after time. Intelligence and flight analysts in Hanoi became expert in identifying the more vulnerable F-105 "Thuds" from the F-4 Phantoms, from their radio frequencies and call signs. Olds came up with Operation Bolo, an airial ambush. He would fly a large F-4 formation using the same routes, altitude, and callsig

t in identifying the more vulnerable F-105 "Thuds" from the F-4 Phantoms, from their radio frequencies and call signs. Olds came up with Operation Bolo, an airial ambush. He would fly a large F-4 formation using the same routes, altitude, and callsigns as the F-105s, hoping that the MiG-21s would be guided towards them, expecting to find Thunderchiefs, and when they realized the truth, it would be too late for them. To add to the delusi?n a radar scrambling pod, standard feature on the F105, was installed on the F-4s.

The first decoy flights flew under their false colors and were rewarded with MiG-21s. As soon as the MiGs realized they had been tricked they radioed headquarters for instructions. Headquarters did not respond with instructions, but rather kept sending up flights of MiGs. Without the empowerment the American pilots enjoyed the MiGs became easy prey.

Within twelve minutes seven MiGs were shot down. Credit goes to the technique of empowerment. The Amercian pilots reacted from their own perspective and were allowed to handle the situation in the best way they saw fit.

While it was a life and death situation that day in Vietnam, in business it's even more important. Empowerment and its co-pilot delegation