Not sure I'd say our training was unrealistic. It was certainly the worst conditions I ever flew in.
Heres an old clip from a BBC documentary that I mentioned. The F4s were getting airborne for a low level north departure to operate in the low flying areas. Not sure the "Rooskies" would have been down there in the clag but if they had been, the will and skill was there on our side. You'd struggle to find crews capable of operating in those conditions without TFR/FLIR/gogs nowadays. Not a criticism, just a fact.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61510979@N07/5598169065/