names of pilots shot down in vietnam

Burning American aircraft at Bien Hoa Air Base in 1965. And after Scotty started the engines, the aerial refueling receptacle would only operate some of the time. Reeder is being held behind the middle window. Everybody has heard by now that John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam, captured, and held as a Prisoner of War; it apparently, to some, is his main qualification to be President. In order to avoid my radio falling into enemy hands where it could be used to lure American rescue teams into an ambush, I broke the antenna and tossed it. Messrs. Crecca and Wilson were asked by their nation to serve. Its guys like you who Ive tried to be like when it became my turn to sit in the left seat. Yep. What was the name of the plane that was shot down in Vietnam? YGBSM!. [1], There were about 11,846 U.S helicopters that served in the Vietnam War. The clouds were reported to be at 10,000 ft. Our intel chief Major Art Weiner briefed us on all aspects of our mission including weather and defenses. The political strategy of Rolling Thunder was absurd from the git-go. Rest in Peace, dear Scotty. 12,000 helicopters Life saver: Severely damaged in combat, this Douglas A-1E was flown by Maj. Bernard Fisher on March 10, 1966, when he rescued a fellow pilot shot down over South Vietnam. The pilot Lieutenant Commander John S. McCain III, successfully ejected and was made Prisoner of War. He did this all without missing a beat. Youd make a grand Socialist. Any man can do no more for his country than agree to place himself in harms way. A photograph of Lockhart shows him being paraded through the streets of Hanoi. Takeoff in a heavily-loaded Phantom requires some explanation. Outwardly grateful to Jesus Christ above all and to our United States military service members is the way of life I choose to live and pass on to my children. Lt. Wilson and his family paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Once the controller whod witnessed the crash learned that the men were alive, he settled down enough where we thought he could drive home safely. Thank you, Mr. Crecca! 83rd Arty 101ABN DIVARTY I have four children- ages 34, 30, 11 and 8 and am Grandma to 3 ages 8, 8 & 5. The prison at Hoa Lo was a miserable place. 3 Enclosures included: COMUSMACV MSG DTD 050023Z and Evaluations. of an F-4), or I could man a missile silo in North Dakota. 532 aircraft were lost in combat and 329 more to operational causes, resulting in the deaths of 401 naval aviators, with 64 airmen reported missing and 179 taken prisoner of war. Well written as you brought each of us along with you in the cockpit as your descriptives of that entire mission were intense. Of those servicepeople, 2,382 were killed while serving aboard UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the ubiquitous "Huey." Contents [ hide] On Oct. 26, McCain would fly his 23rd run over North Vietnam, joining a 20-plane mission to bomb a power plant in the capital city of Hanoi, which had been off-limits to U.S. attacks . After liftoff, caution must be exercised to avoid over-rotation. U.S. Marine Corps aircraft lost in combat included 193 fixed-wing and 270 rotary-wing aircraft. I would not change a thing; glad I was able to serve. I then looked at myself to see if I was in one piece. Other than the bullet-hole scar in his leg, which my father would sometimes say was caused by an Indians arrow (that story fit in well with the TV shows I was watching in the 1950s), growing up I never got any stories out of him about what war was like. The first and only fatal crash by an RAAF aircraft in Thailand. The former fighter pilot, who was shot down over Vietnam in 1967, went on: P.463, Migs over North Vietnam: The Vietnam People's Air Force in Combat, 196575, Stackpole Military History, Crashed while attempting emergency landing, Phantom with U.S. Marine Corps (Joe Baugher), List of United States aerial victories of the Vietnam War, South Viet Nam Airforce VNAF Equipment. He took off the next several days. I reported I wasnt sure which (if any) was his. Having won WWII by the application of enormous industrial power including saving the largest socialist entity in the world from the ravages of the second-largest socialist entity in the world we continued to view the world in wartime terms of us versus them and we prepared for the next war by preparing for the past war with near-total reliance on atomic weapons to win the next war. Then came the shock. While my eyes and my thoughts were on flying out of enemy territory, my hands moved swiftly to the lower ejection handle while my body automatically assumed the correct ejection posture; back straight, legs extended, elbows tucked in close to the body, and BOOM. Thank You for your service. Rescued Misty Pilots . While the Vietnamese and Chinese have a long history of ethnic combat, the Chinese were happy to limit both Russian and American military influence in SE Asia, by replacing every bullet fired by North Vietnam. Spooky came in after that and made a few passes. 1:00 Jan. 6 will mark 50 years since former Newburgh resident Dave Middleton was shot down in Vietnam while piloting a Loach helicopter on a mission to which he wasn't originally assigned.. On 3 January 1969 Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) was commissioned at NAS North Island, California and after an intense period of training was transferred to Vietnam. If your anti-Vietnam War feelings are still that strong, I dare you to walk up to a highly-decorated Vietnam combat veteran, preferably a Marine or Soldier and vent your anti-war feelings to him, face-to-face! Daily Kos moves in solidarity with the Black community. Energy Management Clich or Exactitude? Youve earned it. They would persistently be trying to attack me while the militia men unemotionally fended them off. The USAF sustained approximately 0.4 losses per 1,000 sorties during the conflict, which compared favorably with a 2.0 rate in Korea and a 9.7 figure during World War II. (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication. On Oct. 25, 1967, I strapped into my F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber and took to the sky on my 33rd combat mission to strike a bridge in the middle of Hanoi, North Vietnam. 3 crewmen were KIA. We can never let our politicians forget those lessons. How many MiGs were shot down during Vietnam War? But that didnt keep the Triple Nickel (555th TFS) from calling themselves the Largest distributors of MiG parts in Southeast Asia. Not as of 05NOV66 they werent. One of our F-4s was not delivered by maintenance. Yeh, the F-4s wings dont come off even from a SAM induced Spin. They were taken to a hospital to be evaluated, but they lived. At this moment the twin J-79 afterburners are briefly licking at the runway with two, huge, yellow-orange flames. To you gentlemen; Brett, Tim, Wade, Gordon, Cliff, Neil, Andy and Jerry who responded to the reprint of my 2017 article, Shot Down Over North Vietnam, I thank you for your kind remarks and expressions of patriotism. Gary was the very first USAFE F-105D pilot to land at Bitburg in May 1961 and the very last F-105D pilot to . Final loss: EB-66B 42nd TEWS, 388th TFS lost to engine failure on 23 December 1972 during Operation Linebacker II. The intercom was intermittent. It was moving and changing shape ever so slowly. But, knowing this might be my only chance to talk before the fun and games began anew, I concocted a mission scenario that I hoped would be accepted as truth. They did not want to lose their Skin in this deadly game while other Americans bravely went to war. I turned that down, and promptly got drafted into the USArmy 31 days later! The next thing I knew, I was back on the wooden stool facing my interrogator. Did a Korea tour also when enlisted. Mr. Creccas response (farther below) displays considerably more class than that displayed by b fearn in this particular instance. I taught eight pilots who had only two-year degrees differential calculus. There was a terrifyingly loud and long explosion followed by staccato metal-to-metal sounds, probably of the J-79 turbine and compressor blades departing for parts unknown. North Vietnam lost 150 170 aircraft and helicopters. There will always be those who dont get it. I would like to hear from you at some point; [emailprotected]. Scotty Wilson and I were classmates in Pilot Training at Willie Air Patch, Class 64-C, Raindance and Schatzi. However, when your country calls, you have two choices, in 1965 you went, in 1969 you didnt. According to what looks like a reasonably well-sourced page on Wikipedia, a total of 3,032 aircraft were lost to hostile action during the Vietnam War (the actual total was considerably higher, as these numbers don't include Army rotary-wing aircraft), which means at least that many pilots were shot down (yes, some were shot down more than once, but they are way more than offset by the many aircraft that had two pilots). The process of lifting the American air pirate and dropping him (me) face first onto the floor went on for over an hour. The claimed flying aces of the Vietnam War, pilots who shot down five or more enemy aircraft, include 19 North Vietnamese pilots (six MiG-17 and 13 MiG-21 pilots),[1]:228 and five Americans. Lt Cmdr Frederick P Crosby's plane crashed in a pond during the Vietnam War in 1965 (inset). As a former volunteer at the NMUSAF and the son of a now deceased USAAF WWII combat vet, I have always known that our country and our armed forces have been blessed with seemingly ordinary, matter-of-fact guys who do extraordinary things. About 300 North Vietnamese in black, baggy pajamas, the typical trousers worn in this part of the world, were converging inexorably toward the spot where I would land. Well b fearn, you have a right to make your comment and your opinion, but I do not believe this is the time or place. But I dont think they fixed it right. When naval aviator Porter Halyburton deployed for Vietnam, he left behind his young wife and five-day-old daughter, Dabney. They fixed it. NOTE: Misty numbers listed here were assigned after the war and relates to the order the pilot was assigned to the unit. We were together at MacDill in the F-4 but rotated at different times into SEA. The Navy had it right (mostly) in equipping, training and tailoring tactical air assets. I was at a loss for words. You and your fellow POWs were and are the best of this nation. I took one last look at the horizon. On May 10, 1972, the USAF and Navy shot down 11 North Vietnam MiGs in the skies over North Vietnam at a cost of two USAF and two Navy F-4s shot down. Thank You Sir for your service and sacrifice you gave to our Country! Hap. Thank you Mr. Meadows, And we who flew the mighty Phantoms were in your debt,too. What could I possibly say to the President of the United States that he hadnt already heard 334 times before? Thanks for the compliment on my writing. 2,197 of the losses were fixed-wing, and the remainder rotary-wing. Lost contact with you shortly after you were so kind to make comments at my FedEx retirement party. I would have done the same thing. Our brand-new LtCol had dreams of a DFC or Silver Star, so we drove 250 miles or so North, with marginal weather at Chu Lai, to volunteer our (his) effort. Ed McGaa, Marine F4s, Chu Lai Mostly CAS. There were a total a 269 American and enemy aircraft shot down in air-to-air combat over Vietnam during the entire war201 in fights between the U.S. Air Force and North Vietnamese air force and just 68 in the U.S. Navy's air battles with the North Vietnamese. Cmon man, show some class! Thanks for your service, Sir. Then we switched roles and Scotty flew while I coordinated the rendezvous. I had never before heard the details of his loss. Pinches were both rescued. April 26, 1968 : C-130B 60-0298, c/n 3602, of the 773d Tactical Airlift Squadron, shot down dropping load at A Loui, South Vietnam. The United States, along with their allies (The Republic of Vietnam, South Korean, Australian, Thailand, New Zealand), lost about 12,500 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. Since 366thTFW maintenance was overtaxed having to do all of its around-the-clock 24/7 functions, the flight leader had to turn down two airplanes before he found one that was combat ready and airworthy. But there was no SAM. God bless you Joe, hearing the story was very touching. Like the Flat-Earthers who still dont believe we landed on the Moon. Joe, I fly a POW/MIA flag below Old Glory everydayin honor of you, Scotty, and all the other heroes that sacrificed so much in that war. Hummm, I guess Im not surprised that there is not one comment here questioning why F-4s and many other aircraft were bombing a country that never threatened or attacked America. I found out what its like to be a zoo animal except nobody threw me any peanuts. I hope some day that our government will find the courage to ask what happened to the missing pilots whose names or Escape and Evasion codes and authenticator numbers were photographed by U.S. satellites long after the war was overDavid Allinson(8888), Peter Matthes (GX2527), and Henry Serex (SEREX) to name a few. It was you who were suffering in the oppressive heat & humidity. The flight call sign was Dogwood and we were number 2. Scotty then said over the radio to the leader, Dogwood 2 has a good inertial. Pilots who have used the AN/ASN-46 nav system (Up to 7 NM per hour error) will know whats going on here. Thank you, David. Im thinking, How does anybody know how their INS is doing when they cant see the ground? We were at 25,000 feet above a solid, 10,000-foot undercast. He is someone that I have always respected and admired. The man who had less than an hour ago cautioned me against premature ejection had ejected. After I was stabilized, the boomer cleared me into the contact position. Owing to all the maintenance problems, we did not take off as a flight but departed single-ship and joined up on the KC-135 tanker aircraft over Thailand as a flight of three. Your reaction to my article bears the stamps of liberalist tradition unhampered by progress, reveals a lack of understanding of politics on the world stage and shows complete disrespect for the sacrifices made by all Vietnam combat veterans. When the Vietnam War ended in 1973, Mohawk losses were: one shot down by a MiG, one destroyed by mortar fire, 27 lost to ground fire and 36 destroyed in operational accidents. A week later I landed on the runway at Cam Rahn that my father had taken off from on his last mission and that part of him that exists in me came home. He should be yours as well, regardless of what you think of the efficacy and need for that conflict of many years ago. During the Vietnam War, thousands of U.S. aircraft were lost to antiaircraft artillery (AAA), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and fighter interceptors ( MiG )s. The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas of Southeast Asia were to AAA. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he values above his own personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of men better than himself. Some were grabbing and pulling at my anti-g suit, flight suit and boots. B/2/20 ARA #63-08597 A/C was shot down and after it hit exploded into flames. The black, shapeless mass of Vietnamese peasants was all over me. Theyd be shot up to hell. But, instead of cutting through my throat, as Id imagined, the blade moved away, cutting the helmet strap. Im horrified to know how divided our country was in the late 60s/early 70s, and people like you did your duty, for all of us. Richard Armstrong. I will be forever grateful to all who flew and supported LBII and to President Richard M. Nixon for having the fortitude to send the mighty BUFFs north. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he values above his own personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of men better than himself.. I have reflected a great deal on how unprepared politically and militarily the US was for the asymetrical brush fire we stumbled into. I saw an F-4 fly low into Firebase Bastogne in January 1969 and pickle a few rounds on the guys that were over-running our base. How many a4 Skyhawks were shot down in Vietnam? They were deeply felt. Did you know that most of the articles at Air Facts are written by readers like you? Suddenly, I was lifted from the floor. Mr. Crecca, https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/06165124/F-4C-64-0755-480TFS-Da-Nang1000.jpg, https://airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg, COPYRIGHT 2011-2023, SPORTSMAN'S MARKET, INC. All Rights Reserved. Having been a teenager in Vietnam years, I had a Vietnam map on my bedroom wall and marked bombing missions that Cronkite would report that night. I will be reading your story to my young ones tonight. No need to bring up the sorties flown with 1/2 ordnance loads so the (Squadron, Group, Wing) would look good on paper. According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11,846 helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5,000 American pilots and crew killed. I am grateful to him for that, beyond measure. And Mr. Crecca, again, I thank you. Lonely feeling for a pilot over enemy territory. So why were we going in anyway? I am a UK resident but love all things aviation even the painful experiences suffered by many presented here by Joe also on behalf of Scotty. SMS D.R. This room was known, unaffectionately, by all who suffered there as the room with the green, bumpy walls. Seated on a small, wooden stool, the interrogation began in the usual way with, Name, rank, serial number and date of birth. When I refused to reply to any further questions except by repeating my name, rank, serial number and date of birth, my interrogating officer, in a most sinister way, and in a very convincing manner said, Crecca, you will die in Vietnam. In a matter of minutes I was bound with ropes. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks nothing is worth war is much worse. Welcome home. Lasted almost two weeks on the island before a Japanese sniper gave him his ticket off the island. When I was shot down I weighed 157 lbs. My mom, as she promised my father she would, visited my fathers grave at the National Cemetery in Grand Prairie on Saturday, left an American Flag, which, regardless of whether or not the boy scouts or other volunteers do, as they sometimes do and sometimes dont, shes done for the previous 10 Memorial Days. Here is how I replied to another anti-war zealot two years ago, 2/17/2017 in the AFJ Comments section: War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. God Bless all who serve. Thank you for your sentiments. 17 apr 1966: arab 511, an a-1h (buno 135398), lt (jg) william l. tromp, va-115, went down following a night attack on coastal targets, near approximately 1818'n, 10610'e. arab 506, his wingman,. Manacles were locked onto my wrists as well. In addition to all of your other talents, you write very well. Instead Ill thank & bless Mr. Crecca for being among those whom A. Solzhenitsyn-himself a survivor of Communist Russias gulags-called our first heros for successfully resisting an overwhelming enemy, alone, then returning with honor. Our trip to Corregidor and visit to the USS Houston are two of my greatest memories. We can assume NVN radars were tracking us and if I had disclosed the secret tacan, it would be simple to backtrack to the tacan location. The Royal Australian Air Force also flew combat and airlift missions in South Vietnam, as did the Republic of Vietnam. I went down to about 125 in the winter of 1968. Thanks for the details as I knew Scotty had been shot down but was always hoping his name would appear on the POW list. He was crying. I have the greatest respect and admiration for you and other Vietnam POWs for your courage and what you had to endure. Just to the right of Scottys lifeless figure was the light-brown and white cloud characteristic of an SA-2 detonation! Scotty hadnt regained consciousness. God-Speed to our brothers in arms, where ever they may be! 1F-4C-1, Change 1, page 2-20) before reaching 30 knots below calculated nose wheel liftoff speed. God Bless America; God Bless the USAF; God Bless the Pilots and God Bless the POWs! Two were pilots, two Air Force weapon systems officers, and two Navy radar intercept officer; both awarded an aerial-kill claim for each enemy aircraft shot-down. Remains of fighter pilot shot down in WWII identified. Joe. He said hes sorry I feel that way. The session finally came to an end after midnight. Knowing you were handled so badly by your bosses has to be a tough thing to take. How about that for a cool presence of mind? He had the smoke trail spotted and wanted revenge. This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member. One night I flew #2 to a newly crowned pentagon prince. Enroute, we learned USAF had discovered a major truck convoy up near the Plain of Jars, wanting help. Both Fire and Overheat lights were illuminated and all the amber and red indicators on the telelight panel by Scottys right knee were lit. Thank you for sharing this. Instead, dummy missiles had been placed at the site as a "flak trap.". Nose wheel liftoff speed was calculated to be over 170 knots and liftoff at nearly 200 knots or 230 mph! My draft number was 27. I looked around me to see hundreds of people, mostly villagers, including old folks and children. It is sad that we lost so much blood and treasure in that endeavor. I wondered what good it did to tell us there were guns, MiGs and SAMs everywhere. 9 of the losses were parked aircraft struck by rockets. I cried like a baby. I served as Navy, lost friends both in country and after returning home with one still carried as MIA Army Helicopter Pilot. What was the first C-47 plane shot down in Vietnam? The soil was mercifully soft, loose and moist. by propeller-driven A-1 Skyraiders of Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25). . The Army and USAF spent enormous efforts preparing to fight WWII over again in Europe (this time with nukes). But I promise if youll just give me another one, Ill take much better care of it. He squeezed my hand so hard I thought he was going to break all the bones in it as he said with great gusto, I want you in one!, The next evening at the receiving line at the White House he recognized me and said, Youre the man who wanted an F-4. I said I was and he said, Youve got it!. North Vietnam, pre-1975: Killing of Two American Pilots Shot Down Over North Vietnam IIR Casualty files | William A. Ott. Compare these massive figures to the six million Jewish folks who perished in the WWII Holocaust. I met and liked John Dremesi whose experience was the same as yours. "You were right in the enemy's face with a. J. W. Newhouse rescued, First loss: EF-105F 63-8286 (13th TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by AAA RP-6 July 1966, Maj. Roosevelt Hestle, Final loss: F-105G 63-8359 (Det.1 561st TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by SAM 16 November 1972, RP-3, crew rescued, First loss: mission-related TFR failure, 66-0022 (428th TFS 474th TFW, Project Combat Lancer), 28 March 1968, Maj. H.E. ), Ways to get involved in the 2022 Election. Thank you for your bravery and endurance. [4] 877 Republic of Vietnam aircraft were captured at war's end (1975)[5] Of the 2750[6] aircraft and helicopters received by South Vietnam, only about 308 survived (240 flew to Thailand or US warships[7] and 68 returned to the United States[8]). 71-0316 (355th TFS) operational loss (non-combat) crash in Thailand on 11 January 1973 (pilot rescued) 70-0949 (354th TFW) shot down Laos on 17 February 1973 (Maj J.J. Gallagher rescued) 71-0305 (3rd TFS, 388th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on 4 May 1973 (1Lt T.L. It was a moving story. His wingman was Paul Reyes. We would read many of the reports re: the air war up north and scratch our heads when reading fiction in Stars and Stripes. On July 24, 1965, an SA-2 shot down an Air Force F-4C, the first of 110 USAF aircraft lost to SAMs in Southeast Asia. Wed had it. Without any electronic gear onboard to warn us of active SAM sites, there was no way for us to know that at that very moment a Soviet-built SA-2 missile was streaking its way towards our Phantom from directly behind us, Dead 6 oclock, in fighter pilot lingo. Our TOT (Time Over Target) was scheduled for 1153. 1st Lieutenant Scotty Wilson, the best stick in [the squadron].. But, I stuck to my story answering the same question in the same way each time. Joe, Many thanks for writing & publishing your story. I just received some additional email comments on my article and browsed through the older ones and saw yours. Hi, Joe. According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11,846 helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5,000 American pilots and crew killed. Joes epilogue sums it all up. Final loss: C-130E 72-1297 (314th TAW) destroyed by rocket fire at Tan Son Nhut AB on 28 April 1975. Fighting against such a cruel political regime didnt seem that bad an idea after all, did it? Hull blown-up. You were a great morale boost when we needed it the most. Site content may be used for any purpose without explicit permission unless otherwise specified. How many f4 were shot down? He summed up his experience in Vietnam as It was f****d. You guys are the best we have. God Bless them all. At the most fundamental level, we failed to evaluate the reasons why Germany, Korea, Vietnam and others were divided at the end of WWII. Dak Harney Peak who did far less than Dulles. This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 11:53. In 1973, American POWs finally came home. Just recently back from the Academy F-4 Phantom ceremony. Several of our birds went to Nam. Thank you again for your personal sacrifice and service to our country Sir. Dogwood 3 had already arrived and was taking fuel through the KC-135s boom. (USAF) Date of report (1971-07-23). Among fixed-wing aircraft, more F-4 Phantoms were lost than any other type in service with any nation. Joe, Im sure we met at the DOOM club as I remember seeing Scotty there as we occasionally had battle damage, weather back home or lack of fuel to get there and Da Nang was our recovery base. I flew Marine Corps F-4s out of Da Nang and Nam Pong, Thailand in 1972; unfortunately not much had changed in six years. 1972: U.S. claimed 51 MiG-21s destroyed; North Vietnam claimed 53 US aircraft shot down by MiG-21s, including two B-52 Stratofortress bombers. Joe Crecca would spend more than six years in various prison camps. (I would have loved to get into the left seat of a C-130, but if theyd assigned me to an O-2 Skymaster, that would have been fine too.). Sayonara, engines! Scotty yelled, GET OUT! With the OUT still echoing in my ears there was a BOOM!, then the air noise of the jettisoned canopy. He told me join up. At 0600, I awoke to the annoying buzzer of my Telechron alarm clock. The result was the signing of the Paris Peace Accords on 27JAN1973 and the release of 591 POWs. Thanks for telling our story Joe. Scotty gave the Phantom back to me and then it was my turn. Of all those shot-down pilots, the experience apparently only made one uniquely qualified to be President. Glad you made it home safe after 6 years in the north. No one shot at him. 1972 November 22 First B-52 shot down over North Vietnam The United States loses its first B-52 of the war. Jim Hestand the AC of the fateful flight gave the eulogy at Bobbys funeral! During the tour at NKP Thailand, I had opportunity to go TDY to Ubon Air base. During the Vietnam War Monika Schwinn, a German nurse, was held captive for three and a half years - at one time the only woman prisoner at the "Hanoi Hilton".The following missionaries were POWs: Evelyn Anderson, captured and later burned to death in Kengkok, Laos, 1972.She is still listed as POW. A few of the men wore shoddy uniforms and were armed with old-looking, bolt-action rifles. So, with that, you have to question the command and leadership, not the foot soldier. Puerto Madero N9710, Oficina 22, Pudahuel - Santiago | pytorch lstm source code After that we had our individual flight briefings. He is presently a retired airline pilot who originally flew for The Flying Tiger Line in DC-8s and 747s and then MD-11s for FedEx. Final loss: EC-47Q 43-48636 (361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 56th SOW) shot down in Laos on the night of 04/5 45 February 1973, killing all 8 crewmen. Had it not been for President Nixon and the sheer courage of the B-52 and tactical aircrews, the POWs would never have returned. In fact all those who kept us in the air were. This is known as temporal distortion. Ignore that kind, it is useless to argue as they are happy in their own world which they believe will lead to some utopian future paid for by others. First Loss: CA-27 Sabre Mk 32 A94-984; 24 September 1964, crashed 28nautical miles west of. If you think I should not be called a hero, tell them, not me. The first morning mission was "Misty 11" would be replaced by "Misty 21" then "Misty 31" and . I hope that this article and your word of mouth/teachings help other people stand up against stupidity and question the orders of those place in authority. I was too young for Nam, but spent 20 years in the Navy under the water. The Air Force lost 1737, the Navy 530, the Marine Corps 463 and the Army lost 302 (fixed wing). We can only hope that the current and subsequent generations will take J.S. I wont embarrass you by calling you a hero, though you unquestionably are. The USAF also lost F-4C Phantom 64-0755. We attended the Colonels memorial service one week ago today. I was a flight engineer in the Air Force and National Guard. More aircraft would be shot down and pilots killed or captured. With both my palms up and a telling expression on my face, Don Ward knew that was the end of the conversation. Two years ago I walked through the front door of Hoa Lo. They performed as they were asked. I never made it back . Our Motto YOU YELL, WE SHELL LIKE HELL, OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY. We did not know if anyone survived! Top rudder pedal, however, broke us out at about 5 grand. It was proving a good day for Navy Lt. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, and his back-seat. Sobering reading for every American ! We were to be a flight of four F-4C Phantoms. Vietnam will eventually strive throughout S.E. Its a real shame but they ruined a perfectly good pair of nearly new, highly-polished USAF flying boots with zippers; they cut right through the damn zippers! Source for F-4 losses is Phantom with U.S. Marine Corps (Joe Baugher), others are unsourced, Production of a total of 380 Mohawks ended in December 1970. Hope you sre enjoying the golden years. Spent the day with Tom and Scottys brother Mark. An Air Force pilot and air commando who was shot down in 1970 during the Vietnam War will be buried at the Air Force Academy. Using first-hand accounts from diary entries, letters, and family stories, Snyder revives experiences that are accessible and relevant both to historians and readers with a casual interest in . Never flew with a pilot in the USAF that was not a top notch professional. You have no skin in the game of life and freedom, do you! A SAM damn near got me and another my section leader. Steve Snyder's masterful book, Shot Down, does justice to the adventures of his father, pilot Howard Snyder, and the crew of the B-17 plane Susan Ruth. This fighter aircraft, flown by various pilots, was credited for 14 kills during the Vietnam War. !Cheers my friend. I live on Easy Street. I served, served proudly, and shelter no regrets. God Bless you, Joe. I flew the airplane to a point in space below the beautiful Stratotanker where I judged the contact position to be. Final loss: A84-228 shot down by two SA-2 SAM missiles on 14 March 1971; Wing Commander F. J. L. Downing and Flight Lieutenant A.J. Final loss: C-7B 62-12584 (483d TAW) which crashed in SVN on 13 January 1971, all 4 crewmen survived. A C-47 was the very first USAF aircraft lost in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 (315th Air Division) on TDY at Vientiane, Laos which was shot down by the Pathet Lao on 23 March 1961 killing 7 of the 8 crewmen. His unit was flying in support of South Vietnamese troops fighting in Laos. It suddenly dawned on me that he would not surrender his place on the controllers list and lose the chance for his Silver Star! Do you know how good a F4 sounds from the darn dirt ?!? Well, at least you tried. The MiG-21 N. 4324 of the Vietnam People's Air Force. Further, the controller COULD have joined us up and vectored us back to the truck-convoy gaggle, but the controller had obviously lost confidence in a flight leader who didnt know where he was. Presently it dishonors over 50,000 dead and how many maimed and wounded? Cliff, I am very sorry for the loss of your Dad. So glad that you made it back in one piece, and were able to continue flying. Crash Location: Into Sea off southwest coast of Vietnam near Rach Gia and Ca Mau. He called me to come back coming out of a Split S spin. Defense Department officials say 1st Lt. Carl D. Nesbitt died when his plane was shot down in May . Our detachment was working on WWll vintage C-47s, but we got to observe AC-130 gunships and the F-4 unit known as Wolf-Pack in action. Presidio Press. I was a bit young to be drafted for Vietnam but as a flying geek and guy who likes to learn about military history, Ive had conversations with many people involved in that conflict, including soldiers, marines, airmen and my brother, a draftee who walked point in the US Army in Vietnam. Jan 12, 06:12 PM. French-Indo China had been an imperialist hot bed for years, not to mention part of the communist domino effect after WW 2 that everyone was paranoid about. u-6 losses need added all are army fixed wing aircraft, 5,195+ (which include not in addition to the above statistics)[2], North Vietnam captured 877 South Vietnamese aircraft at war's end. Twenty-one aircraft carriers conducted 86 war cruises and operated 9,178 total days on the line in the Gulf of Tonkin. Thanks for the story, Joe. But with no guarantee to get the slot you wanted you made the right choice to bail out. Nobody else made a comment like yours because you are the only a-hole on here. But the effort proved futile. How do you look in the mirror? Always amazed how well you remembered the tap code. My gratitude to those of you who gave so much. Meadows Im still honored to have flown a 10 day trip with you around Asia with FedEx. Some US fighter pilots had actually scored aerial kills in WWII, and were fighting again in the sky's over North Vietnam; Colonel Robin Olds had shot down German aircraft in aerial combat,. The explosion was ear-splitting and seemed to go on and on. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. And Ill salute only with that nickname fondly given him by my children, our Elder Eagle, who flew Linebacker BUFFS, along with numerous other often difficult taskings, during his 28 years in USAF. when the canopy rails are parallel to the ground, the nose is 10-12 degrees up. The baro switch was supposed to open my chute at 10,000 ft. It was very kind of you to drive the 40 miles and spend the time to honor the memory of my brother, your fellow employee at Flying Tigers and FedEx. Id pulled the lower ejection handle and was away from my burning Phantom. I had breakfast with 1stLt. Galand Kramer at the Danang Officers Open Mess, the DOOM Club, so appropriately named for those of us flying into the teeth of North Vietnams AAA, missile and MiG air defenses. Its a tough story to take. There, I waited for about five hours, during which time it seemed that everyone in the village, save the oldest and youngest, came to visit the new arrival. They all worked too. I then drew my .38 caliber service revolver, opened the cylinder, emptied all the ammunition and threw it away. But then, the blood began to run down from the breaks in the skin on my head and into my eyes. Section leader had one Dud flash by just as we started to Split S from Control Warning. I finally got him to talk and he said, Gary, it was just like Vietnam. But survival instincts and thorough ejection training were running the show. Btw, Uncle Walter was an anti-American, extreme lefty. Galand himself would be shot down two months later. Moments later, the controller asked us to change our squawk, so we could be located for a skyspot drop. Don Ward, came up to me and said words that someone in operations never, ever hears from anybody in maintenance. U-8 losses need added Hayden Lockhart was the first Air Force pilot to fall into North Vietnamese hands. If the MiGs didnt come up, he couldnt have a chance to shoot one down. Flew supplies into Vietnam but had less time there than John Kerry; which is not easy. Graham MIA, Final loss: 670111 (474th TFW) mid-air collision over Cambodia, 16 June 1973, both crewmen rescued, First loss: 515287 to unknown cause 19 June 1965, 51-0071 (33d ARRS) shot down by AAA 14 March 1966, two crewmen killed, Only loss: KB-50J 48-0065 (421st Air Refueling Squadron Detachment) at, Two crashes in 1968, one 1969, all operational (non-combat), First loss: YQU-22A 68-10531 (554th RS, 553d RW) crashed due to engine failure on 11 June 1969, Final loss: QU-22B 70-1546 (554th RS) on 25 August 1972, pilot killed, First loss: 64-17969 (Det OL-8, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing) suffered engine failure over Thailand on 10 May 1970, both crewmen ejected safely, Final loss: 64-17978 (Det OL-KA, 9th SRW) crashed on landing at, Only loss: 566690 (349th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 100th SRW) which crashed on 8 October 1966 near Bien Hoa, SVN, Maj. Leo J Stewart ejected and was rescued. Fortunately, my background as a briefer and operations duty officer enabled me to tell my accusers that the base they spoke of was still 250 miles from Chu Lai, and the runway was not suitable for F4s. Those bumps on the walls, in retrospect, were a poor mans acoustic treatment for trying to muffle the screams of Americans being tortured there. Our airplane flew out of the fireball with orange flames and thick, black smoke trailing from the wings, fuselage and tail. Crash Location: Near Ap Bac, Chau Doc Province, South Vietnam. God bless them! Scotty was probably hit by shrapnel from the missile. Iwo Jima. Im an alumnus of the 480th TFS myself ( USAFE, 78-80) and wish you all the best . A second missile had been fired and aimed precisely where our aircraft would have been had we dived straight ahead to avoid the first missile. Im sorry that you had to suffer so much but you had no business what so for ever being there. I was a F4 mechanic here at DMAFB in Tucson. I rest easy at night because of people like you. It was great to hear your story again. * These two pilots shared the credit for the shoot down of the MiG-17 and each were credited for . Soviet General Fesenko, the main Soviet adviser to the North Vietnamese Air Force in 1972, recorded 34 MiG-21s destroyed in 1972. I still know where the CB is. 8081, Air War Vietnam Plans and Operations 19691975. I know exactly how you feel about combat decisions driven by hubris. At this point, because of the unexpected turn, our formation was too bunched up; we were too close to each other to be able to provide mutual look-out support. USAF/ Air National Guard (Retired). The leaders claim was that we could easily have bingod into the RTAF base on the Thai border, so I should not have abandoned my flight leader. During the Vietnam War, thousands of U.S. aircraft were lost to antiaircraft artillery (AAA), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and fighter interceptors (MiG)s. The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas of Southeast Asia were to AAA. AddThis Utility Frame. I remember the day we lost a crew in Cambodia. I thought to myself, Im dead. I just didnt know what the moment of death would be like. back then. Its entirely, entirely because of you guys. You certainly are my Hero! Its not from the How did you survive? The pilot Lieutenant J. M. Krommenhoek is Missing in Action. The upper estimate puts it at nearly 260 million! Tried to cross-service in 64 or 65 to Army for WO pilot program, but because I was already in the military (being in a critical COMSEC AFSC probably didnt help), I was offered no guarantee of flight training, so I withdrew the request otherwise, I may have been one of your grateful students, or still buried in some shallow grave. You guys were working around the clock to keep the pressure on HCM. Without guys like Joe you would go to prison for writing what you just wrote. Muhammad Mahmood Alam was a Pakistani Air Force jet fighter pilot in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. You should be ashamed of yourself! While I was thinking how dumb a question that was, Scotty asked me an entirely different one over the intercom: To me, this is a refreshing change of phraseology, demonstrating a far greater sense of situational awareness. John Stuart Mill I ask that you honor these costs and sacrifice, as I do. You need four for effective mutual support; i.e., lookout coverage for all four in all quadrants. Pilots would be hollering for this and for thatand there was NOTHING I could do. Page and Smith were with VF-21, and the aircraft modex was NE101. I cannot express my admiration for you and others who went thru what you did. I knew from some of the other Tigers that you had been a POW, but never heard the details of your harrowing tale. Our own Phantom was suffering from a variety of ills. Mr. Crecca was a POW for the next six years and three months until his repatriation on February 18, 1973. Further, our leader was apparently unaware that the controller asked us to change squawk ONLY after we were some distance from the 100mm guns photographed around the Plain of Jars. Had the great fortune of knowing 2 Navy POWs who were at the Hanoi Hilton one of which my wife served with in the Navy. Ritchie's #463 with drag chute open Phantom F-4Ds flying over Vietnam General Characteristics Crew: 2 Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m) Wingspan: 38 ft 4.5 in (11.7 m) Height: 16 ft 6 in (5.0 m) Wing area: 530.0 ft (49.2 m) Airfoil: NACA 0006.4-64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip Empty weight: 30,328 lb (13,757 kg) Loaded weight: 41,500 lb (18,825 kg) I could feel them loop a rope around my neck, then attach the rope to my wrists and again, in similar fashion, to my ankles. From the refueling track exit over northern Thailand, our route took us over northern Laos and into North Vietnam. The eight-engine bomber was brought down by a North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile near Vinh on the day when B-52s flew their heaviest raids of the war over North Vietnam. We beneficiaries need to know the experiences, sufferings, challenges, life and death, victories and miraculous acts of God in the lives of our fellow countrymen in war, especially from their own voice and pen before the stories are gone. AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN DURING THE VIETNAM WAR BY USN/USMC PILOTS. All told, the U.S. Air Force flew 5.25 million sorties over South Vietnam, North Vietnam, northern and southern Laos, and Cambodia, losing 2,251 aircraft: 1,737 to hostile action, and 514 in accidents. Hes taking us direct to Bravo and right over Yen Bai! Without hesitation Scotty rolled smoothly to the left into a near 90 degree bank and applied right (top) rudder and held it for a few seconds while I looked for the SAM that was certainly coming for us. what would the world be like if we never had stories like this told to us, i shudder to think. On 27 July 1968, Commander Mongilardi was the pilot of an A4C Skyhawk that launched from the deck of the USS Coral Sea as the section leader in a flight of two on a armed reconnaissance/strike mission over North Vietnam. Joe could have saved lives and saved 6 years of his own if had just stayed home. The Vietnam Years. Misty FACs operated from 15 June 1967 to 19 May 1970. When Maj. "Jump" Myers' plane crashed in flames, there was no chance of rescue - yet Bernie Fisher defied the odds and brought him out alive. Phew! Thank you for your sentiments. Yes, it is tainted with much uncertainty to which you allude. After all that I suffered dont you dare tell me I had no business being there! The ONLY bright spot is that so much sacrifice led to a new generation of officers who learned that the half-assed politically-correct application of military power accomplished nothing. Our standard load was 12-500s or 7 Nape. Joined up and reported a suspected Truck Park near Finger Lakes since we had avoided calling in to Ask Permission and wait the usual half hour to allow the Russian Radar trainers time to get out courtesy of our GD State Dept. Theyd blow up in midair, before they ever got to the runway. I was always in awe of you guys flying the Phantom in the opressive heat and conditions of S.E. Announcing the 2023 Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots, Flying in paradise: a vacation flight lesson in Maui, Accident report: losing control at 43,000 feet. Was he making a record that his stupid wingman was messing up the mission? The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. He didnt shoot at anyone. SP4 John C. Hughes [G] 1 injured. 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