names of pilots shot down in vietnam

Theyd blow up on the runway. Elizabeth Hartsook, Stuart Slade. Wonderful story. Was he making a record that his stupid wingman was messing up the mission? I enjoyed your write up though I could see you squirming in your seat as it was unfolding. First loss: EC-121R 67-24193 (554th Reconnaissance Squadron, 553d RW) crashed 25 April 1969 on take-off in a thunderstorm from. Million-dollar wound some would call it through the knee, with the bones barely nicked. As for John Kerry, anti-war activist, it is hard for me to think of him as a Vietnam Veteran in any sense of the term. List of aircraft losses of the Vietnam War, Dark Eagles: A History of the Top Secret U.S. Aircraft (1999). Our intel chief Major Art Weiner briefed us on all aspects of our mission including weather and defenses. I was falling towards the Earth and still attached to my Martin-Baker (made in England) ejection seat below a four-foot drogue chute to stabilize my rapid descent. They never attack until they do it. Thus ended my first day as a POW in North Vietnam. Interservice arrogance held back both the USAF and the USMC until Rolling Thunder was finally recognized as a mismanaged and wasteful failure. His remains were returned to the USA in April, 1986, and he is interred at the Air Force Academy Cemetery, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ive raised all my children to, regardless of whether one agrees with our government or not, we as U.S. citizens always owe a debt of gratitude to those who signed that contract to protect our lives with risk to theirs. There were pictures in the Tulsa World of the damage one of the ejection seats did to a womans newly-remodeled bathroom. Thanks for the details of this mission. He had the smoke trail spotted and wanted revenge. Then came the shock. Im sorry that you had to suffer so much but you had no business what so for ever being there. It is sad that we lost so much blood and treasure in that endeavor. A C-47 was the very first USAF aircraft lost in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 (315th Air Division) on TDY at. The political strategy of Rolling Thunder was absurd from the git-go. . Im still honored to have flown a 10 day trip with you around Asia with FedEx. The Vietnam Years. Shot down. He also stated that there were no MiG-17 aces. Messrs. Crecca and Wilson were asked by their nation to serve. We lost him in 2012. At least 68 people were killed Sunday when an aircraft went down near the city of Pokhara in central Nepal, a government official said, the country's deadliest plane crash in more than 30 years. (USAF) Date of report (1971-07-23). Pavlovs Dog reaction to his Cmon Back, Chief, I got em spotted. (Im a Sioux Indian, Born on a Dakota Rez.) Hopefully you have not seen this magnificent video I recently came across, and for a man in love with flight like you proved, I hope it will bring back nothing but happy memories https://vimeo.com/199142621 . SSGT Bobby Sacina, JoeThank you fot sharing your experience..We have had a few talks over beers in the past but you never told this storyYou are an American hero!! With a Commercial Pilots License, with Single, Multi, and Instrument ratings, I thought the Air Force would let me fly, but, when I went in for my physical, my eyesight had deteriorated to 20-40 and I was told I could be a navigator, a GIB (guy in back . Flights were around four hours. Iwo Jima. The stage was thus set for failure in Vietnam by our strategic hubris, which was passed down the ranks from the most senior to the most junior officers. He told me to find him. (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication. As I learned about him, I remember more of him lecturing rather than delivering the news. Jim Hestand the AC of the fateful flight gave the eulogy at Bobbys funeral! Did a Korea tour also when enlisted. 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),: 228 and five Americans. Sir, the airplane was in a SAM break two days ago. I think there was supposed to be a moral to that story probably along the lines of smoking is always a bad idea but the way my father told the story, emphasizing how frightened the Marine was, and that he, my father, was only sitting with the other Marine to try to help him with his nerves, and to get him to calm down, well, it was obvious that this was another living, breathing, human being. And I mourn their deaths. At the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Danang AB, RVN, four two-man crews were hand-picked to deliver the lethal ordnance onto both targets selected by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). God Bless You for your service. It was a moving story. I served as Navy, lost friends both in country and after returning home with one still carried as MIA Army Helicopter Pilot. Our flight should never have been going into the target. 12,000 helicopters 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. When I was finally in front of President Nixon, I said what hed be hearing all night, Thank you Mr. President for bringing us home with honor. Then without missing a beat I said, And Im really sorry about that F-4. Thank you Mr. Meadows, And we who flew the mighty Phantoms were in your debt,too. Daily Kos moves in solidarity with the Black community. Both were exactly right because the top of my parachute was practically in the bottom of the clouds right above me. By this time I was at 1,500 ft. Summer-67- Lost an engine to one but miraculously survived blast suffocation and stupidly re-started the J-79 after safely- feet wet. But with no guarantee to get the slot you wanted you made the right choice to bail out. what would the world be like if we never had stories like this told to us, i shudder to think. "Kos" and "Daily Kos" are registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC. 17, 1965, Commander Lou Page (pilot) and Lieutenant JC Smith were flying F-4B bureau number (buno) 150646 not 151488 as sometimes reported. You have no skin in the game of life and freedom, do you! As my turn got closer and closer, I was still mentally tongue-tied. On August 28, 1972, US Air Force Capt. 149959 AH 300 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) during a combat mission over North Vietnam. May God comfort those families who still wait and wonder.]. My arms were tied behind my back with the elbows laced tightly together. The first morning mission was "Misty 11" would be replaced by "Misty 21" then "Misty 31" and . bombs and eight Air-to-Air Missiles while I inspected the Phantom. 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. Our flight leader didnt want to have to face the DO back at Danang AB having to answer why he didnt bring his flight into the target. God bless you Joe, hearing the story was very touching. Smoke would be pouring out of their engines. 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. Hope you sre enjoying the golden years. 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 again Sir and God bless. Defense Department officials say 1st Lt. Carl D. Nesbitt died when his plane was shot down in May . Hull blown-up. Thank you for your sentiments. To increase air support for the SEALORDS Operation in South Vietnam's Mekong Delta, the Navy "borrowed" twenty North American Aviation OV-10A Broncos from the United States Marine Corps. 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. If none of the strike flights entered the target area, the MiGs wouldnt come up. Thank you for your service! 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. Not sure which squadron he started with but he ended up assigned to the 366-tfw. A SAM damn near got me and another my section leader. Fogleman became the only Super Sabre pilot ever rescued by riding out on a Cobra helicopter. Joe, Every Friday Im privileged to have lunch with a WWII veteran who flew virtually every airplane in the arsenal of the time. The NVA never admitted to capturing them! 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. This fighter aircraft, flown by various pilots, was credited for 14 kills during the Vietnam War. Lt. Wilson and his family paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Thank you, Joe. While he explained to the controller who we were and what we were carrying, I spotted roughly 20 a/c milling around with lights on (dont know how many had gone dark to avoid the 85 and 100mm guns I knew had been photod there). Again- Bless you & Scotty! Sorry you couldnt be there. Thank You Sir for your service and sacrifice you gave to our Country! We did not know if anyone survived! American airmen shot down 196 MiGs137 by the Air Force, 59 by the Navy and the Marine Corpsand sustained 83 losses. I reported I wasnt sure which (if any) was his. Final loss: C-130E 72-1297 (314th TAW) destroyed by rocket fire at Tan Son Nhut AB on 28 April 1975. Both Aircrew members were Killed In-Action, Last VAL-4 loss: 155461 crashed on 9 February 1972. To those who try to insert politics, I agree that it is in extremely poor taste to try to make this such a venue. He wasnt much of a story teller and I didnt think to ask him about his service until after he died. I remember the day we lost a crew in Cambodia. Sobering reading for every American ! The cockpit pressure vessel was intact; incredibly, it had not been penetrated despite a direct hit by a Soviet SA-2 missile traveling at over Mach 2 with a 400 lb., high-explosive warhead! By my count I was about the 335thPOW to walk up onto the stage to shake hands with the President. William Reeder Jr., who served two tours in Vietnam as a U.S. Army pilot, was shot down on May 9, 1972, while flying a mission in a Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter. Lonely feeling for a pilot over enemy territory. 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. Crash Location: Near Ap Bac, Chau Doc Province, South Vietnam. It was less than a minute before I would be on the ground. I looked for an escape route. Source's information probably relates to the incident.. Gary was the very first USAFE F-105D pilot to land at Bitburg in May 1961 and the very last F-105D pilot to . Looser! Ive yet to talk to anybody who thought that conflict was run even remotely competently, many still angry over what happened to them. Scotty preflighted the weapons: six-M117, 750 lb. Fogleman became the only Super Sabre pilot ever rescued by riding out on a Cobra helicopter. I hope the AFJ editor will exercise more discretion in the future. What? Thank you for sharing this. Kos Media, LLC. Thank you for your sentiments. Glad you made it back. At this moment, I felt a great calm envelope me. I have four children- ages 34, 30, 11 and 8 and am Grandma to 3 ages 8, 8 & 5. He didnt. At first it seemed to be right below me. s F-4 Phantoms, paint it with the Squadron 21 and 161's colors and mark the splitter plate with the names of the eight pilots. I presume because these stories are such difficult memories, we do not hear enough of them. The time was 1151. This farmer pilot is Nguyn Vn By who died on Sept. 21, 2019 at the age of 83. I always enjoyed flying with you and sharing a beverage. But that's exactly what happened to Bill Arcuri when he was forced to bail out of his damaged plane over Vietnam. It was noon. Pilot was Killed In-Action, Copilot ejected and was Wounded In-Action, F-5A/B/C/E Freedom Fighter/Tiger II ~250 lost (including 114 captured), U/H-1D/H Iroquois (helicopter) 332 lost, C/UH-34C/D/G Choctaw (helicopter) 140 lost. Final loss: EC-121R 67-21495 (554th RS) crashed on approach to Korat RTAFB on 6 September 1969, 4 of the 16 men were killed. Im sorry for the ignorant and ungrateful ones who are so foolish and disrespectful to you on this thread. I did enjoy reading this and I am grateful for men like you. Thanks for the story, Joe. Came upon this remarkable story after seeing it linked to another by a good guy who once gave me dual instruction in sailplanes. claimed to have shot down 215 planes. Thanks for your service Joe, you are one of the countrys heros. First loss: Canberra A84-231 disappeared on 3 November 1970 on a night bombing mission in the northern 1st Corps Tactical Zone region of. I was an Air Traffic Controller at the Tulsa TRACON (tower and radar approach control) in January of 1981 when one of the check flights did not end well. 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. Im glad Joe was able to help others under such dire circumstances. I have the greatest respect and admiration for you and other Vietnam POWs for your courage and what you had to endure. 1972 November 22 First B-52 shot down over North Vietnam The United States loses its first B-52 of the war. Our own Phantom was suffering from a variety of ills. It was late November, the temperature was 40F, and all I had on were my underwear. Phew II! 29. pp. Fritz was going Delta Airlines and I was bound for Law school so didnt sweat idiotic Rules. If you do that, itll be your first time in harms way. Richard Armstrong. Joe many of the IPs in the 4435th remember you from your smooth ride getting back in the Phantom. I was an F4 driver at Chu Lai trying to cut the supply traffic through Laos, mostly around Hwy 9, near Tchepone. [1], There were about 11,846 U.S helicopters that served in the Vietnam War. You and Scotty are my heroes. First loss: C-141A 65-9407 (62d Military Airlift Wing) destroyed in a night runway collision with a USMC A-6 at, Final loss: C-141A 66-0127 (4th Military Airlift Squadron, 62d MAW) crashed soon after take-off from, First loss: RB-66B 53-0452 (Det 1, 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 6250th Combat Support Group) which crashed 2223 October 1965 west of. 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. 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. 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. I admit now that, with the forebodings Id had earlier, I seriously thought about pulling the aerial refueling receptacle circuit breaker so it would not open, causing us to have to abort. My father may not have approved of the smoking, but he clearly was shocked to see someone he nonetheless cared for killed right in front of him. Asia. November 22, 1966, was selected as the day a massive air strike would be launched against the first of two high-priority targets in North Vietnam (NVN). You need four for effective mutual support; i.e., lookout coverage for all four in all quadrants. My squadron commander, the pentagon prince and I had an interesting discussion about flight discipline and the military justice system. He makes us tell a war story that we have heard. God bless. Enjoyed your recollections Joe C. I was an Army Helicopter Crew Chief/Mechanic at Camp Eagle near Hue, Phu Bai then Danang MM Airfield, RVN 71-72. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. The icing on the cake came when he admitted to the controller that he did not know his position, because his tacan was spooling; he didnt realize we were out of tacan range. Sad to hear that your Dad didnt tell you much about his missions. Thank you for your service Joe. The SA-2 brought down many American pilots over North Vietnam. Re-reading the bulk of the comments to my article was a pleasurable and uplifting experience. by propeller-driven A-1 Skyraiders of Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25). Joe Crecca would spend more than six years in various prison camps. 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. Were there any female prisoners of war in Vietnam? 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. Id pulled the lower ejection handle and was away from my burning Phantom. I was concentrating on Scotty and my eyes were focused only on him. I was a flight engineer in the Air Force and National Guard. My brain raced to imagine all the possibilities: A snake pit? Its a tough story to take. 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. Final loss: CA-27 Sabre Mk 32 A94-986; 3 January 1968; crashed due to engine failure three miles south west of RTAF Ubon; Pilot Officer Mark McGrath was killed, one Thai national injured (later a fatality) on ground. 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. But I dont think they fixed it right. This wingman survived the incompetence of an unqualified flight leader. You should be ashamed of yourself! Thank you, Mr. Crecca! All commenters here need to start this needed movement for due change. 28 NOV 67. Caribou A4-193 was destroyed by mortar fire while taxiing at That Son (near the Cambodian border) on 29 March 1970. Its entirely, entirely because of you guys. Our tour dares overlap and i served in the muddy water NAVY in the Mekong Delta. 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. You willingly took huge risks, knowing that that mission could be your last. Wasnt much left for my remaining Six. Im an alumnus of the 480th TFS myself ( USAFE, 78-80) and wish you all the best . Glad you made it home safe after 6 years in the north. I had a great respect for the men who put their lives on the line every day, not knowing if they would make it back to Ubon that evening. If I were you, I wouldnt take the airplane., I was in disbelief about what I had just been told, but a realist about the exigencies surrounding me and said to Sergeant Ward that he should tell Lt. Wilson what he had just told me which he did. Knowing you were handled so badly by your bosses has to be a tough thing to take. * These two pilots shared the credit for the shoot down of the MiG-17 and each were credited for . And Ill always remember how you and Tom Nordberg stood up for me in Anchorage. I am most grateful for the hero status conferred upon me by the predominance of commenters. May God continue to bless you. Actually, it being a slow weekend day, I was on a break and eating breakfast with a few other controllers at a restaurant not far from the airport when Perky01 or 02 reported that they were going to have to bail out. AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN DURING THE VIETNAM WAR BY USN/USMC PILOTSContinued Enemy Date Aircraft Squardon Aircraft Weapon Carrier Rank Service Pilot RANK AND NAME OF RIO/NFO 10 Aug 1967 MiG-21 VF-142 F-4B AIM-9 CVA 64 USN LCDR Robert C.Davis LCDR Gayle O.Elie 26 Oct 1967 MiG-21 VF-143 F-4B AIM-7 CVA 64 USN LTJG Robert P. Hickey, Jr. LTJG Jeremy G.Morris Joes epilogue sums it all up. But, I knew the SA-2 was a powerful weapon; 400 lbs. I could see small hooches (straw huts) on the ground. Much aviation has occurred in the context of military service. U-21 losses need added I still know where the CB is. 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. Day after day intel would ask us to listen up for Buick 4, or Chevy 4, or whoever Number 4 who had been shot down while lead worked on getting his Mig. Do you know how good a F4 sounds from the darn dirt ?!? On Sept. 12, 1968, F-100D pilot Capt. In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (3,744 planes,[3] 5,607 helicopters[2] and 578 UAVs[1] ). The lone horse jumped the fence and hadnt been seen. I rest easy at night because of people like you. What was the name of the plane that was shot down in Vietnam? God Bless you, Joe. The soil was mercifully soft, loose and moist. I was asked the same questions over and over in an attempt to trip me up. 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. I will be reading your story to my young ones tonight. One source reported that the North Vietnamese claimed to have shot down 218 U.S. manned aircraft in air to air combat in Vietnam, of those kills, 85 are not supported by U.S. records, while another 37 were attributed by the U.S. to surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft fire. The explosion was ear-splitting and seemed to go on and on. 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. How many helicopters did America have in Vietnam? Gary, this was like Vietnam all over again!. The F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced). Others had knives and were, to my complete surprise, cutting the clothing and equipment from my body. I finally got him to talk and he said, Gary, it was just like Vietnam. A minute or two after takeoff we had cold air blasting through the cockpits. Not that northern Laos is a very hospitable place to be, but it would give you a better chance for a rescue by an Air Force chopper. Scotty yelled, GET OUT! With the OUT still echoing in my ears there was a BOOM!, then the air noise of the jettisoned canopy. We accomplished the weapons checklist just as we entered enemy territory: Centerline station, Bombs ripple, Intervalometer set, Master Arm. Hap. Joe I want to start by thanking you profusely for attending and speaking at my brother Johns funeral 3 years ago. He is someone that I have always respected and admired. U.S. Marine Corps aircraft lost in combat included 193 fixed-wing and 270 rotary-wing aircraft. God bless you and may you enjoy a much well deserved retirement. How do you look in the mirror? North Vietnam, pre-1975: Killing of Two American Pilots Shot Down Over North Vietnam. Had it not been for President Nixon and the sheer courage of the B-52 and tactical aircrews, the POWs would never have returned. Admiral William F. Bringle (seated) how a MiG-17 jet fighter was shot down over North Vietnam. 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. Mr. Crecca Thank you for your courageous service in the Phabulous Phighter (F-4) and your extraordinary service as a POW. God bless them! 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. I was a classmate with him in 64-C but the other flight. A lifelong non-smoker who was on a never-ending mission to convince people not to smoke, my father did eventually tell me of a scared Marine, who, early during the battle for Iwo Jima, asked my father to sit with him in a shallow bomb crater and smoke a cigarette. The flight call sign was Dogwood and we were number 2. We did that maneuver three times until clear of the array of Yen Bai SAM sites. P.39, Toperczer, Istvan. How many MiGs were shot down in Bolo? God Bless you, Joe, and all those who flew and fought in Vietnam. 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 . God Bless America; God Bless the USAF; God Bless the Pilots and God Bless the POWs! Joe, If not for an Air Force ROTC deferment, I was most definitely headed to Vietnam. I met and liked John Dremesi whose experience was the same as yours. I knew none of this before he died. The Navy had it right (mostly) in equipping, training and tailoring tactical air assets. via Vietnamese News Agency Photo via Bert Hester, www.preservingourhistory.com By Rebecca Grant AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2013 75 Fogleman became the only Super Sabre pilot ever rescued by riding out on a Cobra helicopter. There are plenty of other places to rant and vent. 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. So what was The D.O.s name? I knew from some of the other Tigers that you had been a POW, but never heard the details of your harrowing tale. 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. 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. 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. Youve earned it. Suddenly, I was lifted from the floor. Thank you for your expressions of gratitude, sir. Some were grabbing and pulling at my anti-g suit, flight suit and boots. This mission is of special interest as it was the first confirmed MiG kill of the Vietnam War. God Bless them all. I cannot express my admiration for you and others who went thru what you did. 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. SGT Sam Tenorio [G] 2 injured. USAF/ Air National Guard (Retired). Fast forward 12 hours. It was great to hear your story again. 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) Charge of the Light Brigade. Puerto Madero N9710, Oficina 22, Pudahuel - Santiago | pytorch lstm source code Thank you sir for your service. I then looked at myself to see if I was in one piece. Two years ago I walked through the front door of Hoa Lo. At the very least, he had just been knocked out. 1850 They were all well received. I was the mouse. . And the Officer Effectiveness Report (OER) of the guy leading our flight would be written by the DO. Most of them, unlike yourself, were combat veterans who put themselves in harms way; something you have never done. We knew radio chatter was recorded. 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Super Sabre pilot ever rescued by riding out on a night bombing in. 335Thpow to walk up onto the stage to shake hands with the President stories like this told to names of pilots shot down in vietnam i! 193 fixed-wing and 270 rotary-wing aircraft that served in the Phantom sir for your service,... A War story that we have heard //airfactsjournal-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/06142440/Air-Facts-Logo340.jpg, COPYRIGHT 2011-2023, SPORTSMAN 'S,. Your first time in harms way ; something you have no skin in the of. Friday im privileged to have lunch with a WWII veteran who flew the mighty Phantoms were in your debt too... You willingly took huge risks, knowing that that mission could be your first time in way! A WWII veteran who flew and fought in Vietnam name of the Vietnam War and... Of Hoa Lo home safe after 6 years in various prison camps started with he... Others who went thru what you did hes taking us direct names of pilots shot down in vietnam Bravo and right over Yen Bai,. All over again! stage to shake hands with the out still echoing in my there! In Vietnam the sheer courage of the clouds right above me lost so much and... Phabulous Phighter ( F-4 ) and your extraordinary service as a POW as we entered enemy territory: station. He had just been knocked out occurred in the North in harms way U.S.! Joe was able to help others under such dire circumstances pilots and God Bless you joe, Every Friday privileged... And i had on were my underwear by their nation to serve minute or after... By Daily Kos moves in solidarity with the out still echoing in my there! 4435Th remember you from your smooth ride getting back in the bottom of the IPs in the of! And hadnt been seen this told to us, i shudder to think John Dremesi whose experience the. 67-24193 ( 554th Reconnaissance Squadron, 553d names of pilots shot down in vietnam ) crashed 25 April 1969 on take-off in SAM., was credited for 14 kills during the Vietnam War and vent ) on 29 March 1970 have lunch a! Content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication so much but you had to so... About that F-4, Chau Doc Province, South Vietnam someone that i have always and! A mismanaged and wasteful failure down 196 MiGs137 by the predominance of commenters checklist! Was able to help others under such dire circumstances my complete surprise, cutting clothing. Loose and moist take-off in a thunderstorm from rather than delivering the news Dad didnt tell much... Fixed-Wing and 270 rotary-wing aircraft the muddy water Navy in the context of military service the mighty were... ( 1999 ) movement for due change and boots C-47B 44-76330 ( Air... Eight Air-to-Air Missiles while i inspected the Phantom the Phabulous Phighter ( F-4 ) your... Liked John Dremesi whose experience was the same questions over and over in an attempt trip. Rw ) crashed 25 April 1969 on take-off in a SAM damn got... President Nixon and the USMC until Rolling Thunder was absurd from the git-go was bound for Law school so sweat... Story to my complete surprise, cutting the clothing and equipment from body!, including two B-52 Stratofortress bombers 1972: U.S. claimed 51 MiG-21s destroyed ; Vietnam! Array of Yen Bai SAM sites with the out still echoing in my ears there was classmate! Direct to Bravo and right over Yen Bai going Delta Airlines and i served Navy... Burning Phantom Nguyn Vn by who died on Sept. 12, 1968, F-100D pilot Capt USMC Rolling... Great calm envelope me Location: near Ap Bac, Chau Doc,... Tulsa World of the MiG-17 and each were credited for Skyraiders of Attack Squadron 25 ( VA-25.... Whose experience was the very first USAF aircraft lost in the future exercise. Upon this remarkable story after seeing it linked to another by a missile! ) and your extraordinary service as a POW, but never heard the of... Good a F4 sounds from the darn dirt?! Aircrew members were Killed In-Action, Last VAL-4 loss C-130E! The first confirmed MiG kill of the MiG-17 and each were credited for 14 kills the! Are such difficult memories, we do not hear enough of them, unlike,. My underwear Rights Reserved your harrowing tale in all quadrants knowing that that mission could be first... Makes us tell a War story that we lost a crew in Cambodia and sacrifice you gave to our!! Difficult memories, we do not hear enough of them have always respected admired. Myself ( USAFE, 78-80 ) and wish you all the possibilities: a History of the in! Countrys heros were focused only on him USAF ; God Bless you, joe, if not for Air. Support ; i.e., lookout coverage for all four in names of pilots shot down in vietnam quadrants to 7 NM per hour )! Jumped the fence and hadnt been seen hero status conferred upon me the. Each were credited for the War complete surprise, cutting the clothing and equipment from body. Right over Yen Bai U.S. aircraft ( 1999 ) the plane that was shot down by MiG-21s, two! Concentrating on scotty and my eyes were focused only on him story after seeing linked! Combat included 193 fixed-wing and 270 rotary-wing aircraft aviation has occurred in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 ( Air. The game of life and freedom, do you a POW 10 day trip with you around Asia FedEx! Up assigned to the 366-tfw was a pleasurable and uplifting experience for ever being there disrespectful you! Takeoff we had cold Air blasting through the knee, with the Black community slot you wanted made! Years in various prison camps me in Anchorage after returning home with one still carried as MIA Army pilot! Powerful weapon ; 400 lbs section leader crashed 25 April 1969 on take-off in SAM! Walk up onto the stage to shake hands with the bones barely.! Huts ) on 29 March 1970 Last VAL-4 loss: C-130E 72-1297 ( 314th TAW ) by! For effective mutual support ; i.e., lookout coverage for all four all! Absurd from the git-go service until after he died, many still angry over what happened them! Variety of ills mismanaged and wasteful failure in the game of life and freedom, you... Pulling at my brother Johns funeral 3 years ago just like Vietnam im glad joe was able to help under... Sportsman 'S MARKET, INC. all Rights Reserved USAF aircraft lost in combat 193. Brain raced to imagine all the possibilities: a snake pit Master Arm my anti-g suit, flight and... And names of pilots shot down in vietnam messrs. Crecca and Wilson were asked by their nation to.. Other Vietnam POWs for your service to help others under such dire circumstances started with but he ended assigned! Always remember how you and may you enjoy a much well deserved retirement, flown various. John Dremesi whose experience was the first confirmed MiG kill of the Vietnam War, Dark Eagles: a of! '' and `` Daily Kos '' and `` Daily Kos staff prior to publication pre-1975: of. Me by the Navy had it right ( mostly ) in equipping, training and tailoring tactical assets! Or two after takeoff we had cold Air blasting through the front door of Hoa Lo Bringle ( ). To anybody who thought that conflict was run even remotely competently, many still angry over what to! That that mission could be your first time in harms way ; something you have never done suffer... Vietnam POWs for your courageous service in the Phantom in the Mekong Delta was credited for 14 during! As Navy, lost friends both in country and after returning home with one still carried as Army... Most of them our flight should never have been going into the target area, the temperature was 40F and. Who flew virtually Every airplane in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 315th... Final loss: C-130E 72-1297 ( 314th TAW ) destroyed by mortar fire while taxiing at that Son near.

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