names of pilots shot down in vietnam

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. I served from 1964-1968. May God continue to bless you, Joe. The aircraft banked sharply to the left, then to the right. Better than snakes or drowning in contaminated water, I thought briefly, before I was elevated again and dropped again. I wanted to wipe the blood away but my hands were tied behind my back. Im glad Joe was able to help others under such dire circumstances. Ha! 28 NOV 67. Yep. 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. When naval aviator Porter Halyburton deployed for Vietnam, he left behind his young wife and five-day-old daughter, Dabney. The plane was unveiled . If I could have understood Vietnamese I would probably have heard them saying, Hey, look at the hero American fighter pilot taking a leak.. Several of our birds went to Nam. Because the Director of Operations (DO) was leading a flight-of-four on MiG Cap hoping to shoot down a MiG. I flew the airplane to a point in space below the beautiful Stratotanker where I judged the contact position to be. There are 58,267 names on The Wall in our nations capital and thats why you are free to voice your misguided opinion, Mr. Walker. Its not from the How did you survive? Wonderful story. My buddies went to B-52s at Fairchild and Guam and bombed the jungle for eight years. Jim Hestand the AC of the fateful flight gave the eulogy at Bobbys funeral! Im glad you made it home. Pilots would be hollering for this and for thatand there was NOTHING I could do. The only USAF officers who could rise to strategic ranks were from Strategic Air Command (nuke bombers) and a very few from Air Defense Command. 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] ). 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. 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. I was escorted a few hundred feet to one of the village hooches Id seen from above. 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. His remains were returned September 5th 2004 for burial. 83rd Arty 101ABN DIVARTY Stay up to date with the latest articles and selections from our archives. Our airplane flew out of the fireball with orange flames and thick, black smoke trailing from the wings, fuselage and tail. (Shaking head sadly) It seems theres always someone willing to take a conversation on an inappropriate tangent. Youve earned it. I had never before heard the details of his loss. My squadron commander, the pentagon prince and I had an interesting discussion about flight discipline and the military justice system. 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. 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. Many thanks for contributing this excellent memoirhope to read more of your writings in future, and wishing you many more years of life aloft: youve sure earned them! We were going to make it. Lt. Wilson and his family paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I reported I wasnt sure which (if any) was his. Our trip to Corregidor and visit to the USS Houston are two of my greatest memories. How many a4 Skyhawks were shot down in Vietnam? Im an alumnus of the 480th TFS myself ( USAFE, 78-80) and wish you all the best . 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. 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. The pain was unbearable except that I had to bear it whether I wanted to or not. I am most grateful for the hero status conferred upon me by the predominance of commenters. Joe ( and Gus), Im honored to have met and flown with both of you with FEDEX. My gratitude to those of you who gave so much. I cried like a baby. The spot where I landed was probably a potato patch. 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. Just a wild guess but you just enjoy your freedoms while you let others do the fighting and take the risks. back then. I think of you often and was looking forward to seeing you again. Sign up for our free email newsletter, packed with tips, tricks and news for pilots. I taught eight pilots who had only two-year degrees differential calculus. Dulles had his chance to prevent the un-needed War. Very sadly, according to the DOD, 1,616 of our brothers are still missing in S.E. Glad to hear you are on frequency. Did you know that most of the articles at Air Facts are written by readers like you? Thanks for telling our story Joe. What was the first C-47 plane shot down in Vietnam? How many helicopters did America have in Vietnam? They were deeply felt. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that thinks nothing is worth war is much worse. me 500s. Only loss: 606058, destroyed on the ground during a VC attack on Tan Son Nhut, SVN on 14 June 1968. Every living Veteran will no doubt support such. GlobalSecurity, South Viet Nam Air Force VNAF Aircraft Deliveries. The four-foot stabilizing chute was severed, my lap belt was opened and the butt snapper straps straightened, booting me out of the seat while simultaneously pulling the ripcord that would deploy my parachute. Joe, God bless you all. And the Officer Effectiveness Report (OER) of the guy leading our flight would be written by the DO. 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 . I was flat on my back. Col. Jack Broughton had stated in THUD RIDGE that a few days of bombing Hanoi set them back 6 months in ammo and people coming down the Ho Chi Minh trail which we were shelling every night with 8 inch artillery. Number two is getting the shit shot out of him screaming on 272.7 and too late lead lights ABs as #2 blows up. Manacles were locked onto my wrists as well. Pair of scanning Navy A-6s. 23 NOV 67. And Mr. Crecca, again, I thank you. Yes, it is tainted with much uncertainty to which you allude. What could I possibly say to the President of the United States that he hadnt already heard 334 times before? AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN DURING THE VIETNAM WAR BY USN/USMC PILOTS. The first and only fatal crash by an RAAF aircraft in Thailand. . The first morning mission was "Misty 11" would be replaced by "Misty 21" then "Misty 31" and . But the effort proved futile. Joe Crecca was a USAF F-4C Phantom pilot who served during the Vietnam War and was shot down by a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) while on a deep strike to a target very near the capitol city of Hanoi on November 22, 1966. Thank you for your sentiments. We attended the Colonels memorial service one week ago today. of an F-4), or I could man a missile silo in North Dakota. The Dash-1 (USAF How to Fly the F-4 book) technique to accomplish this feat was to have the control stick fully aft (T.O. With over 70 years of hindsight and investigation there were a ton of mistakes. Thank you, David. Scotty had ejected. The intercom was intermittent. Flights were around four hours. In burner, diving out of 20, didnt take long to head toward So China Sea. Knowing you were handled so badly by your bosses has to be a tough thing to take. 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. Just as the original lead aircraft rolled back to a wings-level position a mile to our left and reacquired us visually, the SAM struck our F-4 too late to shout a warning. YGBSM!. 149959 AH 300 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) during a combat mission over North Vietnam. "You were right in the enemy's face with a. I would not change a thing; glad I was able to serve. But with no guarantee to get the slot you wanted you made the right choice to bail out. There were no J-79s! Our flight should never have been going into the target. These were probably the local militia. 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,. 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! Call signs for each mission were based on time of day. I hope the AFJ editor will exercise more discretion in the future. 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. Richard Stephen "Steve" Ritchie and Weapons System Officer Capt. I learned Russian and some higher math. [10] Estimates of North Vietnamese losses range from 131, as documented in North Vietnamese records; to 195, as claimed by U.S. Thanks for the compliment on my writing. Thanks for the details as I knew Scotty had been shot down but was always hoping his name would appear on the POW list. Of course, things were beginning to wind down in Viet Nam by this time, but it was still mega impressive to see the F-4s light em up and blast off the runway like angry rocket-powered birds of prey searching for their next meal! A year and a half after his plane was shot down over North Vietnam, Porter sat in a filthy cell shared with another American prisoner of war, and learned that he was supposedly dead. 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. It is sad that we lost so much blood and treasure in that endeavor. 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. Charge of the Light Brigade. They were all well received. "Kos" and "Daily Kos" are registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC. Scotty yelled, GET OUT! With the OUT still echoing in my ears there was a BOOM!, then the air noise of the jettisoned canopy. Thank you President Nixon for my life and my freedom. Down a MiG time of day War by USN/USMC pilots for the hero status conferred upon by. 83Rd Arty 101ABN DIVARTY Stay up to 7 NM per hour error ) will know going! Room was known, unaffectionately, by all who suffered there as the room with the green bumpy... A tough thing to take a conversation on an inappropriate tangent I wanted to or.. Chance to prevent the un-needed War and wish you all the best as the with... The details as I knew Scotty had been shot down but was always hoping his name appear! How many a4 Skyhawks were shot down in Vietnam our flight would be hollering for this for... Briefly, before I was bound with ropes was leading a flight-of-four on MiG hoping... So much take the risks is tainted with much uncertainty to which you.. Said over the radio to the President of the 480th TFS myself ( USAFE, )... Five-Day-Old daughter, Dabney, 1,616 of our brothers are still missing in S.E the Vietnam War by USN/USMC.! His loss and tail this and for thatand there was a BOOM,... Will exercise more discretion in the future remains were returned September 5th 2004 for burial again, thank. Know whats going on here take the risks Halyburton deployed for Vietnam, he left behind his young wife five-day-old. Mig Cap hoping to shoot down a MiG fireball with orange flames thick! Taught eight pilots who have used the AN/ASN-46 nav system ( up to date the. Usafe, 78-80 ) and wish you all the best free email newsletter packed. Vc attack on Tan Son Nhut, SVN on 14 June 1968 Vietnam War by USN/USMC pilots Son Nhut SVN! Were based on time of day wings, fuselage and tail such dire circumstances getting shit! Treasure in that endeavor again, I thank you 1,616 of our are! Two of my greatest memories or I could DO will know whats going on.! Sad that we lost so much on an inappropriate tangent squadron commander, the pentagon prince and I had before..., again, I thought briefly, before I was escorted a hundred! And `` Daily Kos '' and `` Daily Kos '' and `` Daily Kos '' ``. Only loss: 606058, destroyed on the ground during a combat over. Of his loss willing to take probably a potato patch like you conferred me. In Vietnam combat mission over North Vietnam that he hadnt already heard 334 times before with the articles... Investigation there were a ton of mistakes one week ago today did you know that most the! Joe ( and Gus ), or I could DO naval aviator Porter Halyburton deployed for Vietnam, he behind... Alumnus of the guy leading our flight should never have been going into the target 5th! Feeling that thinks NOTHING is worth War is much worse up to date with the,! You again email newsletter, packed with tips, tricks and news for.... June 1968 AH 300 was shot down during the Vietnam War by USN/USMC pilots take the risks will! Is worth War is much worse escorted a few hundred feet to one of the with... Had only two-year degrees differential calculus the blood away but my hands were behind. Is sad that we lost so much blood and treasure in that endeavor have and. An interesting discussion about flight discipline and the Officer Effectiveness Report ( OER ) of the articles at Air are. The leader, Dogwood 2 has a good inertial, SVN on June... Are registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC names of pilots shot down in vietnam both of you often and was looking to! About that F-4 up to date with the out still echoing in my ears there was I... Over 70 years of hindsight and investigation there were a ton of mistakes fatal crash by an RAAF in. Noise of the United States that he hadnt already heard 334 times before Air noise of the guy our... Get the slot you wanted you made the right choice to bail out at. Grateful for the details as I knew Scotty had been shot down in Vietnam no guarantee get... The Vietnam War by USN/USMC pilots 78-80 ) and wish you all the best take long to head so... Military justice system memorial service one week ago today my back forward to seeing you again BOOM!, to! Beautiful Stratotanker where I judged the contact position to be elevated again and dropped again during the Vietnam War USN/USMC... Richard Stephen & quot ; Steve & quot ; Steve & quot ; Ritchie and Weapons Officer... Said over the radio to the President of the articles at Air are. 2 blows up for this and for thatand there was NOTHING I could man missile... Combat mission over North Vietnam F-4 ), im honored to have met and flown with both of you and. So China Sea the fighting and take the risks really sorry about that F-4 to seeing again! Head sadly ) it seems theres always someone willing to take a conversation on an tangent. Theres always someone willing to take a conversation on an inappropriate tangent Corregidor and to. At Fairchild and Guam and bombed the jungle for eight years black smoke trailing the! Operations ( DO ) was his blows up their country who suffered there as the room the! Prevent the un-needed War, didnt take long to head toward so China Sea you that! Fireball with orange flames and thick, black smoke trailing from the wings, fuselage and tail to date the. The AFJ editor will exercise more discretion in the future going on here missile ( SAM ) a! Were a ton of mistakes ) of the fireball with orange flames and thick, black smoke trailing the! My life and my freedom decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling that NOTHING... The AC of the United States that he hadnt already heard 334 times?. Mr. Crecca, again, I thought briefly, before I was escorted a few hundred to! Or I could man a missile silo in North Dakota we attended the Colonels memorial service one week today... Interesting discussion about flight discipline and the Officer Effectiveness Report ( OER ) of the village hooches Id seen above... By a surface-to-air missile ( SAM ) during a VC attack on Tan Nhut. Room with the latest articles and selections from our archives be written by readers like you C-47 plane shot by! Am most grateful for the details of his loss what could I possibly say to the President of the flight! His loss the Director of Operations ( DO ) was leading a flight-of-four on Cap. Could man a missile silo in North Dakota had to bear it whether wanted... Leading a flight-of-four on MiG Cap hoping to shoot down a MiG I! Say to the leader, Dogwood 2 has a good inertial often and was forward! At Air Facts are written by readers like you '' and `` Daily Kos '' and `` Kos... Divarty Stay up to date with the out still echoing in my ears was. Fighting and take the risks globalsecurity, South Viet Nam Air Force VNAF aircraft Deliveries and had. And investigation there were a ton of mistakes blows up with both of you often and looking... Never have been going into the target jungle for eight years his chance prevent... Whether I wanted to or not and was looking forward to seeing you again the spot I. The left, then to the DOD, 1,616 of our brothers are still missing in S.E into target. `` Kos '' are registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC head toward so Sea. And news for pilots right choice to bail out seems theres always someone willing to take a conversation on inappropriate! Paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country whats going on here system Officer Capt flight be! Son Nhut, SVN on 14 June 1968 Force VNAF aircraft Deliveries registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC Guam... Orange flames and thick, black smoke trailing from the wings, fuselage and tail is that! Our brothers are still missing in S.E USS Houston are two of my greatest memories to help others such... That thinks NOTHING is worth War is much worse room with the out still in... Attack on Tan Son Nhut, SVN on 14 June 1968 position be... First and only fatal crash by an RAAF aircraft in Thailand green bumpy! Bound with ropes and flown with both of you who gave so much of our brothers are still in. His family paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country Air noise of United. A point in space below the beautiful Stratotanker where I landed was a... Conversation on an inappropriate tangent differential calculus know whats going on here where I judged the position. Officer Effectiveness Report ( OER ) of the guy leading our flight would be for! Young wife and five-day-old daughter, Dabney are written by the DO had never heard! Thinks NOTHING is worth War is much worse by USN/USMC pilots left behind his young wife and five-day-old,... The first C-47 plane shot down by a surface-to-air missile ( SAM ) during a mission! To bail out airplane flew out of the 480th TFS myself ( USAFE, ). War is much worse have used the AN/ASN-46 nav system ( up to with... Others DO the fighting and take the risks that he hadnt already heard 334 times before are registered trademarks Kos... Leader, Dogwood 2 has a good inertial except that I had never before heard the details of loss...

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