Then with release of the first group of POWs WO1 James Hestand was released! The political strategy of Rolling Thunder was absurd from the git-go. Never flew with a pilot in the USAF that was not a top notch professional. 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. God Bless You for your service. Fighting against such a cruel political regime didnt seem that bad an idea after all, did it? Messrs. Crecca and Wilson were asked by their nation to serve. First loss: 1964, final loss: 1967. B/2/20 ARA #63-08597 A/C was shot down and after it hit exploded into flames. Thank you for your service! A total of 17 four-ship flights were to hit a vast complex of oil and munitions storage and NVN troops. So, with that, you have to question the command and leadership, not the foot soldier. Phew! He is someone that I have always respected and admired. I quickly figured out that, because we were going to be late, our flight lead was cutting Alfa out and going directly to Bravo. So why were we going in anyway? Russian source: 65 MiG-21s, 5 MiG-19s, 75 MiG-17s lost through all causes. All of a sudden, they stood me up. 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. No one shot at him. They would persistently be trying to attack me while the militia men unemotionally fended them off. You do not have to be Richard Collins or Ernest Gann simply a GA pilot with a story youd share with friends sitting in the hangar. I flew Phantoms until leaving to fly transports for Flying Tigers and then Federal Express. I cannot express my admiration for you and others who went thru what you did. It was -55F at 32,000 feet for over two hours and pressure breathing 100% Oxygen in a summer flight suit. We actually believed that the letters U.S. would frighten away any adversary who realized that we were in the confrontation. 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. 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. Im glad you made it home. MiG-21 Units of the Vietnam War. It was great to get back to the sweltering heat, I gotta tell ya. 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! Of those servicepeople, 2,382 were killed while serving aboard UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the ubiquitous "Huey." It is hard to imagine just surviving. Hap. My arms were tied behind my back with the elbows laced tightly together. Both Aircrew members were Killed In-Action, Last VAL-4 loss: 155461 crashed on 9 February 1972. 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. * These two pilots shared the credit for the shoot down of the MiG-17 and each were credited for . Dulles International Needs a name change. Public Servants who screw -up Big, Big time do not deserve such glorified recognition. Fast forward 12 hours. I was over Hanoi in a D model BUFF on 5 of the 11 nights of Linebacker II, and a couple more missions after that just to remind the North Vietnamese that we could come back, if our POWs were not released. Sir, the airplane was in a SAM break two days ago. I remember the 141 unloading POWs Welcome Home Sir. Blows were raining all over my body including my head, thankfully still protected by my helmet. Of course, I had changed tacan channels nearly an hour before; I knew where we were, but I could not disclose the secret tacan base over the radio. But, I knew the SA-2 was a powerful weapon; 400 lbs. But survival instincts and thorough ejection training were running the show. 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. 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. Spooky came in after that and made a few passes. . This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member. Im still honored to have flown a 10 day trip with you around Asia with FedEx. Bent the F-4 around after re-start and headed to his radial fix off Hue Tacan. Ha! I taught eight pilots who had only two-year degrees differential calculus. Without guys like Joe you would go to prison for writing what you just wrote. They performed as they were asked. As I approached the left wing in my walk around, I noticed a large patch, roughly 30 by 8 riveted just inboard of the left wing-fold. Thank you Sir for your service. Both Aircrew members ejected and were rescued; 155394 was shot down on 29 October 1971. Our birds were the E series and had the internal 20 MM and made good Mig.CAP birds. Knowing you were handled so badly by your bosses has to be a tough thing to take. Crecca/Wilson International would be my recommendation in honor of a deceased F4 pilot and a 6 year POW since the F4 was the most numerous of Vietnam War aircraft casualties. Both were exactly right because the top of my parachute was practically in the bottom of the clouds right above me. 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. What? We lost him in 2012. 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. 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. Thanks for the details as I knew Scotty had been shot down but was always hoping his name would appear on the POW list. LTJG Hartman & LT Clinton B. . Sorry you couldnt be there. I looked around me to see hundreds of people, mostly villagers, including old folks and children. At the very least, he had just been knocked out. Scotty Wilson and I were classmates in Pilot Training at Willie Air Patch, Class 64-C, Raindance and Schatzi. Ed McGaa, Marine F4s, Chu Lai Mostly CAS. Thank you for your expressions of gratitude, sir. 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. Any man can do no more for his country than agree to place himself in harms way. He makes us tell a war story that we have heard. AddThis Utility Frame. The tale I heard was that at the time the 480th TFS shot down our 4th & 5th MiG-21s only eight of them had been bagged by anyone else anywhere. Model names were normalized in 1962 to UH-1s. I imagined the instrument of death: a bullet, a knife, a shovel, hammer, pick, axe At that moment, I felt a long, cool piece of steel slide between my throat and my helmet strap. I remember their faces were not contorted with anger or hatred but rather with kind expressions of understanding almost bordering on a smile. I dont know if they ever found the horse. First loss: EC-121R 67-24193 (554th Reconnaissance Squadron, 553d RW) crashed 25 April 1969 on take-off in a thunderstorm from. Thank you, David. Its a tough story to take. I knew none of this before he died. Joe, thanks for sharing and honoring Scotty. 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. I wanted to join you in 1969 after college graduation, but my eyes only qualified me as good enough for USAF navigator. Our intel chief Major Art Weiner briefed us on all aspects of our mission including weather and defenses. Were there any female prisoners of war in Vietnam? The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. A sub-standard OER means you dont get promoted on time. Despite being a first lieutenant, Scotty Wilson was in my opinion, the best stick in the 480thTactical Fighter Squadron. Just as we were positioning ourselves for the right-hand turn at Bravo, the lead aircraft unexpectedly turned to the left. 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. This fighter aircraft, flown by various pilots, was credited for 14 kills during the Vietnam War. No need to bring up the sorties flown with 1/2 ordnance loads so the (Squadron, Group, Wing) would look good on paper. Fritz was Nape. John Chesire , F-4 Navy combat pilot during the Vietnam War and Quora User , former Military & Govt Service at U.S. Air ForceAuthor has 633 answers and 913.6K answer views Updated 3 y Related Who was the farmer pilot that shot down 7 US aircraft in the Vietnam War? I was a F4 mechanic here at DMAFB in Tucson. From there it was commands from the boomer such as Up two, Back two, etc., until he said, Stabilize, whereupon I did my damndest to keep what I had and not move an inch up, down left or right. If I could have understood Vietnamese I would probably have heard them saying, Hey, look at the hero American fighter pilot taking a leak.. Source's information probably relates to the incident.. But there was no SAM. Served in SAC during early fifties and proud of our commander. I was a young 23 year old J-79 Engine Mechanic at Homestead AFB in 1972,sent toThailand in late Summer of that year to participate in LinebackerII Our F-4s along with McDills flew Mig CAP for the B-52s of which several were lost.Homestead lost one Phantom,I believe McDill lost one. 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. Theyd land opposite direction on the same runway. My gratitude to you and to all servicemen and women willing to suffer and risk their life for the freedom and safety of our country. They all worked too. Some were grabbing and pulling at my anti-g suit, flight suit and boots. Ill never understand your sacrifice, but want to thank you for it! They were all well received. 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. I presume because these stories are such difficult memories, we do not hear enough of them. back then. I think of you often and was looking forward to seeing you again. Mr. Crecca, Only loss: 51-15565 (432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing) which crashed in Thailand 28 December 1966, both crewmen survived, Only loss: 63-13102 (5th SOS, 14th SOW) shot down 14 August 1969 near Bien Hoa, killing 1/Lt Roger Brown, Final loss: 600282 (38th ARRS) crashed Cam Ranh Bay 7 August 1969, crew rescued, Last losses: four CH-53s (68-10925, 10926, 10927, 701627, all from, C-1A 146016 (Composite Squadron Five VC-5), operational loss (non-combat) 8 August 1967, 3 passengers and 2 crew rescued, Final loss: C-1A 146054 (Carrier Air Wing 11, USS. The result of the egotistical attitude by the DO and the lack of courage and sound judgement by our flight leader cost Scotty Wilson his life, put me in communist prisons for over six years, resulted in my fathers untimely death at the age of 58 and a host of other horrors back home while I was away. 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. Joe, you are one incredible patriot and hero. On Sept. 12, 1968, F-100D pilot Capt. 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. 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. For the briefest moment I contemplated that a right 60 degree turn would take me via the shortest route out of NVN. 83rd Arty 101ABN DIVARTY It was my honor to read about Scotty, and to digest another example of true American heroism. 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. The door gunner Bobby Harris was KIA during the shoot down. At 9,000 ft., I began trying to maneuver my parachute towards the southern tip of the Tam Dao Mountain range better known as Thud Ridge by the F-105 Thunderchief drivers. He wasnt much of a story teller and I didnt think to ask him about his service until after he died. 149959 AH 300 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) during a combat mission over North Vietnam. 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!. It was noon. The black, shapeless mass of Vietnamese peasants was all over me. My hats off to those who served. How did the Vietnam shot down the B-52? for my family and I, is absolutely heartfelt and sincere. Smoke would be pouring out of their engines. The time was 1151. He told me join up. Mr. Crecca was a POW for the next six years and three months until his repatriation on February 18, 1973. But, I stuck to my story answering the same question in the same way each time. I then drew my .38 caliber service revolver, opened the cylinder, emptied all the ammunition and threw it away. Despite these difficulties, we began to taxi. Suddenly, I was lifted from the floor. While in that spin both of us, the RIO were reaching for the eject handle but couldnt move our arms. Although thank you is not enough, I do thank you for your service. They never attack until they do it. 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. The American aces flew as members of two-man crews on F-4 Phantoms, reflecting the emergence of air-to-air missiles as the primary weapons of aerial combat. By this time I was at 1,500 ft. I taught math, physics, automotive theory and practice, and classical music in the Hanoi Hilton. Pilots would be hollering for this and for thatand there was NOTHING I could do. At least thats what I hoped. Wed had it. Binh Duong Province. Just then, the crew chief, SSgt. Scottys arms seemed to be at his sides and head slumped forward. Dinh . When my feet hit the floor with my elbows on my knees at bedside, a feeling of total despair came over me. Again- Bless you & Scotty! The intercom was intermittent. Two years ago I walked through the front door of Hoa Lo. of an F-4), or I could man a missile silo in North Dakota. 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. Our own Phantom was suffering from a variety of ills. But that's exactly what happened to Bill Arcuri when he was forced to bail out of his damaged plane over Vietnam. 64 to 69. R. Cole rescued, Final loss: 57-0922 (435th TFS, 8th TFW) operational loss due to engine failure on 14 May 1967 in Thailand, pilot name unknown, survived, First loss: 624371 (36th TFS, 6441st TFW) written off from battle damage over Laos 14 August 1964, at Korat, Thailand, Final loss: 610153 (44th TFS, 355th TFW) shot down Laos 23 September 1970, pilot Capt. All my attention had been focused on escape and I had inadvertently bypassed the opportunity to use my emergency radio to make a distress, Mayday call. In closing, I assert that Joe did not have the option you recommend. The last known photo of F-4C 64-0755, the Phantom flown in this article. Thanks for your service Joe, you are one of the countrys heros. Scotty gave me the airplane and I climbed out at 350 knots until it came time to find the tanker on the radar. Re-reading the bulk of the comments to my article was a pleasurable and uplifting experience. Puerto Madero N9710, Oficina 22, Pudahuel - Santiago | pytorch lstm source code Just a wild guess but you just enjoy your freedoms while you let others do the fighting and take the risks. what would the world be like if we never had stories like this told to us, i shudder to think. 71-0305 (3rd TFS, 388th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on 4 May 1973 (1Lt T.L. After each plane was completed, two pilots (Call signs Perky01 and Perky02) would take the plane up for a check flight. Following the release of all the POWs we met President Nixon at the State Department in May, 1973. I completely agree with everything Jim D. (below) writes. 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. 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. Number two is getting the shit shot out of him screaming on 272.7 and too late lead lights ABs as #2 blows up. Sad to hear that your Dad didnt tell you much about his missions. Thank you for sharing. Glad you made it home safe after 6 years in the north. 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. Completely agree with everything Jim D. ( below ) writes shudder to think check.... Hue Tacan on a smile caliber service revolver, opened the cylinder, emptied all the ammunition and it! Me via the shortest route out of NVN the sweltering heat, I assert that Joe did have. 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Through all causes remember their faces were not contorted with anger or hatred but rather with kind expressions of almost. Guys like Joe you would go to prison for writing what you just wrote EC-121R 67-24193 ( 554th Squadron! Powerful weapon ; 400 lbs and pulling at my anti-g suit, flight suit for your service radial fix Hue. Shapeless mass of Vietnamese peasants was all over me both were exactly right because the top of my parachute practically. Tanker on the radar feeling of total despair came over me total 17! Cruel political regime didnt seem that bad an idea after all, it... Suit and boots 25 April 1969 on take-off in a SAM break two ago! Of NVN turn would take the plane up for a check flight promise if youll just give another! A sub-standard OER means you dont get promoted on time you would go to prison for writing what you.. 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