Good Morning…Day TWENTY-EIGHT of a look back to Operation Rolling Thunder….
28 MARCH 1966 (NYT)… ON THE HOMEFRONT… Another sunny, clear day in New York. Cloudy in Washington. Page 1 headline: “Soviet to Unveil Goals This Week at Party Forum“…The PRC was not invited… The Forum of communist party members were mustered to hear the successors of Khrushchev give an accounting of the Soviet role in the world. Leonid Brezhnev, 1st Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party gave the keynote address and Premier Alexssi Kosygin presented the party five year plan. The columnist wrote: “For the first time since the Kremlin coup a year and a half ago the Soviet leadership is going before a solemn gathering of the communist faithful to exhibit its policy and personality.” He also noted that “…the Soviet involvement in the Vietnam War seemed initially almost reluctant, and is even now clearly limited.” He concluded that there was a good reason for going slow — the Agriculture and Industry funding requirements leaves little for defense and foreign aid…. From the Sports pages: copy and pictures of George Chuvalo and CASSIUS CLAY as they prepared for their Tuesday, 29 March fight in the Toronto Maple Gardens. Best quote from Drew Brown, the former assistant trainer for CASSIUS CLAY who was now teaching Chuvalo: “Clay is mentally crippled. He’s got things on his mind. He knows after the fight he’ll either go in the Army or go to jail. The Muslims aren’t allowed to go in the Army.”…. ???????
28 MARCH 1966… ROLLING THUNDER OPS… Light strike plan concentrated in Route Packs One and Two and the transportation system components. No aircraft losses. Short on copy I have the opportunity to highlight an RA-5C, escorted by an F-4B, photo reconnaissance mission flown from USS Constellation in August 1967. The photo recce mission was essential to the success of most Rolling Thunder strikes on both the JCS targets and the smaller targets like bridges, fords, railway system components, and enemy air defense positions. Prior planning prevents poor performance and good planning in the strike warfare business requires good pre-strike target photography. Not just for target recognition, but the geographic features that enable a strike leader to accurately position his flight at the optimum roll-in point. Target post strike bomb damage assessment is also a must. Relying on pilot reports is only one step better than no reports or photos at all. Strike pilots always hope for good post strike photography, especially when the target was obliterated and covered by smoke and fire as they fled the area.. The big deck carrier air wings included a Reconnaissance Attack Squadron squadron of four RA-5Cs. The 27 Charlies and Midway class carriers were supported by F-8s. The following is a summary of action submitted to support a recommendation for Distinguished Flying Crosses for LCDR CHARLES ROBERT BUFFKIN, Pilot, and ENSIGN RODNEY CHARLES ANDERSON, Navigator, of RVAH-12.
On 3 August 1967 LCDR BUFFKIN as the pilot of an unarmed RA-5C “Vigilante” aircraft and ENS ANDERSON as the Reconnaissance Attack Navigator flew an extremely dangerous and successful combat reconnaissance mission over the Hai Duong Railroad bridge and ferry crossings in the heartland of North Vietnam.
The Hai Duong railroad bridge and ferry crossings are vital links in the movement of strategic material in north central Vietnam. Highway route 5, railroad route 3, and bypass routes must utilize these crossings which are centrally located between Haiphong and Hanoi. The entire Hai Duong area is within the envelope of numerous surface-to-air missile sites. Anti-aircraft artillery defenses are also formidable, consisting of multiple 37/57 and 85mm emplacements throughout the urban complex and surrounding the vital river crossings. This is one of the most dangerous and heavily defended objectives in North Vietnam.
The flight of the RA-5C and F-4B escort, after launching from USS Constellation, proceeded to the target area with the strike group. As the strike went “feet dry” approximately ten miles south of Haiphong, LCDR BUFFKIN and ENS ANDERSON received a surface to air missile launch indication on their defensive electronic countermeasure system. Several seconds later, LCDR BUFFKIN observed two missiles directly ahead of his aircraft. He initiated a hard left-hand descending turn to evade the deadly missiles, one of which passed near overhead. Recovering from this maneuver, the unarmed reconnaissance aircraft continued to the target area. Approximately one minute from the target another missile launch was received and heavy 37/57/85 mm anti-aircraft fire was encountered. Continuing evasive maneuvers through the flak in order to break the surface to air tracking, LCDR BUFFKIN deftly recovered in time to successfully cover the objective area. Outbound yet another missile launch was heard requiring still more radical aerial evasion.
Upon being assigned this most important task, LCDR BUFFKIN and ENS ANDERSON carefully planned the mission for optimum results. They utilized the navigational and reconnaissance systems of the RA-5C to the fullest. Undeterred by four surface to air missiles, numerous missile warnings and intense anti-aircraft fire of all calibers the crew steadfastly held to their preplanned route. In the face of extreme danger LCDR BUFFKIN skillfully and courageously maneuver his aircraft through both missiles and heavy enemy artillery fire to cover the target area. With cool professionalism, ENS ANDERSON flawlessly operated his reconnaissance systems and continues to provide his pilot with accurate navigational data throughout the flight. Both LCDR BUFFKIN and ENS ANDERSON displayed great courage and determination under fire by successfully completing their mission in the most hazardous of conditions.
Their successful completion of this exceptionally demanding bomb damage assessment flight enabled those in higher authority to evaluate the effects of a classified weapons program in its efforts to hinder the movement of vital enemy material through this strategic target area.
RIPPLE SALVO…Any doubt that LCDR BUFFKIN and END ANDERSON have no trouble remembering their trip to Hai Duong and back on 3 August 1967???… Gentlemen, I await your favorite remembrance from the days of Rolling Thunder…
Lest we forget, Bear
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