RIPPLE SALVO… #896… FIFTY YEARS AGO, ON 17 AUGUST 1968, CAPTAIN RICHARD G. RUTAN, USAF, “MISTY 40”, AND CAPTAIN CHARLES A. SHAHEEN, “MISTY 52”, IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THEIR SUPER SABRE, WERE HIT BY AAA 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF DONG HOI AND FLED EAST TO THE SEA WHERE THEY EJECTED, SPENT 3 HOURS IN THEIR LITTLE RAFTS COUNTING THEIR LUCKY STARS AND SEA SNAKES, AND WERE RESCUED BY AN AIR FORCE HELO. For Dick Rutan the episode was just one in a hundred in his incomparable flight log book. Humble Host is honored to have this opportunity to applaud one of American aviation’s greatest tamer’s of the Central Blue…
By the time Lieutenant Colonel RICHARD C. RUTAN completed his Vietnam tour he had racked up 325 combat missions, a SILVER STAR, five awards of the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, sixteen AIR MEDALS and the PURPLE HEART. He completed his distinguished Air Force career in 1978 and joined his brother Burt at Rutan Aircraft. He would found his own company, Voyager Aircraft, and in 1986 fly the Burt Rutan designed Voyager on an around-the-world, non-stop, un-refueled flight along with Jeana Yeager. The feat resulted in world-wide recognition and many prestigious aviation awards, including the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Reagan (along with Jeana Yeager and Burt Rutan), and induction into the national Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, and the International Air and Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Dick Rutan is ranked, along with Jeana Yeager, as #33 on the list of 51 “Heroes of Aviation.”… He was also an awesome Rolling Thunder warrior who, you might say, got his start in “quiet flight” with two parachute descents in Southeast Asia, the first of which was executed 50 years ago this day… Happy anniversary, Dick… oohrah… set ’em up for the USAF helo crew that fetched Dick and Chuck from the sea snakes on 17 August 1968…
Humble Host also salutes COLONEL CHARLES A. SHAHEEN, JR. and COLONEL ARTHUR T. HOFFSON, including an inspirational poem by Colonel Hoffson… but first…
Good Morning…Day EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the years of Rolling Thunder, one day at a time…
HEAD LINES from The New York Times on Saturday, 17 August 1968…
THE WAR: Page 1: “ENEMY PURSUED INTO BUFFER ZONE BY ALLIED FORCE–SOUTH VIETNAMESE SAY THEY KILLED 159 AND SUSTAINED ONLY LIGHT CASUALTIES–Fight Lasts Two and a Half Hours–Foe Ambushes A Battalion Northeast Of Saigon–Allied Dead Put at 33″… “South Vietnamese infantrymen pressed into the southern edge of the demilitarized zone as they pursued North Vietnamese regulars in one of the biggest battles in several weeks…in seven and half hours the government troops killed 159 of the enemy while suffering light losses…farther south, a South Vietnamese infantry battalion lost 33 dead and 20 wounded in an ambush yesterday 43 miles northeast of Saigon… Armed helicopters and fighter-bombers were called in to break up the attack as tanks, armored cars and infantrymen raced to the scene. A total of 70 enemy soldiers were killed. The attack occurred near the town of Xuanloc, where in two mortar attacks on Thursday the Government forces lost 19 dead and 92 wounded…. In a second ambush, 240 miles northeast of Saigon, near the Highlands capital of Pleiku, a column of American and South Vietnamese troops killed 30 of the enemy. A military spokesman said that the only allied casualties were two Americans wounded….The action in the DMZ marked the first time in several months that allied troops had entered the six mile deep buffer strip… “…
PEACE TALKS: No coverage…
Page 1: “EISENHOWER HAS 7TH HEART ATTACK–His Condition Called Stable After a Second Serious Seizure In Two Weeks”… Page 1: “SOVIETS CRITICIZE CZECH PRESS ANEW–2 Papers Resume Polemics After 3-Week Silence”… Page 1: “U.S. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS AT BEST LEVEL IN 2 YEARS–DEFICIT DROPS TO $150-MILLION IN QUARTER–Fowler Warns Against Optimism And Says More Effort Is Needed”… Page 3: “NORTH KOREA CAUTIONED BY SOUTH KOREA–Premier Asserts Sabotage Will bring Retaliation”… Page 9: “U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS ISRAEL–Asserts Attack On Jordan Violate U.N. Charter”…
POLITICS: Page 10: “McGOVERN TERMS IT ILLEGAL FOR C.B.S. TO ELIMINATE HIM FROM TELEVISED DEBATE”… Page 10: “McCarthy Terms Delegate Test In Georgia Crucial To His Aid”… Page 10: “McGOVERN HOPES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM WILL AID HUMPHREY ON SHIFT ON WAR”… Page 11: “Convention May See Film Of Public Life of Robert Kennedy”… Page 11: “WHITE HOUSE ROLE IN CHICAGO DENIED”… Page 11: “WALLACE IS PUT ON BALLOT BY ILLINOIS ELECTORAL UNIT”… Page 11: “McCarthy Leads 10-State Poll”… Page 10: “SPEAKERS SCORE VIETNAM POLICY AT PRINCETON PLATFORM HEARING”…
17 AUGUST 1968…OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…New York Times… Page 3: “Between the demilitarized zone and the 19th Parallel, American fighter-bomber pilots carried out 114 multi-aircraft missions. They reported having hit 25 camps, 25 anti-aircraft positions, 10 barges and 4 trucks. VIETNAM: AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson) There were four fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 17 August 1968…
(1) CAPTAIN NOBLE RAY KOONTZ was flying an F-105D of the 469th TFS and 388th TFW out of Korat on a ferry flight into the runway at Danang. His drag chute failed to deploy properly and he engaged the runway barrier at high speed. He sheared the tail hook sending the Thunderchief into the overrun and destruction. CAPTAIN KOONTZ failed to clear the aircraft and perished in the exploding aircraft….Operational loss…
(2) LTJG MARKHAM LIGON GARTLEY and LT WILLIAM JOHN MAYHEW were flying an F-4B of the VF-142 Ghostriders embarked in USS Constellation on a CAP mission and vectored to engage a flight of enemy MIG-21s 20 miles northwest of Vinh. In the ensuing melee they were inadvertently shot down by their flight leader. The lead aircraft had a clear shot at a MIG but LTJG GARTLEY and LT MAYHEW had commenced a split-S maneuver from 10,000-feet and the maneuver crossed the Aim-9 path which hit their tail and port engine. They were unable to stretch the dying Phantom’s life to reach the water and ejected over a populated area. They were captured and interned in Hanoi, LT MAYHEW for the duration of the war (1,671 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY). He was released in March 1973 with his honor in tact. LTJG GARTLEY accepted an early return on 25 September 1972 and was released to the custody of a pacifist organization that included his mother, for a return to his homeland…….
(Webmaster note: Had Gartley held out and maintained unity with his fellow POWs he would have been released within six months during Operation Homecoming)
(3) 1LT WILLIAM ELMO POWELL and 1LT ARTHUR THOMAS HOFFSON were flying an F-4D of the 555th TFS and 432nd TFW out of Udorn on a mission to strike a target 20 miles northwest of Dong Hoi and were hit by ground fire as they rolled in on the target. They were forced to eject in the dive and over the target. 1LT HOFFSON, in the back seat, ejected first and got a full chute to reach the ground safely where he was immediately captured. 1LT POWELL was not so fortunate…His fate was uncertain and he was declared Missing in Action. (From the POW Net: The Defense Department gives specific loss coordinates for William Powell, indicating that his loss location is known precisely. Since he was declared MIA rather than KIA, it can be logically assumed that he did not go down with the aircraft, but rather ejected safely) When 1LT HOFFSON was released with 590 other Americans in Operation Homecoming in March 1973, 1LT POWELL was not in the group. The North Vietnamese denied any knowledge of his wherabouts. However, late in 1985 they returned to the U.S. the remains of 1LT POWELL. Two years later, the U.S. announced that the identity of these remains had been authenticated and they were returned to the Powell family for burial…..
AMONG THE BRAVE… GALLANTRY IN ACTION… CAPTAIN ARTHUR T. HOFFSON, USAF…the SILVER STAR…NORTH VIETNAM, 1968…
“During the period 16 September 1968 to 23 September 1968 CAPTAIN HOFFSON distinguished himself by gallantry in action against an opposing armed force while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. With complete disregard for his own safety and personal welfare in a period of severe enemy harassment CAPTAIN HOFFSON took complete care of a seriously wounded fellow prisoner without assistance from the Vietnamese. By his courageous actions in an environment of heavy enemy pressure and brutal treatment CAPTAIN HOFFSON has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”:…
Among COLONEL HOFFSON’s other combat awards: the LEGION OF MERIT, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, BRONZE STAR, and several AIR MEDALS.
(4) CAPTAIN CHARLES A. SHAHEEN and CAPTAIN RICHARD G. RUTAN were flying a F-100 F Super Sabre of the 355th TFS and37th TFW out of Phu Cat on a Misty FAC mission controlling strikes on a truck park 40 miles northwest off Dong Hoi. They were hit by 37mm ant-aircraft fire while in a strafing run and immediately sought the safety of the Gulf of Tonkin. Fate provided and they were able to coax the aircraft 12 miles to sea before ejecting. After three hours of at-sea time, they were rescued by Air Force helo to fly, fight and FAC again.
AMONG THE BRAVE… GALLANTRY IN ACTION… CAPTAIN CHARLES A. SHAHEEN, JR., USA… the SILVER STAR…NORTH VIETNAM… 8-9 JUNE 1968…
Citation… “Captain Charles A. SHAHEEN, Jr. distinguished himself by gallantry in conjunction with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-100F Forward Air Controller over North Vietnam on 8 and 9 June 1968. On these dates, by skillfully controlling armed flights. Captain SHAHEEN made it possible for the slow moving rescue helicopter to travel over six miles of the most heavily defended area of the southern panhandle and to extract a downed aircrew member. He repeatedly made low altitude passes over the positions, he marked the sites for the strike flights. At all times drawing fire and locating gun sites for the strike flights…. At all times during the five hours he was in the target area, he was subjected to intense ground fire. The silencing of these sites sterilized the area and made the ensuing rescue possible. By his gallantry and devotion to duty Captain SHAHEEN has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”…
Among CAPTAIN SHAHEEN’S other military awards: four awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, thirteen Air Medals, and the Purple Heart. He was Misty 52 and logged more than 260 combat missions in Southeast Asia, including 60 Misty FAC missions in North Vietnam.
AMONG THE BRAVE…GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN ACTION… LIEUTENANT COLONEL RICHARD G. RUTAN, USAF…the SILVER STAR… NORTH VIETNAM, 26 MAY 1968…
Citation:… “For gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-100F Forward Air Controller operating over North Vietnam on 26 May 1968. On that date Captain RUTAN planned and coordinated an attack against co-located heavy antiaircraft artillery sites which threatened to halt air operations against a critical key target on a main line of communication. Directing armed fighters, Captain RUTAN repeatedly exposed himself to the intense and accurate hostile ground fire to insure the destruction and neutralization of the gun sites. His phenomenal aggressiveness, superb airmanship and complete disregard for his personal safety in the face of intense ground fire was instrumental in removing a severe threat to air operations engaged in the interdiction of arms and supplies moving into forward staging areas. By his gallantry and devotion to duty Captain RUTAN has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”… oohrah…
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) ON THE FOUR 17 AUGUST DATES OF THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION OVER NORTH VIETNAM…
1965…NONE…
1966…MAJOR JOSEPH WILLIAM BRAND, USAF…(KIA)… and… MAJOR DONALD MAURICE SINGER, USAF… (KIA)…
1967… COMMANDER LAURENT NORBERT DION, USN…(KIA)… and… LTJG CHARLES DAVID HORN, USN… (KIA)…
1968…LTJG MARKHAM LIGON GARLEY, USN… (POW) …and… LT WILLIAM JOHN MAYHEW, USN… (POW)… AND…1LT WILLIAM ELMO POWELL, USAF… (KIA)… and … 1LT ARTHUR THOMAS HOFFSON, USAF… (POW)…
RIPPLE SALVO… #896… From the heart, mind and pen of COLONEL ARTHUR T. HOFFSON, USAF (1943-2006)… When Captain HOFFSON returned home from the Hanoi Hilton after 1,671 days of captivity in March, 1973, he was asked to contribute a few words to a book project of Captain and Mrs. Frederic A. Wyatt, USN, titled WE CAME HOME…
Here is Art HOFFSON’s few words… I quote…
“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. All the things we are so accustomed to that we sometimes take for granted. We should all stop occasionally and reflect on the price the young men of America have paid to secure our way of life. and all they ask is that we pass our great precious heritage along intact to our children and our childrens’ children, as it has been preserved for us.”…
A VIETNAM POW’s POEM (1973) by Arthur Hoffson…
The years went swiftly, passed us by–
But you would seldom hear us cry.
And though in irons we’d often lie,
We never lost that dream we’ll fly.
The fuse burned on it’s endless length,
While from each other we gained our strength.
Because we knew we’d one day roam,
The cloudless skies above our home.
Our faith is strong, our hearts are free,
To God we pray on bended knee.
For those we love across the sea,
We know will always waiting be.
So light a candle for our lot,
Some love, a prayer, but pity not.
For we’re strong men, all brave, all true,
Who place their hopes and dreams with you…. End quote…
Lest we forget… Bear