RIPPLE SALVO… #621… (1) The Rolling Thunder warriors take their lumps in the heartland on the Red River and press on… no easy days… 17-20 November 1967: “The Long Lost Weekend”… twenty-two birds in the dirt… and …(2) COMMANDER JIM SNYDER, XO, VA-15, takes on all comers on 17 November 1967… but first…
Good Morning: Day SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE of a look back at the long, hard fight called the “air war in the North”…
17 November 1967… HEAD LINES from The New York Times on a cold and cloudy Friday in New York City…
Page 1: “President Optimistic and Tells Nation ‘We Are Making Progress'”… “While much remains to be done, we are pleased with the results we are getting.’ Press conference provided timely opportunity to buoy the President’s sagging poll numbers by explaining that ‘it is a new kind of war for us. We don’t march out and have a big battle each day. It is a guerrilla war.'”
President’s Daily Brief: CYPRUS: “The situation has eased, but the truce between the Greeks and Turks is fragile and renewed fighting could lead to early military intervention by Turkey. About 25 people were killed in Wednesday’s fighting; casualties were about evenly divided between the two sides.”… SOVIET UNION: “The Russians at the UN in New York are continuing to consult closely with US delegation on how to get a non-proliferation treaty through the U.N.”…CARMICHAEL: … “In a message published in Cuba yesterday, Stokely Carmichael called on Negroes ‘to create a Vietnam in the U.S..’ He also called for ‘black power for all–from South Africa to Nova Scotia,’ and for Negroes to fight in the streets of Detroit, New York, Chicago, Washington and ‘Pennsylvania.’…”...”Hanoi Reaffirms Its Position”… “North Vietnamese Pham VAn Dong, in a recent French periodical reaffirmed Hanoi’s standard position on several of the key questions related to the war and voiced the Vietnamese Communists’ determination to continue the struggle until ‘ultimate victory.’ In his remarks carried in the 15 November issue of the magazine, the Premier insisted that the ‘four points’ remained the basis for any settlement of the conflict, and reiterated that Hanoi’s demand for a ‘unconditional cessation of the bombing’ means that the Vietnamese will never negotiate under the threat of bombs.’…”…
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… 17 NOVEMBER 1967… DAY ONE OF THE LONG LOST WEEKEND… New York Times (18 Nov reporting 17 Nov ops) Page 1: “In the air war, Air Force Thunderchief pilots attacked the Bacmai airfield, a mile south of Hanoi, for the first time. The field was described as handling aircraft used to move troops and supplies, but too small for jet aircraft. A spokesman said first reports indicated the runway had been cut in two places and the communications center had been hit with bombs. He said observations had been hampered by smoke and debris. The Bacmai field was one of the last two important airfields barred from attack by United States planes. Hanoi’s international airport at Gialam now is the only remaining airfield on the restricted list. The Spokesman said two Navy planes, an F-4 Phantom jet and an A-4 Skyhawk, had been brought down by ground fire yesterday (17TH). The three crewmen are listed as missing. The three planes brought to 739 the total number downed over the North.”…
“Vietnam: Air Losses” (Chris Hobson) There were FIVE fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 17 November 1967…
(1) MAJOR CHARLES EDWARD CAPPELLI was flying an F-105D of the 354th TFS and 355th TFW out of Takhli in the wing strike on the Bacmai airfield a mile south of Hanoi and was hit by a SAM over the target. He was able to fly his crippled Thunderchief nearly 40 miles to the southwest of Hanoi before having to eject. MAJOR CAPPELLI was seen in a good chute but was not heard from or seen thereafter. He was listed as missing in action with the hope he would come out with the POWs, which did not happen. His remains were returned in December 1988 and were identified as those of MAJOR CAPPELLI in May 1989… Fifty years ago today MAJOR CAPPELLI gave the last full measure for our country… glory gained, duty done…
(2) LT WILSON DENVER KEY was flying an A-4C of the VA-34 Road Runners embarked in USS INTREPID as a wingman in the Iron Hand element on a strike on a barge construction yard in the Hanoi outskirts. During the egress his section successfully evaded a volley of SAMs. A second volley was encountered at 1200-feet and LT KEY was out of luck and was forced to eject after taking a hit and losing his engine. Downed ten miles from Hanoi he was immediately captured. He returned with the POWs in March 1973… He was downed on his 90th mission in VA-34…
(3) COMMANDER WILLIAM DARRELL McGRATH and LT ROGER GENE EMRICH were flying an F-4B of the VF-161 Chargers embarked were leading a flak suppression element on a strike in the Hanoi area and were attacked by en route to the target. It is conjectured that CDR McGRATH and LT EMRICH successfully evaded one or two volleys of missiles, but were seen in a spin passing through 3,500-feet that they failed to eject or recover from. CDR McGRATH’s remains were returned in December 1985 and identified in March 1986. LT EMRICH’s remains were returned in April 1995 and identified in February 1996…No man left behind… our recovery folks never give up!!! But think of the Mother who passed before she could bury her son… 29-years of waiting, waiting…
(4) MAJOR R.F. ROSS and CAPTAIN F.I. HOBBS were flying an RF-4C of the 11th TRS and 432nd TRW out of Ubon on a photo recce mission covering targets northeast of Hanoi when hit by a SAM at 24,000-feet. The aircraft was badly damaged but flyable and MAJOR ROSS was able to reach the relative safety of the Gulf before having to eject about 60 miles south of Haiphong. A Navy helicopter make the pickup. Both aviators with a bent for picture-taking survived to fly and photo again…
(5) An EB-66C of the 41st TEWS and 355th TFW our of Takhli lost an engine on takeoff and attempted to return to the base. The attempt was noble but came up 1200-feet short of the runway and in the ensuing slide the aircraft exploded killing five of the seven members of the crew. MAJOR MAX NICOLLS, LT TED JOHNSON, MAJOR KARL D. HEZEL, MAJOR WILLIAM McDONALD, and CAPTAIN REY I. DUFFING perished in the accident. CAPTAINS ROBERT PEFFLEY and JAMES STAMM survived… …..”In misfortune,if you muster a brave spirit, it helps.” (Plautus, Captivi)
RIPPLE SALVO… #621… Humble Host found and gives new life to this great combat story of a hard earned DFC flown 50-years ago today on 17 November 1967 by Commander Jim Snyder, XO of the VA-15 Valions …
“The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS to COMMANDER JAMES MADISON SNYDER, United States Navy, for service as set forth in the following citation:
“For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as Executive Officer of Attack Squadron FIFTEEN, embarked in USS INTREPID (CVS-11) during the conduct of a multi-Air Wing strike against the barge yard and transshipment facilities located at Hanoi, North Vietnam on 17 November 1967. COMMANDER SNYDER was particularly well qualified for the intricate planning and precise execution required of the IRON HAND Force leader into the extremely hazardous area. Through skillful deployment of his units, COMMANDER SNYDER maximized the protection of the 30-plane strike group against the enemy anti-air warfare arsenal known to be in the strike group’s path. COMMANDER SNYDER evaded the first four in a series of approximately 30 missiles which were fired at the attacking forces. In the next five minutes, COMMANDER SNYDER, although continually conducting violent evasive maneuvers and pounded by anti-aircraft fire, attacked two separate surface-to-air missile sites with his Shrike missiles and led a strafing attack on a third site. As he commenced his strafing run, a missile was observed to lift from a surface-to-air missile site. Realizing the danger that this missile posed to the strike group, COMMANDER SNYDER courageously pressed his attack to approximately 800-feet and completely destroyed the radar guidance van. Destruction of the radar van rendered the remaining surface-to-air missiles useless and silenced the entire site. Retiring from the area, he discovered a P.T. Boat, upon which he made a series of low passes while vectoring fighter aircraft in to conduct an attack. Through COMMANDER SNYDER’s extraordinary skill, unwavering courage, intrepid determination and steadfast devotion beyond the point impelled by duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” ooohrah!!!
RTR Quotes: 17 November 1967: HOMER, Iliad: “Strong of limb And swift of foot misfortune is, and, far Outstripping all, comes first to every land, And there wreaks evil on mankind.”
Lest we forget…. Bear