RIPPLE SALVO… #79… FRENCH & SWARTZ…. but first…
Good Morning: Day SEVENTY-NINE of a long look back to the “air war” over North Vietnam…
17 MAY 1966 (NYT)… ON THE HOME FRONT…. Weather guy says, “fair and reasonable in New York.”…
Page 1: “Buddhists Appeal For Johnson’s Aid To Overrule Ky”… The Buddhist monks shifted policy to include requests for U.S. Administration assistance in dealing with Premier Ky and called on Ambassador Lodge to help end the deadlock in Saigon. The Buddhists fear an assassination attack on their leadership. As a consequence, U.S. aides moved to get the two sides together: Ky for the government and Thich Tri Quang, the most powerful leader of the Buddhist United Church for the dissidents. The U.S. continues to stand by Ky and wants him to survive…
Page 2: Max Frankel article: “Gloom Prevails in Washington Over New Civil Strife In Vietnam”...”This was a gloomy capital today, bemoaning its helplessness in Vietnam and fearing that the worst in political turmoil there is still to come. Hawks and Doves spoke more about their disappointment than the facts of the situation. Senator Stuart Symington told his fellow Senators that he never felt so discouraged about the situation, which he called ‘very unfortunate and less clear than it has ever been.’ One Member of the House said, ‘We have got hold of a bear’s tail.'”… Senator Mike Mansfield: “LBJ says the only thing we can do is keep our hands off. If the different parties don’t get together, the prospects of civil war are real and imminent. If so, that will make our position that much more difficult and place more of a burden on the United States forces and will not react to this country’s benefit. The present confusion would nonetheless have a significant effect on public opinion in the United States.” …Page 3: “Division Moved To Saigon Area”… from the Mekong Delta to Saigon to provide security for the capital. At the same time Danang monks threatened suicide if attacked and prepared to set fire to their pagodas. Danang remains un-reconciled to Premier Ky… Page 3: “U.S. Plans To Widen Vietnam Furloughs”…to allow a 7 day break that will enable troops to make it back to Hawaii vice Thailand, Hong Kong and the P.I….One inch box on the page…announcing the loss of 46 American troops KIA last week…
PRESIDENT’s DAILY BRIEF – CIA (TS sanitized) for 17 MAY 1966… “The standoff continues but clashes between opposing South Vietnamese troops in I Corps could occur without warning. Ky sent more combat police to Danang and intends to send a Ranger Battalion there tomorrow to replace one battalion of doubtful loyalty.”
Page 5: “Aleksei Kosygin Assails Hitlerite U.S. Policy In Vietnam”… and demands withdrawal of U.S. troops from both South Vietnam and South Korea and ridiculed President Johnson’s peace plan: He is “…holding an olive branch in one hand while sending new troops to Vietnam and escalating the raids against North Vietnam.”… “The American aggression in Vietnam is part of an imperialistic policy practiced throughout the world–in Europe, Africa and Asia. A notable example is Korea where the United States occupies its southern part and compels the Korean forces to fight against people in Vietnam.” (Korea has sent 22,000 troops to fight in Vietnam). The Russian leader called for “forces for peace and progress to unite in a single front against American aggression in Vietnam,” and confidently forecast total victory for the Communists and scoffed at American peace talks…
Page 20: “Goldwater Charges U.S. Freedom Is Imperiled”… The Senator was speaking to the “Free Society Association” at the Sheraton in Chicago to 1,000 at a $10 per plate fund raiser. He said: “The Johnson Administration programs threaten to engulf American freedom,” and called this speech one of the most important of my life. He declared the President’s agenda ” is a vicious assault and growing attack directed at every tradition, standard and belief fundamental to an ordered society of freedom and justice.” He attacked the “radical leftist contention that because we live in a rapidly changing world that now is the time to think unthinkable thoughts… Every excuse will be used to make you appear bigoted, anti-Semetic, or just plain stupid. You will find many so-called intellectuals who claim to place a premium on the right of dissent and meaningful dialogue but are quick to foreclose and deny rational debate of any viewpoints which clash with their own.”
17 MAY 1966… ROLLING THUNDER OPS… NYT: “In North Vietnam Air Force and Navy pilots flew through thunderstorms to hit targets in the panhandle region. Air Force planes hit Highway 12 east of Mugia Pass.”…One aircraft loss on this date: an F-4C Wolfpack Phantom from the 433rdTFS and the 8thTFW at Ubon, crashed on landing after returning from an armed reconnaissance mission… two survivors…
RIPPLE SALVO… #79… TIME OUT to tell a ROLLING THUNDER war story and recognize a pair of great Naval Aviators… LCDR DOUG FRENCH and LCDR TED SWARTZ … who were attached to and serving with Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX embarked in USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31) in July 1967 at Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin…
On 7 July 1967, LCDR DOUG FRENCH was the designated leader of a thirty plane air wing ROLLING THUNDER strike against the Tram Bac Petroleum Products Storage Area located near Haiphong, North Vietnam. The target was one of several large buried storage deposits that form North Vietnam’s widely dispersed POL storage system. It had been severely damaged by a strike earlier in the day but several storage tanks remained intact and LCDR FRENCH was assigned to plan and lead a re-strike. LCDR TED SWARTZ, as alternate strike leader and leader of the second division of A-4C bombers, was deeply involved in all phases of the planning. Working closely with each other, the two pilots devised a highly integrated but flexible strike plan, including approach and retirement routes, selection of aim points, employment of flak and missile suppression elements, and the positioning of fighter escorts, aerial tankers, and other support forces. Following a comprehensive brief by LCDR FRENCH, the strike group was launched, rendezvoused, and proceeded on course according to a carefully timed schedule. Reaching the coast, the strike group encountered marginal weather conditions which blocked the route to the target. A line of cumulus buildups with low bases and reaching several miles inland extended for miles along the coast in both directions. Rather than pass between the towering cloud buildups, where restricted visibility and limited maneuvering room would make the formations highly vulnerable to surface-to-air missile attacks, LCDR FRENCH altered his route and led the group in a high speed, low level penetration below the clouds. Drawing on knowledge gained in numerous recent daily flights through the area, he successfully led the strike group past the weather line, carefully avoiding all known or suspected areas of flak. LCDR SWARTZ provided invaluable assistance, aiding in the difficult navigation and maintaining a vigilant watch for ground fire. Once past the wall of weather, the strike group climbed again to an altitude above the effective range of small arms and automatic weapons fire and turned north toward the target. As the attack commenced, LCDR SWARTZ skillfully positioned his own division slightly to one side of the leader, allowing the first eight aircraft to make nearly simultaneous dives. All bombs impacted within the boundaries of the storage area and resulted in several secondary explosions with fireballs that were visible through the heavy smoke and dust.
Due to a failure in the bomb release system in his aircraft, LCDR FRENCH was unable to release his bombs. As he pulled off the target, he sighted an active 37mm antiaircraft battery in the vicinity of nearby Kien An airfield, which was delivering heavy fire at the retiring strike aircraft. At a relatively low altitude and unable to climb to a proper roll-in altitude due to his heavy bomb load, LCDR FRENCH switched to a manual release mode and boldly attacked. In a dangerously flat run, he pressed his run to minimum range and altitude and put his string of Mk82s on the flak site. His bombs impacted directly in the revetments and parts of guns and associated equipment could be seen tumbling through the air by one of his wingmen. He exhibited extraordinary courage and professional skill in his daring and lethal attack which eliminated a serious threat to the safety of his shipmates. By their thorough planning, skilled leadership, and perseverance, LCDR FRENCH and LCDR SWARTZ were directly responsible for the successful execution of an important ROLLNG THUNDER mission under difficult and hazardous conditions. Their actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United Naval Service.
Recommendations for the award of the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS for both tailhookers was approved and awarded….oohrah.
Lest we forget…. Bear ………. –30– ………..