RIPPLE SALVO…#113… THE BLUE TAILS… but first….
Good Morning: Day ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN of a revisit of the air war with North Vietnam… a half a century ago…
21 JUNE 1966…ON THE HOME FRONT…(NYT)…A warm day in the Big Apple and rain tonight….
Page 1: “DeGaulle Opens Visit To Russians; Depores Blocs”…President deGaulle arrived in grandeur style today and announced France’s desire to; break the harmful spell, the rigid confrontation of the two political blocs formed around the United States and the Soviet Union. “France would like to see the harmful spell broken and at least as far as she is concerned a beginning of a new relations toward relaxation, harmony and cooperation with the East European states”…and seeks “the restoration of Europe as a single fruitful whole, but added, France in no way underestimates the important role that the United States has to play in the transformation and pacification of the world.” The Soviet Head of State Nikolai Podgorny is hosting the visit… Page 1: “Trawler Carrying Arms for Vietcong Seized Near Saigon“…the USCG trailed and drove the 125-foot blockade running vessel ashore as it attempted to supply Vietcong with 250 tons of war fighting equipment… Page 1: “8 Killed As Plane Crashes Into 17 Homes In Hampton Virginia”…”A Marine Corps attack bomber crashed in flames in a residential area of the vacation suburb of Buckhoe Beach tonight (June 20) after colliding with another Marine jet. The Hampton police said that eight persons had been killed and 45 injured as the plane cut a swath through the area of two-bedroom frame homes. All the dead were occupants of houses in the development several blocks from the Fordham Shopping Center two miles from Chesapeake Bayshore. The aircraft collided over the shopping center. The second jet crashed in Thimble Shoals. All four Marine airman were rescued from the bay… Page1: Sports: Billy Casper beat Arnold Palmer in a Monday playoff for the 1966 U.S. Open Championship… (69-73)… Page 5: “U.S. Adds 8 Cargo ships to Vietnam Blacklist”…brings to 18 the number of ships becoming ineligible to carry government financed cargoes out of the U.S…
Page 30: “Dr. King Deplores Black Power Bid” and appealed today for an end to talk or “black power” among some Negro leaders…In an interview with the NYT before rejoining the Mississippi marchers, MLK said: “It is absolutely necessary for the Negro to gain power, but the term ‘black power’ is unfortunate because it tends to give the impression of Black Nationalism.” Southern Christian Leadership Conference made use of the term. Stokely Carmichael and James Meredith both told national audiences that “nonviolence does not go far enough to solve racial problems.” Dr. King: “We must never seek power exclusively for the Negro but for the sharing of power with the while people. Black supremacy would be equally as evil as white supremacy…I see no national trend toward black nationalism. The civil rights movement is generally strongly opposed to this philosophy. It really is a small segment that turns to such measures.” The implication was clear, however, that Dr. King was seriously disturbed by the growing militancy of some groups, including the Mississippi marchers and the fighting words of some of the new Negro leaders. Dr. King saw in Mr. Carmichaels militant approach a danger of spreading unrest in such tension spots as the Watts district of Los Angeles and in Chicago, where King now has a major civil rights campaign in full swing.
(Humble Host adds a note: this is the time frame where Cassius Clay chose to throw his lot in with Malcolm X and the Black Panthers and turn his back on Martin Luther King…and our country…The Greatest?… not in my book.) What a powerful contribution to civil rights Cassius Clay would have made as a follower and disciple (“one who accepts and helps in the teachings of another”) of MLK starting in 1966…
21 June 1966…PRESIDENT’s DAILY BRIEFING… South Vietnam: It was quiet again on the political front. Dissident activity has been almost completely suppressed in Saigon, Hue’ and Danang. Sporadic antigovernment gestures have been reported in various tow2ns and cities in northern and central South Vietnam, but they seem to be on a relatively small scale. there has still been no major Buddhist response to the government’s action today in bringing Tri Quang to Saigon, where he is being kept closely guarded in a private clinic. With Saigon’s approval a two-man Buddhist mission from Ceylon is to leave tomorrow on fact finding mission to South Vietnam. … Remainder of Vietnam briefing material redacted and remains classified after 50 years…???
21 JUNE 1966…ROLLING THUNDER OPERATIONS… NYT (22 June reporting 21 June operations): U.S. Air Force and Marine fighter-bombers participated in a fierce battle between a US/SVN force of 1500 troops and as many as 700 enemy troops in the central highlands 26o miles north of Saigon. The battle raged for two days and the American aircraft delivered napalm, bombs and 20mm cannon fire continuously through the fight… “A US Air Force C123 Ranch Hand aircraft was shot down and the crew of four (or three? see RTR #112) was rescued. Another aircraft, an F-105D was brought down while bombing a fuel depot 30 miles northeast of Hanoi. (see next para)… The pilot was presumed to have been killed in the crash.”…“Vietnam: Air Losses”… three aircraft lost…
(1) 1LT JOHN BERNARD SULLIVAN was flying an F-105D of the 388th TFW based at Korat on a strike mission to the Dan Quan POL storage site about five miles northwest of Kep and was hit by bursts of 85mm at roll in for his attack. The aircraft never recovered and crashed at the target site. 1LT SULLIVAN was Killed In Action on this day fifty years ago with the enemy in his sights. Young, brave and gone. The North Vietnamese recovered and returned his remains to the United States in 1990.
(2) LT LEONARD CORBETT EASTMAN was flying an RF-8A photo reconnaissance aircraft from the VFP-63 detachment on USS Hancock on a mission covering the railway lines northeast of Kep at an altitude of 3,500-feet and 500 knots when hit and caught fire leading to LT EASTMAN’s ejection and capture. He was on his 45th photo recon mission when downed and interned as a POW. He returned to the United States on 12 February 1973.
(3) LCDR COLE BLACK was flying an F-8E from the VF-211 squadron aboard USS Hancock as a strike escort for a flight of A-4 strike aircraft was downed by a MIG…Chris Hobson tells the tale this way: “The strike mission was changed to provide SAR coverage for the LT EASTMAN rescue attempt. LCDR BLACK, VF-211’s executive officer sent two of the Crusaders to refuel from a tanker while he and LT GENE CHANCY orbited LT EASTMAN’s position at 2,000-feet. LT COLE BLACK’s aircraft was hit by flak in the rear fuselage damaging the hydraulic system. At this point he and his wingman were jumped by four MIG-17s from the 923rd Fighter Regiment and a dogfight ensued during which LCDR BLACK‘s ailing Crusader was shot down. He was forced to eject and was captured and marched off to the North Vietnam prison system until repatriated on 12 February 1973. However, the balance was readdressed somewhat on 21 June 1966 by LT CHANCY and LT PHIL VAMPATELLA, who each bagged a MIG-17 during the engagement.” ….oohrah…!!!
RIPPLE SALVO…#113… COMMANDER DAVE LEUE’…author of “Korean Combat: The Four Freedoms Betrayed Volume One,” and “Vietnam Combat: The Four Freedoms Betrayed, Volume Two.” A couple of books that every attack pilot should have to leave to his progeny with a little note that says something like this…”Son, if I had the git up and go, along with the tales that Commander Leue’ has scribed from his gutsy experiences in Korea and Vietnam, this is the sort of journal I would have, should have, left for you and your kids, and theirs, to remember me by. Commander Leue’s little books are gems that do a great job of telling what Korea and Vietnam combat were like for all of us light attack strike fighters who had a turn or two in those wars. Dave Leue’ has written for all of us.”…
Your Humble Host now shares a little of the Dave Leue’ prose: “Back to War” (pages 108-10)
“All too soon, in mid-May 1966, we again said our goodbyes to our families (in Lemoore. California), loaded our squadron gear on trucks, flew to NAS North Island, where our aircraft and gear were put aboard USS Constellation. The USS Constellation and Air Wing Fifteen, headed west toward Vietnam once more.
“Chief Petty Officer Turgeon, the Squadron’s outstanding maintenance chief, came to me and expressed his concern that many of the new enlisted men were now grumbling about our involvement in Vietnam. Obviously, they were being influenced by the growing negative slant the press was giving the war. There was good reason for dissent, the public was presented with an array of conflicting information. the Soviets, the true instigators of the take over of free government of South Vietnam, sat aloof. The North Vietnam insurgents had strong support among the world wide Left. Eastern Europe was still solidly Communist. Much of this propaganda found its way into our press. Progressives in our country supported North Vietnam.
“Given the negative cant of the press, it was difficult for the common man in our country to see why we were there so long? Chief turgeon asked me if I could write something on the subject. I still have the rough notes that I wrote for Commander MacArthur’s signature. the piece below was published in our squadron newsletter.
“Why We Fight”… “There may be chaos in South Vietnam, but stop and think of what has happened in North Vietnam: to the religious of all faiths, the laborer, the intellectual and the common man. There is no chaos–there is absolute order. Dissent has been silenced. The laborer cannot strike, the common man cannot demonstrate, the religious cannot worship, the intellectual cannot criticize, the artist cannot create, the state is God. The same can be said of China. this same order is being forced on South Vietnam. It could be forced on us and our children. This is why we fight.
“It is an important fight, it is as important as this country has ever pursued. Attack Squadron 153 has a big role to play. Navy Light Attack squadrons are among the most effective offensive weapon systems now being used in Vietnam. We hit them hard last time and will hit them even harder this time. This newsletter is the first in a series, which will be put out monthly, to keep all Blue Tails and their families informed. The families that support the sailors of this squadron have been our most valuable asset. We thank them all for their prayers and un-wavering support in the past. Finally, remember that this is an extremely important cruise. Our performance depends on the efforts of every man in the squadron. A happy sailor does a good job, families can keep your man happy by writing happy letters and carrying your share of the effort at home cheerfully. Keep them happy. Thank you, Commander KV MacArthur.”
“We deployed on USS Constellation in early June 1966 with high spirits and optimism.”
Fifty years ago on this day a great leader of warriors Commander Dave Leue’, Executive Officer of the VA-153 Blue Tails was back in the fight….
Lest we forget…. Bear ………. –30– ………..