RIPPLE SALVO… #266… SEVEN COMBAT CRUISES and SEVEN HUNDRED FOURTEEN DAYS ON THE LINE… but first…
Good Morning: Day TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX of a look back to 50 years ago and OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…
23 NOVEMBER 1966… HOME TOWN HEAD LINES from the New York Times… on a mostly sunny Wednesday in the old Brooklyn Navy Yard…
Page 1: “Auto Companies List 40 Defects In Report to U.S… Owners of late model cars affected are given notice under new safety law…industry lauded for move… recall campaign involves half million vehicles, but not all are faulty.”… Page 1: “China Scores Plan to Seek Its Attitude Toward U.N. and says instigated the move. France also opposes the request as unrealistic.”… Page 1: “Britain to Extend Freeze on Wages with update on ‘pay policy.'”… Page 1: “House Chiefs Backs Warren Commission as questions arise. Schlesinger says ‘there is a residue of uncertainty’ but House leaders say basic questions have been answered.”… Page 1: “U.S. Crime Panel Favors Wiretaps as presidential unit splits with Attorney General and backs some government bugging. President’s National Crime Commission says FBI is OK to bug under strict safeguards.”… Page 2: “Israel Denies Using American Tanks in Jordan Raid…assurance seen as effort to forestall any reduction in U.S. aid.”… Page 3: “Defense Spending Down in October as total falls from September but still tops $5 billion.”… Page 3: “100 U.S. soldiers fight 300 of foe in a battle in which G.I. platoon was overrun is detailed…unit suffers heavy casualties.”… Page 3: “Retirement delay is allowed 5,100 Air Force officers due for retirement in next two years to remain on active duty indefinitely. also 850 Captains twice passed over will get chance to remain on active duty. Most are pilots, since pilots are in short supply due to Vietnam War.”… Page 23: “Dick Gregory would defy U.S. On North Vietnam Trip to entertain American servicemen captured by North Vietnamese. Comedian says his not interested in visiting or entertaining troops in South Vietnam.”…
Page 3: “Hanoi’s Intransigence” by Max Frankel… “They do not have much time in South Vietnam to watch developments in North Vietnam. But since both sides agree that the war has become a contest of will, there is a constant search here for signs of even a faint flinch on the Communist side. So far Saigon, like Washington, both South Vietnam and American officials in Saigon expect no sign. In part this is because the Americans here have ceased long ago to see any way of finding a satisfactory end to the war by diplomatic means. They know better even than the Communist leaders in Hanoi how firmly the Vietcong village structure remains in tact. That is the real battleground, they believe, and that is where the enemy will must be broken.” …
Humble Host asks that you read that again. THIS IS THE GREATEST OF ALL LESSONS FROM OUR VIETNAM EXPERIENCE FOR APPLICATION IN ALL FUTURE DECISIONS TO ENTER A FIGHT ON FOREIGN TURF, OR NOT… All wars are a battle to destroy the will of the enemy to resist… In Vietnam in November 1966 the country we were supporting, South Vietnam’s incumbent military government, was powerless to destroy the will or change the behavior of the Vietcong (National Liberation Front). Efforts to pacify and create havens of freedom in the vast areas of South Vietnam never had a chance, despite our best efforts. It should not be a shock that we haven’t been able to do so in Afghanistan or Iraq either. And we never will be able too. Our dreamers have overwhelmed our realists time and time again… I invite your view…
23 November 1966… The President’s Daily Brief… CIA (TS sanitized Sept 2015)… COMMUNIST CHINA: The battle for power within the leadership took a sudden new turn today. Red Guard attacks on Chief of State Liu Shao-chi and the general secretary of the party were sharply intensified. Both are now publicly accused of very serious political crimes. This may well be the start of a move to bring them down in disgrace…. JORDAN: The Situation is grave. Violent anti-Husayn demonstrations erupted today in every important center in west Jordan, including Jerusalem. Some openly called for the King’s overthrow. Jordanian officials expect the demonstrations to become more violent. So far the police and troops appear to be responding to orders but this may not last much longer. The use of troops to repress demonstrations is further intensifying military demands for retaliation against Israel. Such a retaliatory strike would, in fact, be the one thing that could quickly–if momentarily–restore the King’s and army’s prestige. King Husayn insists his choice has now been narrowed to either a strike at Israel, even if it is sucicdal, or facing a popular revolution at home. He told a U.S. Embassy officer last night that “I have never before been blamed so openly by my own people and army for failing to provide the necessary defense against Israel. To oppose pro-Nasir demonstrations is one thing. To seem to oppose my own people and army on Israel is quite another.”…
23 NOVEMBER 1966… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… NYT…Page 2: “Barges Attacked Off Coast” … Two United States Navy destroyers on blockade patrol of the coast of North Vietnam attacked a convoy of 60 enemy barges loaded with military supplies and sank or damaged 47 of them. It was the biggest kill of the war for American warships. Destroyers Warrington and Mullany participated. These sinkings bring to 230 the number of barges sunk since October 25.” there was no coverage of the air war in North Vietnam… “Vietnam: Air Losses” (Hobson) Two fixed wing aircraft were lost in Southeast Asia on 23 November 1966…
(1) COMMANDER ALAN “BOOT” HILL, CO of the “World Famous Golden Dragons” of VA-192 embarked in USS Ticonderoga was flying an A-4E on an Iron Hand mission in support of a strike on the POL storage site at Can Thou near Hon Gay. His aircraft was hit twice by ground fire as he recovered from a rocket attack. COMMANDER HILL was able to fly his blazing aircraft 40 miles to sea before having to eject. He was rescued by a Navy helicopter and after a short break to recover from minor injuries returned to lead numerous Ticonderoga alpha strikes over the next seven months. oohrah, Boot…
(2) CAPTAIN D.E. DISBROW and 1LT WHITESIDES were flying an O-1E of the 21st TASS and 14th ACW out of Nha Trang on a visual reconnaissance mission in support of the 101st Airborne Division 30 miles southwest of Qui Nhon when hit by ground fire that led to a crash landing that both men in the O-1E survived. They were rescued by an Air Force helicopter.
RIPPLE SALVO… #266… In concert with NATIONAL U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIER MONTH RTR is recalling the Vietnam War cruises of the 17 carriers and embarked carrier air wings that participated in Operation Rolling Thunder from Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin.
USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) executed seven combat deployments to Southeast Asia between 5 May 1964 and 11 October 1973. She spent 714 days “on the line” conducting day and night strike missions as part of CTF-77, the Fast Carrier Strike Forces of the Seventh Fleet. Over the course of her seven cruises she would lose 45 aircraft in combat and 22 to operational accidents and leave 31 aviators behind when she retuned to her homeport of Alameda then North Island, San Diego. Twenty pilots were killed in combat and another 22 airmen perished in other mishaps. In addition, the air wings lost 17 pilots to the enemy as captured POWs, with one dying in captivity. Sixteen returned home after the 1973 truce. Four pilots remain missing in action… The following is summarized from two sources: Rene’ Francillion’s “Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club” and Chris Hobson’s “Vietnam: Air Losses,” in addition to other research material…
THE SEVEN COMBAT CRUISES OF USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64)
First Cruise from NAS Alameda with CVW-14 embarked: 5 May 1964 — 1 February 1965…
Days on the line: 68
Combat Losses: 0
Operational Losses: 3 (1 F-4, 1 A-4, and 1 FR-8 with all three pilots recovered…
Second Cruise from NAS North Island with CVW-15 embarked: 12 May 1966 — 3 December 1966…
Days on the line: 111
Combat Losses: 12
12 Jun: A-6A of VA-65…LT R.M. WEBER (recovered) and LTJG C.W. MARIK (KIA)…
27 Jun: A-4E of VA-155… LCDR G.A. SMITH… (KIA)…
1 Jul: A-4E of VA-155… CDR CHUCK PETERS… (KIA)…
4 Jul: A-4E of VA-155…LT NEIL HOLBEN… (recovered)…
10 Jul: A-4C of VA-153… LCDR GEORGE WILKINS… (KIA)…
29 Jul: A-4E of VA-155… LTJG V.K. CAMERON… (KIA)…
19 Aug: RA-5C of RVAH-6… LCDR J.K. THOMPSON and LTJG G.L. PARTEN…(both recovered)
27 Aug: A-6A of VA-65…LCDR J.H. FELLOWES and LTJG G.T. COKER… (both POW)…
12 Sept: A-4C of VA-153… LCDR W.F. COAKLEY… (KIA)…
20 Oct: A-4C of VA-153… LTJG H.S. EDWARDS… (KIA)…
22 Oct: F-4B of VF-161… LCDR E.P. McBRIDE… (KIA) and LTJG E.U. TURNER… (recovered)…
22 Oct: RA-5C of RVAH-6… LCDR T.c. KOLSTAD… (KIA) and LTJG W.B. KLENERT…(KIA)…
Operational Losses: 3 (2 F-4Bs and 1 A-4E, 5 aviators Killed)
Highlight of Cruise: MIG -17 shot down by LT William McGUIGAN and LTJG Robert FOWLER…
Third Combat Cruise: from North Island 29 April 1967 — 4 December 1967…CVW-14 Embarked…
Days on the Line: 121
Combat Losses: 12
19 Jun: F-4B of VF-142…LCDR F.L. RAINES and ENS C.L. LEWNES… (both recovered)…
28 Jun: F-4B of VF-1413…COMMANDER WILLIAM LAWRENCE…(POW) and LTJG J.W. BAILEY… (POW)…
30 Jun: A-4C: of VA-146…LT J.W. McGRAWTH… (POW)…
9 Jul: A-4C of VA-146… LT C.R. LEE… (KIA)
13 Aug: RA-5C of RVAH-12…LCDR L.G. HYAT…(POW) and LTJG W.K. GOODERMOTE… (POW)…
21 Aug: F-4B of VF-142… CDR R.H. McGLOHN and LTJG J.M. McILRATH…(both recovered)…
21 Aug: A-6A of VA-196…CDR L.T PROFILET… (POW) and LCDR W.M. HARDMAN…(POW)…
21 Aug: A-6A of VA-196… LTJG D.V. SCOTT …(KIA) and LTJG F.G. TREMBLEY… (POW)…
21 Aug: A-6A of VA-196… LCDR J.L. BOOKLEY…(KIA) and LT J.R. FLYNN…(POW)…
30 Oct: F-4B of VF-142…LCDR H.P. LUND and LTJG J.R. BORST…(both recovered)…
23 Aug: F-4B of VF-142… LCDR TOM SITEK …(KIA) and ENS P.I. NESS…(KIA)…
2 NOV: A-6A of VA-196… LCDR R.D. MORROW… (KIA) and LTJ.J. WRIGHT… (MIA)…
Operational Losses: 4 (2 A-4, 1 RA-5C with 2 killed and 1 KA-3B all 3 in crew killed)…
Highlights of the deployment: Three MIG-21s and 1 MIG-17 bagged by:
(1) MIG-21 by VF-142 F-4B: LT Guy Freeborn and LTJG Robert Elliot on 10 Aug…
(2)MIG-21 by VF-142 F-4B: LCDR Robert Davis and LCDR Gayle Elie on 10 Aug…
(3) MIG-21 by VF-143 F-4B: LTJG Burner Hickey and LTJG Jeremy Morris on 26 Oct…
(4) MIG-17 by VF-142 F-4B: LCDR Eugene Lund and LTJG James Borst on 30 Oct…
Fourth Combat Cruise from NAS North Island 29 May 1968 — 31 January 1969…CVW-14…
Days on the line: 129
Combat Losses: 9
17 Aug… F4B of VF-142…LTJG M.L. GARTLEY…(POW) and LT W.J. MAYHEW… (POW)…
24 Aug…A-7A of VA-27…LT J.R. LEE… (recovered)
14 Sep…A-7A of VA-27… CDR G.T. PAPPAS…(recovered)…
17 Sep…A-7A of VA-97… LCDR B.D. WOODS…(POW)…
30 Sep…A-6A of VA-196…LTJG L.Van RENSELAAR…(MIA) and LT D.A. SPINELLI…(MIA)…
6 OCT…A-7A of VA-27… LTJG G.M. BIERY…(recovered)…
25 Nov…RA-5C of RVAH-5…CDR E.A. STAMM…(POW died in captivity) and LTJG R.C. THUM…(POW)…
18 Dec…A-6A of VA-196… LTJG J.R. BABCOCK…(KIA) and LT G.J. MEYER…(KIA)…
19 Dec…A-6A of VA-196…LT M.L. BOUCHARD…(KIA) and LT R.W. COLYAR…(recovered)…
Operational Losses: 7…(2 F-4Bs, one killed; 2 A-7A; 1 A-6B: 2 UH-2)…
Fifth Combat Cruise from North Island 11 August 1969 — 1 May 1970 with CVW-14 embarked…
Days on the line: 128
Combat Losses: 5
1 Oct…A-7A of VA-97… LT P.E. MULLOWNEY… (recovered)…
22 Nov…F-4J of VF-143…LTJG H.C. WHEELER…(recovered) and LTJG H.J. BEDINGER…(POW)…
28 Feb…A-7A of VA-27…LT R.E. KARP… (recovered)…
3 Apr…A-7A of VA-97… LT H.P. HOFFMAN… (recovered)…
7 APR…A-7A of VA-97… LT M.P. HAMILTON… (recovered)…
Operational Losses: 2 (2 A-7As both pilots recovered)…
Highlight of the deployment: One MIG-21 shot down by LT Jerome Beaulier and LT Steven Barkley of VF-142 (F-4J).
Sixth Combat Cruise from North Island on 1 October 1971 — 1 July 1972 with CVW-9 embarked…
Days on line: 169
Combat Losses: 5
30 Dec…A-6A of VA-165…LCDR F.L. HOLMES…(KIA) and LT C.W. BURTON… (recovered)…
18 Feb… F-4J of VF-92…LT B.P. ROWE…(KIA) and LTJG D.E. SPENCE… (recovered)…
10 May…F-4J of VF-92…CDR H.L. BLACKBURN… (POW) and LT S.A. RUDLOFF…(POW)…
10 May…F-4J of VF-96…LT R.H. CUNNINGHAN…(recovered) and LTJG W.P. DRISCOLL…(recovered)…
17 May…A-7E of VA-147…COMMANDER T.R. WILKINSON…(recovered)…
Operational Losses: 2 (1 A-7E, SH-3, all aircrew recovered)
Highlight of the deployment: 9 MIGs shot down, five by Lt RANDY CUNNINGHAM and LTJG WILLIE DRISCOLL (F-4J of VF-96).
Other MIG Killers: Two MIGs downed by Lt Michael Connelly and LT Thomas Blonski (F-4J of VF-96); and one each by:
LT Steven Shoemaker and LTJG Keith Crenshaw (F-4J of VF-96); and LT Curt Dose’ and LCDR J. McDevitt (F-4j of VF-92.
Seventh Combat cruise out of North Island on 5 January 1972 … 11 October 1972 with CVW-9 embarked…
Days on the line: 98
Combat Losses: 0
Operational Losses: 1 (A-7E of VA-147, pilot missing)
TOMORROW: THE SEVEN COMBAT CRUISES OF USS CORAL SEA… 845 DAYS ON THE LINE… CARRIERS FOREVER…
Lest we forget… Bear -30-