RIPPLE SALVO… #446… TED SWARTZ LEADS THE WAY… but first…

Good Morning: Day FOUR HUNDRED FORTY-SIX of a day-by-day look back of fifty years to an aair war that is history…

25 MAY 1967… HEADLINES from The New York Times on a clear, cool Thursday in NYC”’

Page 1: “U.S Backs A Big-4 Effort to Keep Mideast Peace; Thant Cuts Cairo Visit”... “The United States offered today to work directly with Britain, France and the Soviet Union inside or outside the United Nations, to keep the peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors. Thant returns a day early–no word on what had happened on his visit to Cairo.”… Page 1: “Washington Views Mining as A Blow to Easing of Crisis”… “After a day of attempting to ease the Middle Eastern crisis through face-saving diplomatic gestures, the Administration received evidence this evening that the UAR had apparently mined the Strait of Tiran. This added serious new tensions and greatly complicated diplomatic efforts to find a resolution to the Arab-Israeli confrontation.”…

Page 1: “War Cost To Top Johnson Figure, House Unit Finds estimates accepted by the HAC show that the cost of the war in Vietnam in the fiscal year 1968 will be $6-billion higher than the $22-billion in President Johnson’s budget in January. This could be so, the estimates show, even without a decision to increase the planned level of troops…add to the urgency of a 6% tax raise requested by the President.”… Page 4: “Pope Makes A Specific Call For Reduction Of War”... “Pope Paul IV appealed specifically today for the cessation of Bombing of North Vietnam together with an end to acts of terrorism and ‘infiltration of arms and material into the South.’ In a word, a cessation of all forms of violence.”… Page 4: “Foes of War Block Bus With Draftees”… “A bus carrying men bound for induction into the antiwar demonstrators in Ames, Iowa. the demonstrators locked chains around its wheels and sprawled in its path. One of the four passengers headed for induction in Des Moines was Richard Siano, an Iowa State University graduate student who had announced he would refuse to be inducted. Mr. Siano, 24, is on the executive committee of the Students for a Democratic Society.”… Page 6: “Drive to Modernize Politics in Afghanistan is Making Progress”… “Progress…as well as her economy reached a significant stage this week when the Political Parties Bill neared approval by both houses of the national legislature… The process began three years ago when King Mohammed Zabis Shah decided to separate the crown from the government.”…

25 May 1967…The President’s TS Daily CIA Briefing (sanitized): 2. VIETNAM: Evidence of large scale infiltration by regular North Vietnam infantry units into South Vietnam continues to accumulate. This activity, reminiscent of the heavy infiltration during the first half of 1966, extends from the DMZ south to the Central Highlands...ANNEX: Impact of Nasir’s Actions on the Moderate Arab States: Naisr’s stock has soared among the street Arabs of the Middle East–and he has forced the more moderate Arab regimes into a Hobson’s choice. Jordan, for example, can either support Nasir or fave the charges of collaboration with imperialism that could topple King Husayn. Unless Jordan’s gives full support to Egypt–and at present Jordan’s response is lukewarm–Nasir will make life unpleasant indeed. And Husayn knows it. Like Jordan, Saudi Arabia is vulnerable to the charge of not going all out for Nasir in this crisis…

25 MAY 1967…OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…New York Times (26 May reporting 25 May ops) Page 3: “In the air war over North Vietnam United States pilots from the carrier Bon Homme Richard attacked the Kien An MIG airfield about 5 miles southeast of Haiphong. A spokesman said ‘all ordnance was on target,’ there was no further damage evaluation. It was the second time the Kien An base had been attacked by the Navy jets this month and the 10th attack against MIG bases in the Hanoi-Haiphong area.”

On 25 May 1967 LCDR TED SWARTZ attached to and serving with Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX embarked in USS BON HOMME RICHARD was strike leader of a major air wing strike against the Kien An airfield and support area, North Vietnam. The strike group was composed of the following aircraft: ten A-4 strike aircraft, five F-8 flak suppressor, six F-8 target combat air patrol and six A-4 missile suppression aircraft (Iron Hand). Sixteen additional air wing aircraft supported this 27 aircraft strike group. LCDR SWARTZ assumed the lead of this strike at the last minute due to a sudden illness of the assigned strike leader. Though pressed for time LCDR SWARTZ utilized his comprehensive knowledge of combat tactics and ability as a leader to grasp the entire concept of the operation and complete the planning and thorough briefing of the large air wing strike on a well defended target in close proximity to North Vietnam’s second largest concentration of civilians. Airborne, he expeditiously gathered his 27 plane strike group and led them on the attack.

LCDR SWARTZ had carefully planned and briefed his approach and retirement routes and he executed that plan that avoided enemy defenses to the extent possible. The target was well defended by 48 active antiaircraft artillery positions siting an estimated 315 light, medium, and heavy guns, 19 known active surface-to-air missile sites and was within eight minutes flight time of three major MIG airfields supporting more than 75 MIGs. LCDR SWARTZ expertly led the strike group to the target at low-level and high-speed. At his planned pull-up point he commenced a climb through light to medium antiaircraft fire and at roll-in the intensity of enemy ground fire intensified and three surface-to-air missiles were fired at elements of his strike group. As each element in the group locked on and attacked their respective targets in the Kien An complex, LCDR SWARTZ led his six A-4s in an aggressive and deadly attack on the MIG aircraft revetments south of the runway delivering thirty CBU-24 weapons on target. All aircraft reported hits on target and all aircraft successfully evaded intense enemy opposition on retirement without damage, to return to Bon Homme Richard.”

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… LIEUTENANT COMMANDER THEODORE ROBERT SWARTZ, UNITED STATES NAVY… EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT… DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS…25 MAY 1967…

“The President of the United States pleasure in presenting the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS to LIEUTENANT COMMANDER THEODORE ROBERT SWARTZ, United States Navy for heroism and EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT while participating in aerial flight as a pilot of  jet attack aircraft while attached to and serving with Attack Squadron SEVENTY-SIX embarked in USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31), in action against hostile enemy forces in North Vietnam on 25 May 1967. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER SWARTZ was designated to lead a 43 plane coordinated strike against  the important Kien An airfield and support area in North Vietnam. Although a last minute replacement as strike leader, he expertly completed the planning, thoroughly briefed the pilots in all aspects of the mission, led the strike group in the execution of a highly successful raid. His outstanding leadership, knowledge of combat tactics, thorough planning, and flawless execution under difficult and hazardous conditions, ensured the success of this mission. His actions in the face of grave personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”…     oohrah!!!…

“Vietnam: Air Losses”(Chris Hobson) There were two fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 25 May 1967…

(1) ENSIGN RICHARD CAMPBELL GRAVES was flying an A-1H of the VA-215 Barn Owls embarked in USS Bon Homme Richard on an armed coastal reconnaissance mission and was downed by antiaircraft fire recovering from a rocket attack on a small cargo boat. He was unable to exit his aircraft and went into the sea about 10 miles north of Vinh. ENSIGN GRAVES was Killed in Action, “body not recovered” fifty years ago on this date… remembered with sorrow as he rest in  peace… so young…

(2) MAJOR C.C. RHYMES and 1LT R.E. RANDOLPH were flying an F-4C of the 557th TFS and 12th TFW out of Cam Ranh Bay on an armed reconnaissance mission a few miles north of the DMZ and were hit by antiaircraft fire. They turned seaward and ejected about ten miles at sea. MAJOR RHYMES was rescued by Air Force helicopter and 1LT RANDOLPH was picked up by a Navy ship….

RIPPLE SALVO… #447… On 25 May 1967 the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at a luncheon in Chicago. The New York Times wrote this:

“DR. KING DECLARES HE PLANS ‘TROUBLE’ IN FORM OF PROTESTS”... “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said today that he intended to stir up trouble in some of the major cities this summer. ‘I do plan to stir up trouble in some of the big cities this summer,‘ he said in answer to a question at a luncheon. But he said any demonstrations would be in behalf of ‘righteous’ causes and ‘as peaceful protests would prove an alternative to violence that would serve as a moderating influence in a long hot summer that might develop.’ “

Ho Chi Minh loved what he was hearing and would enjoy observing the long hot 1967 summer of trouble and violence that did develop in America’s major cities. Ho Chi Minh had no reason to talk peace–the United States was about to come apart. Ruptured. Divided against itself… Time was now on the side of North Vietnam.

CAG”s QUOTES for 25 May: SUN TZU: “He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious.”… MacARTHUR: “It is fatal to enter a war without the will to win it.”…

Lest we forget….          Bear