RIPPLE SALVO… #629… A TRAGIC DAY ON USS CORAL SEA…THE LOSS OF ONE OF THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE…the Commanding Officer of the VA-155 Silver Foxes… and it was there on the deck of the carrier for all to see and helplessly accept in disbelief… it happened fifty years ago this day… and it still hurts…
Chris Hobson: “Vietnam: Air Losses”… Page 127… 25 November 1967… A-4E of VA-155 “Silver Foxes” embarked in USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43)… Pilot: COMMANDER WILLIAM HENRY SEARFUS, United States Navy, COMMANDING OFFICER, LIGHT ATTACK SQUADRON 155…
“As a Skyhawk was taxiing along the deck of the Coral Sea, it was blown over the ramp and into the sea in the jet blast from another aircraft. Sadly, the pilot who had taken command of VA-155 in June, was unable to escape and drowned when the aircraft sank.”…
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… AMONG THE BRAVE… “CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN ACTION”… COMMANDER WILLIAM SEARFUS, United States Navy…. Phuc Yen, North Vietnam… 25 October 1967…
“The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR (Posthumously), United States Navy, for CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY and INTREPIDITY in action on 25 October 1967, as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE (VA-155), embarked in U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CVA-43). Commander SEARFUS led Two divisions of Strike aircraft comprising the lead element of major air wing assault on the strongly defended Phuc Yen airfield in North Vietnam. Flying over heavily defended enemy terrain, he led the strike element in cleverly calculated evasive maneuvers which confused and deterred the enemy. When tracked on three difference occasions by surface-to-air missiles, he assessed each situation, alerted the force to the threat, and pressed on to the target. After reaching the target and placing his elements in optimum position for attack, he commenced his diving attack only to observe two more surface-to-air missiles heading toward the attacking aircraft. Alerting the group to this new threat, Commander SEARFUS unhesitatingly performed a devastating dive-bombing run on the assigned target, completely destroying it. During the recovery phase of his attack, he was engulfed by withering enemy anti-aircraft fire which actually displacing his aircraft but quickly regaining control, he selected an egress route which led to a safe retirement. Commander SEARFUS’ Courage, dynamic leadership, and determination in the face of intense enemy opposition reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
Bill Searfus was also awarded eight Distinguished Flying Crosses for strike leadership and mission accomplishment for squadron and air wing strikes on targets in Ninh Binh (16 Sept 1966); Do Xa (3 Sept 1967); Haiphong (21 Sept 1967); Haiphong (28 Sept 1967); Hanoi (16 Oct 1967); Phuc Yen (24 Oct 1967); Hanoi (27 Oct 1967) and Hanoi (17 Nov 1967)… Bold, brave, skilled, fearless, smart, inspirational, happy… a great combat warrior leader …
Add: RADM Tom Brown was Wing Ops on Coal Sea and close friend of Bill Searfus. They were neighbors in Lemoore and their wives were also close friends in the Navy-wife, cruise-widow life. Humble Host requested a little more info on the incident from Tom… He shares this: “…we lost one of our very best when Bill was blown over the ramp and fantail of Coral Sea fifty years ago. He was getting ready for a launch parked back on the starboard side just behind the wires. His wingman was parked just ahead and got ready first, and they decided to taxi him out first. His nose wheel got hung up in the wires and they gave him more power signals and the high power caught and blew Bill’s aircraft around, pointed aft, and over the ramp and fantail. Bill’s canopy was open as the aircraft hit the water and sank with no sign Bill got out.” A fully loaded and armed A-4 doesn’t float…
Humble Host is proud to post this remembrance of Bill Searfus on the 50th anniversary of his passing in the service of our country…gone, but not forgotten… and always remembered with admiration and respect…
25 November 1967…NYT (26 Nov reporting 25 Nov ops) Page 2: “In the air war, poor weather again limited United States pilots to strikes in the southern sector of North Vietnam.”… there were two other aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 25 November 1967 in addition to the A-4E of Bill Searfus…
(1) LCOL LEWIS HERBERT ABRAMS, USMC, Commanding, and 1LT ROBERT EUGENE HOLDERMAN, USMC were flying an A-6 Intruder of the VMA(AW)-242 Batmen and MAG-11 and went missing in action on a night strike on the airfield near Haiphong. Radar and radio contact was lost and a radio broadcast from Peking indicated the aircraft was downed by antiaircraft fire. An excavation of a crash site near Haiphong in 1993 and again in 1995 resulted in the recovery of bone fragments that led to the identification of the two missing Marines. On this 50th anniversary of the last flight of LCOL ABRAMS and 1LT HOLDERMAN our thoughts are with the brave surviving family members who carry on…
(3) A third aircraft was lost on this date: a C-130E-1(Combat Talon-Blackbird) from the 314st TAW (Stray Goose Detachment) out of Nha Trang was destroyed on the ground by enemy mortars. three other C-130E-1s were damaged….
Humble Host lost the wind this evening with the realization that this was the anniversary of Bill Searfus’ passing so I’m DIW and taking in the UTAH sunset with Bill and Colonel Abrams and Lt Holderman on my mind… and legions of others, who, with glory gained and duty done, rest in peace….
“Lord, hold them in thy mighty hand
Above the ocean and the land.
Like wings of Eagles mounting high
Along the pathways of the sky,
Immortal is the name they bear
And high the honour that they share.
Until a thousand years have rolled
These deeds of valour shall be told.
In the dark of night and light of day
God speed them on their way.
And homeward safely guide each one
With glory gained and duty done….
Lest we forget… Bear