RIPPLE SALVO… #308… TWO BRAVE and BLOODY YEARS — 728 DAYS — ON YANKEE STATION… but first…
Good Morning: Day THREE HUNDRED EIGHT of a thousand days of remembering and honoring the warriors of ROLLING THUNDER…
7 JANUARY 1967… THE HEAD LINES 50 YEARS AGO… from the New York Times on a cloudy and rainy Friday in NYC…
Page 1: “U.S. Doubts Hanoi Has Given a Sign it Wants Peace”… “The Johnson Administration let it be known tonight that it did not see any heightened prospects for peace negotiations on the basis of recent declarations by North Vietnamese spokesmen. Officials said they regarded Hanoi’s latest comments as part of a concerted campaign to get the United States to halt its air attacks on North Vietnam unconditionally without any substantive concessions from the enemy. The officials do not discern any signals that Hanoi wants to begin serious talks. They reemphasized that Washington was not willing to cease the controversial bombing raids without matching de-escalation by the other side. Reports from Vietnam show no significant drop either in infiltration of North Vietnamese troops into South Vietnam or in military actions initiated by the enemy, the official said, nor is there any slackening of his determination to press the effort to take down the South…. The situation grew out of an interview Tuesday with the North Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong by Harrison Salisbury, an assistant managing editor of the New York Times, and out of comments by North Vietnam’s chief diplomatic representative in Western Europe. The net effect of the statements, the officials here concluded, is that while Hanoi has slighty changed the phraseology of its peace program, it has not made any change of substance. ‘It adds up to a distinction without a difference,’one official said.”… Page 1: “Pope Asks Peking to ‘Discuss Peace’… Pope Paul VI said today he wished to renew contacts with the mainland Chinese and ‘discuss peace’ with their leaders. the Pope’s remarks…took an additional significance in view of his efforts to achieve peace in Vietnam.”… Page 1: Harrison Salisbury: “North Vietnam Runs on Bicycles”… “The best present you can give your girlfriend in Hanoi is not a box of candy or even a diamond ring. It is a new chain for her bicycle. The bicycle is just as essential in North Vietnam as the auto is in Los Angeles. {Picture on page 1 of a fully loaded bike with a black pajama clad North Vietnamese trooper pedaling.}…the bicycle convoys track through North Vietnam: in one day, four bicycles can carry one ton of supplies 18 miles.”
Page 1: “GM Recalling 269,000 New Cars”… a steering defect is attributed to faulty installation with eight failures reported so far. The 1967 vehicles sought are: Chevrolet Chevelles and El Caminos; Pontiac Tempests; Oldsmobile 85s; and Buick Specials.”… Page 1: “Kennedy Presses State Democrats to Widen Activity”…”Senator Edward Kennedy urged the state Democratic party today to join with state community service programs as part of its effort to rebound from the election.”… Page 1: “Chou New Target of the Red Guard; Fights Reported”… “Yard high posters placed today at Peking’s ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace’ denounced Premier Chou En-lai, who had been a supporter of the purge led by Chairman Mao Tse-tung and Defense Minister Lin Pao. The latest evidence that supporter’s of Mao’s revolutionary line has intensified the drive against their opponents followed a night punctuated by violence. {Bloody clashes are marking the purge according to dispatches received from Peking by Japanese newspapers and some rail service has been disrupted.} …Page 2: “Military Airlift to Vietnam Shifts Partly to New Base”…”The Air Force is switching to include McChord AFB to reduce congestion at Travis AFB.”… Page 2: “U.S. Marines Land in Mekong Delta”… “A U.S. Marine Corps force waded ashore in the Mekong delta area yesterday and went by helicopter to landing zones inland. It was the first direct commitment of American combat troops to the delta in the Vietnam War.”…
7 JANUARY 1967… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…NYT: Page 3:…”13,000 Missions in 1966″…”The United States Air Force flew 13,000 missions over North Vietnam in 1966 (11 months–January was a stand down) and recorded the following bomb damage: nine thousand secondary explosions were set off in fuel or ammunition storage areas and pilots reported destroying or damaging 1,893 barges, 3,227 buildings, 32 surface-to-air missile sites; 319 rail cars; 4,642 road cuts and 657 rail cuts. Navy and Marine pilots also flew thousands of missions over North Vietnam, but these were not reported in the Air Force report.”… “Vietnam: Air Losses” (Hobson) There were no fixed wing aircraft losses in Southeast Asia on 7 January 1967…. oohrah…
RIPPLE SALVO… #308… THE SEVEN VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISES OF USS ORISKANY…Between April 1965 and March 1973 USS Oriskany made seven deployments from her home port of Alameda to the Western Pacific. In those eight years she was away from home for four years and spent two years, 728 days, on Yankee Station conducting offensive air operations with Task Force 77 against our enemy North Vietnam. “O-Boat” and her embarked air wing— CVW-16 for the first three cruises through the disastrous fire of 26 October 1966, and CVW-19 for her last four combat cruises– paid a great price for their great victories. More tha 100 true patriots– warriors, all– and more than 100 aircraft were lost on the seven cruises. Humble Host is honored to add the Oriskany/ CVW-16 and CVW-19 record to this journal of Operation Rolling Thunder. References for the following include Chris Hobson’s “Vietnam: Air Losses” and Rene’ Francillon’s “Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club.”…
THE FIRST VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISE OF USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) and CVW-16 departing NAS Alameda on 5 April 1965 and returning on 16 December 1966 (8 1/2 months)…
Days on the Line: 141
Combat Losses: 15
26 August 1965: A-1H of VA-152… LTJG EDWARD ANTHONY DAVIS… POW…
29 August: A-1H of VA-152… LT EDD DAVID TAYLOR… KIA…
29 August: RF-8A of VFP-63… LT HENRY STERLING McWHORTER… KIA…
6 Sept: A-4E of VA-164… LT J.L. BURTON… Recovered…
8 Sept: RF-8A of VFP-63… LTJG ROBERT DAVID RUDOLPH… KIA…
9 Sept: A-4E of VA-163… COMMANDER JAMES B. STOCKDALE, Commander Carrier Air Wing 19… POW… (MOH)
5 Oct: F-8E of VF-162… LTJG RICHARD F. ADAMS… Recovered…
31 Oct: A-4E of VA-164… LCDR TRENT RICHARD POWERS… KIA… (Navy Cross)…
5 Nov: F-8E of VMF (AW)-212… CAPTAIN HARLAND P. CHAPMAN, USMC… KIA…
7 Nov: A-4E of VA-163… LCDR CHARLES D. WACK… Recovered…
9 Nov: A-1 H of VA-152… LCDR PAUL G. MERCHANT… Recovered…
13 Nov: A-4E of VA-163… COMMANDER HARRY TARLETON JENKINS, CO-163… POW…
17 Nov: F-8E of VMF (AW)-212… CAPTAIN ROSS C. CHAIMSON, USMC… Recovered…
17 Nov: A-4E of VA-163… LCDR ROY HOWARD H. BOWLING… POW…
17 Nov: A-1H of VA-152… LCDR JESSE JUNIOR TAYLOR… KIA…
Operational Losses: 7 (1- A-3B; 2-A-1H; 1-A-4E {pilot killed}; 2-F-8E; and 1-A-1J {pilot killed} )
THE SECOND VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISE OF USS ORISKANY with CVW-16 embarked departed Alameda 26 May 1966 and returned 16 November 1966 (5 1/2 months)…
Days on the Line: 87
Combat Losses: 16
12 Jul 1966: F-8E of VF-162… LTJG RICHARD F. ADAMS… Recovered…
14 Jul: F-8E of VF-162… COMMANDER RICHARD M. BELLINGER, CO-162… Recovered…
19 Jul: F-8E of VF-162… LT TERRY ARDEN DENNISON… KIA…
23 Jul: A-4E of VA-163… COMMANDER WYNN F. FOSTER, CO-163…Recovered…
28 Jul: A-4E of VA-164… ENSIGN GEORGE P. McSWAIN… POW…
7 Aug: A-1H of VA-152… LT CHARLES WIGGER FRYER… KIA…
11 Aug: F-8E of VF-111… LTJG C.A. BALISTERI… Recovered…
13 Aug: F-8E of VF-111… LCDR NORM S. LEVY… Recovered…
18 Aug: F-8E of VF-162… LCDR DEMETRIO A. VERICH… Recovered…
28 Aug: A-1H of VA-152… COMMANDER GORDON H. SMITH… Recovered…
31 Aug: RF-8G of VFP-63… LCDR THOMAS A. TUCKER…Recovered…
5 Sept: F-8E of VF-111… CAPTAIN WILFRED KEESE ABBOTT, USAF… POW…
6 Oct: F-8E of VF-162… LT R.D. LEACH… Recovered…
8 Oct: A-1H of VA-152… LT JOHN ANTHONY FELDHAUS… KIA…
12 Oct: A-4E of VA-164… LT FRANK CALLIHAN ELKINS… KIA…
14 Oct: A-1H of VA-152… ENSIGN DARWIN JOEL THOMAS… KIA…
Operational Losses: 9 (5 A-4s {2 pilots killed}; 2 A-1 {one pilot killed}; 1 F-8; and 1 UH-2)…
Highlight of the Cruise: One MIG-17 bagged by COMMANDER RICHARD BELLINGER, CO-162 on 9 Oct…
THE 26 OCTOBER 1966 ORISKANY FIRE: 44 killed (20 aircrew)…re: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS Oriskany fire … for casualty list, which was published on my Rolling Thunder Remembered post for 26 October 1966 (archived)…
THE THIRD VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISE OF THE USS ORISKANY with CVW-16 embarked departed Alameda on 16 June 1967 and returned on 31 January 1968 (7 1/2 months)…
Days on the Line: 122
Combat Losses 29…
14 Jul 1967: A-4E of VA-164… LTJG L. J. CUNNINGHAM… Recovered…
15 Jul: A-1H of VA152… LTJG ROBIN BERN CASSELL… KIA…
16 Jul: F-8E of VF-162… LCDR DEMETRIO A. VERICH… Recovered (again)…
18 Jul: A-4E of VA-164… LCDR RICHARD DANNER HARTMAN… POW (Died in captivity)…
18 Jul: A-4E of VA-164… LTJG LAURIE J. DUTHIE… Recovered…
18 Jul: A-4E of VA-164… LTJG BARRY T. WOOD… Recovered…
19 Jul: F-8E of VF-162… COMMANDER HERBERT PERRY HUNTER, Xo of VF-162… KIA…
20 Jul: A-4E of VA-163… LT R.W. KUHL… Recovered…
25 Jul: A-4E of VA-163… LCDR DONALD VANCE DAVIS… KIA…
31 Jul: F-8C ofVF-111… LTJG CHARLES PETER ZUHOSKI… POW…
4 Aug: A-4E of VA-163… LTJG RALPH CHAMPION BISZ… KIA…
31 Aug: A-4E of VA163… LTJG DAVID JAY CAREY… POW…
31 Aug: A-4E of VA-163… LCDR HUGH ALLEN STAFFORD…POW…
31 Aug: A-42 of VA-164… LCDR RICHARD CLARK PERRY… KIA…
5 Oct: F-8C of VF-111… ENSIGN DAVID PAUL MATHENY… POW…
7 Oct: A-4E of VA-164… LT DAVID LAWTON HODGES… KIA…
9 Oct: A-4E of VA-164… LTJG L.J. CUNNINGHAM… Recovered (again)…
18 Oct: A-4E of VA-164… LCDR JOHN FREDERICK BARR… KIA…
22 Oct: A-4E of VA-163… LTJG JAMES EDWARD DOOLEY… KIA..
24 Oct: A-4E of VA-163… LTJG ROBERT EUGENE FOULKS… Recovered…
25 Oct: A-4E of VA-163… LT JEFFREY MARTIN KROMMENHOCK… KIA…
26 Oct: F-8E of VF-162… LTJG CHARLES DONALD RICE… POW…
26 Oct: A-4E of VA-163… LCDR JOHN S. McCAIN III… POW…
2 Nov: A-4E of VA-164… LTJG FREDERIC WOODROW KNAPP… KIA…
5 Dec: F-8C of VF-111… LT H.J. MEADOWS… Recovered…
2 Jan 1968: F-8C of VF-111… LTJG CRAIG M. TAYLOR…Recovered…
4 Jan: F-8E of VF-162… LTJG RICHARD WILLIS MINNICK… KIA…
5 Jan: A-4E of VA-163… LTJG RALPH EUGENE FOULKS… KIA.. (Rescued 24 Oct)…
11 Jan: A-4E of VA-164… LCDR DENNIS R. WEICHMAN… Recovered…
Operational Losses: 10 (3 A-4; 4 F-8 one pilot killed; 2 KA-3 2 killed; 1 E-1 five killed)
Highlight of the cruise was LT RICHARD WYMAN’s (VF-162) MIG-17 KILL on 14 December 1967…
THE FOURTH VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISE OF USS ORISKANY with CVW-19 embarked and departing Alameda on 16 April 1969 and returning 17 November 1969 (5 months)…
Days on the Line: 116
Combat Losses: 1
20 Jul: A-4F of VA-23… LT STANLEY KUTZ SMILEY… KIA…
Operational Losses: 8 (4 A-4; 3 F-8; and 1 RF-8)…
THE FIFTH VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISE OF USS ORISKANY with CVW-19 embarked departing Alameda 14 May 1970 and returning 10 December 1970 (5 months)…
Days on the Line: 90
Combat Losses: 1
28 June 1970: A-7B of VA-153… COMMANDER DONALD DEANE ALDERN, Commander Carrier Air Wing 19… KIA…
Operational Losses: 3 (1 A-7; 1 F-8 pilot killed; and 1 RF-8 pilot killed)
THE SIXTH VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISE OF USS ORISKANY with CVW-19 embarked departing Alameda on 14 May 1971 and returning on 18 December 1971 (5 MONTHS)…
Days on the Line: 75
Combat Losses: None
Operational Losses: 4 (3 A-7 0ne pilot killed; 1 F-8 pilot killed)
THE SEVENTH VIETNAM COMBAT CRUISE OF USS ORISKANY with CVW-19 embarked departing Alameda on 5 June 1972 and returning on 20 March 1973 (10 months)…
Days on the Line: 160
Combat Losses: 2
17 July 1972: A-7B of VA-155… LT FREDRICK LEON HAAS… KIA…
24 Sept: A-7B of VA-155… LT DANIEL VERNOR BORAH… KIA…
Operational Losses: 4 (1 A-7; 2 F-8 one pilot killed; and 1 RF-8)
Humble Host is wordless… This honor roll warrants somber thought. Thank God for each of these men of indomitable courage.
QUOTES for 7 January: “The will to couquer; such is victory’s first condition and therefore every soldier’s duty.”…MARSHAL FERDINAND FOCH… “I do not fear failure. I only fear the slowing up of the engine inside me which is pounding, saying ‘keep on going, someone must be on top, why not you?’ “…PATTON…
Lest we forget… Bear -13-