 |
 |
Nov 5, 1967, is a date that I must celebrate every year, since this was the day that my worthless butt was pulled from the jungle in RP5 about 16 miles south of Yen Bai and about 1 mile south of the Red river. For any of you that were there, my call sign was Marlin lead and we were tail end Charlie on a strike at Phuc Yen. We put all but 5 750s into the last hanger standing on the field and pulled off left and went north of the airpatch to egress. 3 Sams were launched at 6-o'clock (validated by Reddog) and since we were not in pod formation yet, I elected to take us on the deck and haul ass. I saw 1 hit the ground and 2 more go ballistic above us and started to pull up when I was hit by 3 57mm rounds, 1 in directly below the cockpit, 1 just in front of the cockpit right side, and 1 in front afterburner area. I was at 690 CAS and at 100', pretty damned good shooting. The cockpit filled with smoke and I blew the canopy to see out and shortly there after had a complete electrical failure along with a loss of all instruments including the pitot gauges. I got out 3 radio calls and luckily for my reputation, could not be heard whimpering on the radio. The Thud burned for slightly more than 7 minutes and finally went out of control over the Red river 12 miles downstream from Yen Bai. The right front quarter panel had melted, the right rudder pedal burned off and fell to the floor, the bomb bay tank blew off the bomb bay doors, the aft tank blew several feet off of the top of the fuselage, and the fire burned into the right wheel well and the tire blew down and ripped off. My wingmen looked like the Thunderbirds all this time. After I finally lost control, stayed with it for about 1 more minute and blew out somewhere around 24000 over the river. After at least a week of subjective time, the 'chute opened and I slipped across the river and was going to land in a town. I managed to get my heels into the front risers and slipped using alternative fronts about 4 miles down stream. With typical fighter pilot logic I picked what I thought was elephant grass and landed in 75' tall bamboo. I fell about 40-50 feet and landed on the family jewels in an excellent heels, ass, and elbow PLF. My wingmen had already called in that I was in an "excellent area" for pickup. My #3 stayed until he had less than 3000lbs. and was back from refueling in under 25 minutes. Guess where the tankers were. Either they were way north or he had a mach 4 thud. I had 17 birds in my cap by the time the Harry Walker showed up in the most beautiful CH3 jolly in the universe. When he went into a hover chopping the top out of a 200' teak tree, 4 MIG-17s made an appearance. The low Sandy told him to get out of the area and his reply was F...You, keep them off my back, I've got more important things to do!! I got hauled out after less than 2+30 on the ground. When the PJ pulled me in the door and gave me a hug, Harry said, "tell that SOB not to die, we need a live one for a change"! They had picked up Richter and John Bishoff, both dead before me and need to change their luck. I was carried off of the CH-3 at NKP and fed Old Overshoes chased with warm Millers by Willy P. and then loaded on a gooney bird and flown to Takhli for one hell of a party. I was the first pickup in NVN in 6+ months since Spade Cooly in April.
I made it out due to the FACT that Republic built one hell of a tough bird, 3 wingmen did every thing right, Tanker pilots have enormous cojones, 7th AF wanted one back, and most of all because Harry Walker is a Warrior and a had a crew that had to have wheelbarrows to carry their Cojones to the bird. I need to thank all of the troops involved and to especially thank Russ O'Neal, flight engineer, for keeping in touch for 31 years. The drinks are on me and Jolly Greens never pay. Sparky
Read Flight Engineer Russ O'Neals account of the rescue from the Jolly Green
perspective.
Read a copy of the Official USAF SAR Logs from the mission.
Official Mission Narrative from Jolly Green 37
Thanks to Russ Oneal for passing them on.
(Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.)
|
|
Return to the Rescue Stories Page