ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED 26 OCTOBER 1967

RIPPLE SALVO… #599… ORISKANY, CORAL SEA and CONSTELLATION hammer the Hanoi Thermal Power Plant, Phucyen Air Base, flattened AAA sites, and bagged a MIG–but leave a few gallant warriors behind… but first…

Good Morning: Day Five Hundred Ninety-Nine of a day-to-day look back at the 40-month air war code-named Rolling Thunder…

26 October 1967… HEAD LINES from The New York Times on a cloudy, windy Thursday in the canyons of New York City…

Page 1 (27 Oct reporting 26 Oct ops): “BIG POWER PLANT IN HANOI BOMBED BY NAVY AIRMEN–10 Enemy Planes Reported Wrecked or Damaged on Ground in Earlier Action”... “Navy planes bombed a power plant in Hanoi today. It is the largest electrical plant in North Vietnam. A military spokesman said pilots from the carrier Oriskany hit the 32,000-kilowatt thermal power plant, about a mile north of the center of the city. The spokesman said there were no immediate reports of damage. This was the third day of attacks against major targets in the Hanoi area.

“Two enemy jets were shot down in dogfights during the day, a MIG-21 downed by a Navy pilot 15 miles south of Hanoi and a MIG-17 destroyed by an Air Force pilot 17 miles northwest of the enemy capital. (The North Vietnamese said 10 American planes were shot down in the Hanoi in the Hanoi raids, the Associated Press reported.) A Navy spokesman said Navy carrier planes destroyed or heavily damaged 10 MIG fighters on the ground in five attacks yesterday (26th) against the Phucyen MIG airbase 16 miles north of Hanoi. Air Force pilots also raided the base. In four attacks the day before, Air Force and Navy pilots reported destroying or damaging nine MIG fighters along the runway and in the protected parking areas.

“One Navy A-4 Skyhawk was reported down by ground fire during the Phuc Yen raid and two Air Force F-105 Thunderchiefs were shot down by antiaircraft fire north of Hanoi. The losses raised the total of American planes downed in the North to 714.

“The downing of the MIG-21 was credited to the pilot of an F-4 Phantom, LIEUT.(jg) ROBERT HICKEY of Watertown, N.Y. and his radar intercept officer, LIEUT.(jg) Jeremy Morris of Western Groves, Md. (OOOHRAH, Burner Bob)… (See Ripple Salvo #599, below)

“Pilots from the Oriskany also reported destroying the control tower, a hangar and two support buildings on the Phucyen airfield as well as scoring hits on three parking areas and two taxiways. The Thermal power plant within the city limits of Hanoi was first attacked June 10, was hit twice in July and was struck again on August 21. Although damage was reported to the plant’s boilers and generators, apparently sufficient time had elapsed to enable at least the partial repair of the damage.”…

OTHER HEAD LINES, NYT, 26 October 1967, 50 years ago… “U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL BIDS ISRAEL AND EGYPT HALT VIOLATIONS–RESOLUTION CALLS ON BOTH TO COMPLY IMMEDIATELY AND HEED TRUCE OFFICIALS–Decries Offensive Actions–Wording Of Draft Welcomed By United States As A Refusal To Take One-Sided View”... “The Security Council unanimously adopted today in the Middle East and demanding Israel and the United Arab Republic ‘cease immediately’ all military activity and cooperate with the U.N.Truce Supervision Organization.”… Page 1: “Cairo Sees Refinery Loss As Grave Economic Blow”... “The loss of two oil refineries in Suez under Israeli shell fire will force extreme measures on the Government of the UAR to save an economy that is already burdened…the three hour Israeli shelling was in retaliation for UAR sinking of Israeli destroyer.”… Page 1: “Inquiry On New Left Is Planned In Senate”… “The Senate Internal Security Subcommittee disclosed plans today for a sweeping investigation of organizations on the New Left, including militant civil rights and antiwar groups.”… Page 1: White House Helps Rights Bill”…”…by making an extraordinary effort, the Administration succeeded today in getting its least controversial civil rights bill through the Senate Judiciary Committee…by 8 to 7 the committee approved President Johnson’s bill to strengthen criminal laws against intimidation or injuring Negroes and civil rights workers engaged in Federally protected activities. A similar bill passed the House earlier.”... Page 1: “SENATE DECLINES TO CURB SPENDING–SETS STAGE FOR CLASH WITH HOUSE–FEDERAL OUTLAYS UP $20-BILLION IN YEAR”... “Senate refused to make President Johnson make sharp cutbacks.”…

Page 1: “Eisenhower Joins Truman In Group Backing the War”… “New committee formed by Senator Paul Douglas and General Omar Bradley give strong Vietnam support. Citizens Committee for Peace With Freedom in Vietnam is co-chaired by Douglas and Bradley.”... Page 8. “Reagan Says a Declaration of War Might Help Curb Demonstrators”… Page 9: “Romney Accuses Soviets Over War”… “…says Russians do not want Vietnam conflict to end.”…

Page 10: “President Speaks At Medal of Honor Ceremony in White House”… (A few excerpts–final paragraphs):

“One of the heroes of Cam Ranh is here with us in the East Room this morning. Men like Major Howard Lee have stood ready–throughout America’s successful history–to pay whatever price the country asks. The existence of liberty in America–the liberty that permits any minority of our people to dissent from the policies of the majority–ultimately really depends on the courage and perseverance of men like Major Lee and his brothers in arms. Their willingness to risk their lives for liberty is what preserves it for their countrymen.

“My message for them this morning–for those here and for all those who serve beneath our flag–is that one that I carried in Cam Rahn Bay a year ago. Then I said: ‘Make no mistake about it: The American people…are all very proud of you. There are some who may disagree with what we are doing here, but…we in America depend on you, on the young and the brave, to stop aggression before it sweeps forward. For then it must be stopped by larger sacrifice and by heavier cost. We depend upon you. We know a nation that stops producing brave men soon ceases to be a nation.’…

“That message has not changed. Neither has America’s mission in Vietnam. Nor will it change until we achieve the peace that we seek and all those young heroes are home with us again.”…

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER–EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM–COMMANDER BURTON HALE SHEPHERD, UNITED STATES NAVY–the NAVY CROSS–HANOI THERMAL POWER PLANT–26 OCTOBER 1967…

“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to COMMANDER BURTON HALE SHEPHERD, United States Navy, for EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM in aerial flight on 26 October 1967 as Commander Attack Carrier Air Wing SIXTEEN (CVW-16) embarked in U.S.S. ORISKANY (CVA-34). As the strike leader of an eighteen-plane strike group launched against the strategically located and heavily defended Hanoi thermal power plant in North Vietnam, COMMANDER SHEPHERD, although hampered by adverse weather conditions en route, maintained the precise timing necessary to properly execute the intricate strike plan. Skillfully maneuvering to avoid numerous tracking missiles and intense and accurate barrages of 57-mm and 85-mm flak, he led the strike group to the optimum roll-in point and them aggressively pressed home his attack, releasing all bombs on target. Egressing from the target area in a hail of enemy fire, he retired to the relative safety of the karst hills and checked his strike group. After proceeding expeditiously to the coast to refuel, COMMANDER SHEPHERD returned to an area south of the target to search for one of his missing strike pilots. Continuing the search for more than an hour over enemy terrain in the face of the concentrated enemy fire in North Vietnam, he finally returned to the coast after reaching low fuel state. By his aggressive leadership, professional airmanship, and determination, COMMANDER SHEPHERD contributed in large measure to the destruction of the major target, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”…. oohrah

Among COMMANDER SHEPHERD’s personal combat awards: the Navy Cross, 2 Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit with Combat V, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, and a box full of Air Medals.

Operation Rolling Thunder… 26 October 1967… “Vietnam: Air Losses” (Chris Hobson) Three fixed wing aircraft were lost in Southeast Asia on 26 October 1967…

(1) COMMANDER VERLYN WAYNE DANIELS, XO VA-155 was flying an A-4E of the VA-155 Silver Foxes embarked in USS CORAL SEA and leading a division of bombers in an air wing strike on the Phuc Yen air base. As the group approached the target at 9,000-feet a volley of SAMs engaged the attacking aircraft, one of which Commander Daniels was unable to evade. His aircraft took a direct hit, burst into flames and forced him to eject about 15 miles northwest of Thai Nguyen. He was quickly captured, interned as a POW, and released in March 1973…

(2) LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN SIDNEY McCAIN was flying an A-4E of the VA-163 Saints embarked in USS ORISKANY as part of an air wing strike on the Hanoi thermal power plant. As he commenced his dive bombing run on the target his aircraft was hit in the starboard wing by a surface-to-air missile and forced to eject over Hanoi. He came down in the Grand Lake and was rescued by North Vietnamese militia. He was seriously injured but survived to spend more than five years as a Prisoner of War. He was released in March 1973 to resume his naval career before entering politics after retirement as an 0-6.

(3) LTJG CHARLES DONALD RICE was flying an F-8E of the VF-162 Hunters embarked in USS ORISKANY in a flak suppression element of a 25-aircraft follow-on wing strike on the Hanoi TPP. Approaching the target the group was met with volleys of SAMs. LTJG RICE was executing an evasive Spit-s when hit solidly by a missile. He was forced to eject immediately and landed  in his parachute three miles north west of Hanoi. He was captured and interned as a POW until released in March 1973… This was the 28th aircraf tlost by CVW-16 on this combat cruise…

RIPPLE SALVO… #599…   SILVER STARS FOR MIG KILLERS… Humble Host pulled this out of the stuff at the back of the cave just in time for the 50th anniversary of Burner’s MIG-21 Kill… it goes like this:

“DURING A MIGCAP MISSION IN SUPPORT OF A MAJOR COORDINATED STRIKE AGAINST THE VAN DIEN ARMY BARRACKS AREA IN NORTH VIETNAM ON 26 OCTOBER BY ATTACK CARRIER AIR WING FOURTEEN, A SECTION OF F4B AIRCRAFT LED BY CDR D.K. GROSSHUESCH AND LT J.B. SOUDER WITH LTJG ROBERT P. HICKEY AND LTJG JEREMY G. MORRIS IN THE WING POSITION RECEIVED WARNINGS OF AIRBORNE HOSTILE AIRCRAFT. WHEN VECTORED TOWARD THE ENEMY CONTACT, CDR GROSSHUECH AND LTJG HICKEY CONDUCTED A VISUAL SEARCH FOR THE AIRCRAFT AS LT SOUDER AND LTJG MORRIS CONCENTRATED ON RADAR SURVEILLANCE. DURING THE FIRST PASS LT SOUDER’S WEAPON WENT SOUR AND LTJG MORRIS TOOK CONTROL OF THE INTERCEPT, DIRECTING HIS PILOT INTO A FIRING POSITION. LTJG HICKEY LAUNCHED AN AIM9D, WHICH WENT BALLISTIC. AFTER DISENGAGEMENT LT SOUDER REGAINED HIS WEAPON… AND TOOK CONTROL OF THE INTERCEPT. HE VECTORED THE SECTION INTO OPTIMUM MISSILE RANGE AT THE ENEMY’S SIX O’CLOCK WHILE CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING BOGIE INFORMATION TO HIS WINGMAN. CDR GROSSHUESCH OBSERVED A VAPOR TRAIL ABOVE THE SECTION AND VISUALLY IDENTIFIED THE BOGIE AS A MIG-21 FISHBED. AFTER CDR GROSSHUESCH MANEUVERED INTO FIRING POSITION, HIS WEAPON SYSTEM AGAIN BECAME UNRELIABLE, AND HE ORDERED HIS WINGMAN TO OPEN FIRE. LTJG HICKEY LAUNCHED AN AIM-7E WHICH DETONATED DIRECTLY ON THE MIG’S PORT WING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE MIG PITCHED UP AND ENTERED A FLAT DESCENDING SPIRAL. LT SOUDER OBSERVED THE MIG PILOT EJECT AS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A VERTICAL SPIRAL PASSING THROUGH 10,000 FEET.” (Source: USS Constellation 0607327 Nov 67)    oohrah…

RTR QUOTE for 26 October: “Tiny”Johnson, mother of Jack Johnson, when he whipped Jeffries in Reno in July 1910: “He said he’d bring home the bacon, and the honey boy has gone and done it.”…

Lest we forget…    Bear