Bear Taylor 
WHEN NAVAL AVIATION ROARED…Tales of the Brave and Bold
COMMEMORATING THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR (1961-1973) and honoring the band of brothers of Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, and aircrewmen who carried the war into the Heartland of North Vietnam in Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-1968)…
GOOD MORNING. Faithful Scribe has a great war story to tell. WHEN NAVAL AVIATION ROARED. Tale #24… From the Awards Files of CINCPACFLT. Commander Dick WIGENT, Commanding the VA-34 Blue Blasters of Attack Carrier Air Wing TEN embarked in USS INTREPID (CVS-11), and 24 friends go to Haiphong to mine the ferry crossing at Kien Bai on 5 October 1967. One of those wingmen was LT Robert S. (Bo) SMITH. Faithful Scribe recognized the incredible 3-part journal of Bo Smith in my earlier RTR post… USS Intrepid and CVW-10 departed Norfolk on 11 May 1967 and returned to their homeport on 30 December 1967, logging 103 days of combat on the line at Yankee Station during the deployment. The Air Wing lost 12 aircraft in combat and 2 in operational losses. Three pilots were downed and imprisoned for the duration of the war in Hanoi. Three were killed in action. Nine were rescued to fly and fight some more.
THE MISSION… On 5 October 1967, squadrons of Attack Carrier Air Wing TEN, composed of 25-aircraft, struck the Kien Bai ferry transshipment area in Haiphong. Kien Bai was the main artery of the inland waterway system from Haiphong and of extreme strategic importance as a supply lane for war materials from the Haiphong port facilities. The purpose of this strike was to sever (temporarily) the flow of vital war materials via the Kien Bai waterway.
THE PLAN. The strike was planned, briefed and led by Commander Richard A. WIGENT, CO, VA-34. The planning and tactical deployment of weapons was developed by Commander WIGENT based on his extensive knowledge and experience, with the assistance of his division leaders. The Strike Group composition: (a) Three bomber divisions of A-4C aircraft, each armed with four MK-36 Destructor bombs (total 48 DSTs). Each division was assigned an aim point so that the pattern of bombs achieved complete coverage of the target area. (b) A flak suppressor division of three sections of F-8C aircraft was assigned to counter three known active antiaircraft sites to the north, east and south of the ferry crossing. (c) Target CAP was one section of F-8C aircraft to act as a buffer from the enemy MiGs. (d) A Shrike division of three sections of aircraft was assigned to counter enemy SAM activity. One section was assigned to the van to fly one mile ahead of the strike group of bombers and flak suppressors. The second section to maintain a position 2,000-feet over the strike group and a third division to fly three miles in trail of the strike group. Shrike shooters were well briefed on several active sites covering the Haiphong area and were prepared to both counter firing sites as well as those emanating radar signals…
TARGET DEFENSES. The target was located three miles west of downtown Haiphong in one of the most heavily defended areas in North Vietnam. Five positively identified SAM sites and 24 others were suspected of possible occupation, all within range of the strike group’s in route and retirement routes and the ferry crossing target. An estimated fifty-six 37/57mm and thirty-three 85mm reveted gun emplacements were in the Haiphong area in October 1967. Intelligence also reported active MiG operations at three enemy air fields near the target.
EXECUTION. The tactical disposition of the Strike Group was carefully designed to provide maximum maneuverability in the event of surface-to-air missile attack. The three bomber divisions were formed in a forty-five degree line of bearing to port of the leader. The flak suppression division was oriented to the starboard shoulder five hundred feet above and two thousand feet of separation. The Shrike sections were deployed one mile in the van, two thousand feet above and three miles astern the main strike group of bombers. Rendezvous and initial route to the target at 18,000-feet were executed as briefed, without radio emissions. On approaching the enemy coastline east of Haiphong the flight commenced a gentle descent to gain airspeed. Upon crossing the roadstead at Haiphong continuous electronic missile warnings of enemy missiles and radio warnings of airborne MiGs were received by all 25 aircraft. In the event of attack by MiGs Commander WIGENT had directed one division of the flak suppressors to hold their rockets as a reserve force to meet the MiGs. The pre-planned and briefed route to the target was followed despite moderate enemy antiaircraft fire requiring extensive maneuvering. All aircraft were in pre-briefed positions to execute their respective attacks as the bomber divisions achieved desired roll-in positions for 45-degree diving attacks on assigned aim points in the ferry crossing complex… THE ATTACK. As the strike group rolled in, the antiaircraft fire from the surrounding AAA sites was effectively countered by the flak suppressors giving the dozen A-4C bombers a few seconds of reduced opposition to place their weapons on target. The observed pattern of bomb hits resulted in the coverage of the target required for mission success. Up to this point, the mission was without mishap…
RETIREMENT. The retirement of the strike group was intensively opposed and complicated by the the AAA hit on the A-4C of LT Bo SMITH. His aircraft had been hit coming off the target and was heavily damaged and on fire. Then came the MiGs a few miles east of the target. A flight of six MiG-17s attacked and the ensuing melee continued for several (7) minutes as the fleeing strike group headed for feet wet. Each strike aircraft that was attacked successfully outmaneuvered the missile firing MiGs. LT Steve SMITH, in company with his faltering wingman, LT Bo SMITH, was attacked by two MiG-17s and repeatedly outmaneuvered them, forcing them to break off their attack. LT Bo SMITH, on the wing, was fully aware of the damage and vulnerability of his Skyhawk, ignored his obvious peril, and remained in the melee to assist his section leader, calling breaks to defeat the MiG runs on the flight. Meanwhile, LCDR James E. GILBEATH, serving on the CAG-TEN Staff, and leading the flak suppression division, and his wingman LTJG D.J. L’HERAULT, VSF-3, were covering the retiring bomber group when attacked by a single MiG-17. The pair outmaneuvered the MiG and LCDR GILBREATH was able to get a head-on rocket salvo at the MiG. In so doing the pair of light attack cum fighter pilots exhibited extraordinary skill and guts in meeting and defeating the sustained MiG attacks on the strike group. During the same seven minutes of squirrelcage combat with a superior enemy, LCDR Eugene V. TETER, VA-34, leader of the second bomber division, twice engaged MiG sections that were attacking and firing on strike elements. Each time LCDR TETER’s aggressiveness forced the enemy aircraft to disengage from their respective attacks on Air Wing A-4s involved in the fight. Finally, with one MiG aircraft damaged, the strike group reached the relative safety of the Gulf and the MiGs retreated in the direction of Hanoi. LT Bo SMITH was able to keep his crippled and burning A-4 flying and made a colorful recovery on USS INTREPID to wrap up a full day of fun in the skies of North Vietnam…
FLIGHT LEADER DEBRIEF. He called it “factors influencing success.” “Strict adherence to the basic plan and well disciplined flight group integrity in the face of heavy antiaircraft fire and the outstanding airmanship demonstrated by all members when attacked by the flight of six enemy fighter aircraft on their home field. Visual sightings by in-flight observers confirmed a perfect pattern of mines was laid…The level of success of this mission attests to the heroism and intrepidity of the pilots who flew the mission and especially to their professional airmanship and teamwork.”
BITS OF RIBBON. The Skipper of INTREPID recommended and COMSEVENTHFLT and CINCPACFLT approved the following awards for the mission of 5 October 1967: CDR WIGENT: SILVER STAR; LCDR GILBREATH: DFC; LT Bo SMITH: DFC; LTJG LE’HERAULT: DFC; LT Steve SMITH: NCM with Combat V; LCDR TETER: NCM with Combat V; and, LCDR Thomas BARRETT: NCM with Combat V. One-tenth of a Strike Flight Air Medal for the rest of the bubbas and a day to remember forever for all 25 of a band of brothers who made life miserable in the area of the Kien Bai ferry transshipment point on 5 October 1967… Access the grand combat journal of Bo SMITH at…
NEXT POST. Tale #25. The VA-85 Black Falcons go for the Dragon’s Jaw on the night of 4 February 1967.
LEST WE FORGET… Bear
Thanks, Bear – thorough account of the mission from planning to execution and exit to feet wet!
Thanks, Bear. Tenacious courage, wise mission planning & optimized use of the acft & wpns available added up to a successful mission “down the dragon’s throat” and back out again.
BRAVO ZULU.