Bear Taylor 
COMMEMORATING the 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR (1961-1973)… and honoring the intrepid Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and aircrewmen who carried the war to the heartland of North Vietnam during the years of Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-1968)…
GOOD MORNING. Faithful Scribe has another tale from “The Taylor Cache” of Rolling Thunder heroics. WHEN NAVAL AVIATION ROARED… Tale #13 from “The Taylor Cache” on Mount Ogden… USS ORISKANY, 14 December 1967… This one is for BROWN BEAR, one the great ones…
Source: USS ORISKANY msg 190300Z Dec 67: Subject: Recommendation for Individual Award for…
A. LCDR RICHARD WILLIAM SCHAFFERT, USN/1310
B. FITRON ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN embarked in USS ORISKANY
C. Distinguished Flying Cross
“In a major air wing strike on Taun Tinh Ferry Crossing near Haiphong as fighter escort for an A4E/F8C Ironhand. Their mission was to suppress the surface-to-air missile site northeast of Nam Dinh, North Vietnam. As the section arrived in its target area, south of the strike group, Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT and his teammate had begun attacking electronic missile signals, when he observed two MiG 17s at twelve o’clock, five miles, converging on his flight. He immediately took the lead of the section as the two flights of aircraft met head-on. Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT executed a hard, nose-high turn to engage the enemy and, as he completed this maneuver, he glanced over his shoulder, checking for the A4E position, only to find two additional MiG 17s diving out of the sun on his tail. Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT made calls for assistance from other fighters in the strike group, and continued with the engagement at hand. He aggressively pressed his attack on the first section, rejecting for the moment those closing from his six o’clock. By this time, the second element of MiGs had closed on him and both fired their 37mm cannons as he followed the first group. The MiG pilots were observed to be extremely combat capable and after the first two turns, locked Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT in a rolling vertical scissors maneuver. At this point the pair of enemy fighters in trail fired 4 Atoll missiles, two from each aircraft. The air-to-air missiles, impaired by their target’s high G maneuvers, faded far behind and offered no further threat. In the next turn, Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT fired his first Sidewinder at the wingman of the first section of MiG-17s. His weapon failed to guide as he continued to relay his position and altitude to the additional fighters now closing on the area, as he carried on this fearless battle against overwhelming odds. The second section of MiGs now bracketed Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT closely on both sides firing their cannons as they alternately passed his six o’clock position. His determined aggressiveness drove him to continue pressing his own attack, disregarding the ominous threat at his back, and he fired two additional Sidewinders at the wingman of the first section. The first Sidewinder again failed to guide; the second guided but missed its mark by a narrow margin. Still receiving heavy cannon fire, he pressed closer to the first element for a final offensive effort with his 20mm guns. At this point, and low on fuel and ordnance, and faced with increasing fire from astern, he concentrated on losing the second section of MiGs on his tail. The first element of MiGs, freed from Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT’s attack, seized the opportunity to take the offensive and unleashed their four Atoll missiles. However, his superlative airmanship deterred optimum firing position for the MiGs and with their ordnance nearly expended they broke off the engagement taking vectors toward Hanoi. Additional F8 fighters were now on the scene and engaged the departing MiGs. One ws overtaken and subsequently destroyed. Had Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT demonstrated less aggressiveness during this prolonged aerial engagement he would have presented any one of the MiGs the optimum shot and very likely would have become their victim. Only by his unexcelled fighting ability, undaunted determination to gain a kill, and masterful composure was he capable of holding the encounter to a draw and escape without damage under the most overwhelming odds.” End quote from ORISKANY message….
BITS OF RIBBON. Red,white and blue for LCDR SCHAFFERT; the A-4E pilot, LTJG Charles Clayton NELSON, USNR, who earned one of the most unique DFCs of the war; and, LT Richard Ernest WYMAN, who arrived to bag one of the fleeing MiG 17s, good for a SILVER STAR…
The recommendation for a DFC for LCDR SCHAFFERT was approved by CINCPACFLT on 8 January 1968 and the DFC CITATION reads…
“For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a jet fighter pilot attached to and serving with Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN, embarked in USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) while participating in an aerial engagement near Thai Binh, North Vietnam on 14 December 1967. Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT distinguished himself by his conspicuous valor and undaunted determination while solely battling four MiG 17 enemy jet aircraft over hostile territory. Taken under attack while escorting an A4E surface-to-air missile suppression aircraft, he aggressively assumed lead of the section and, against the overwhelming odds fearlessly engaged the enemy fighters. During the several minutes of battle which followed, Lieutenant Commandeer SCHAFFERT displayed unequaled skill in offensive and defensive air-to-air combat, maneuvering as the four highly maneuverable enemy aircraft concentrated their attack on the lone friendly fighter. The coordinated attack of the extremely capable MiG pilots failed to equal the brilliant combat maneuvering of Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT and the eight guided missiles and heavy cannon fire unleashed by the enemy were unable to find their mark. In his own aggressive attack during the engagement, Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT deterred the enemy from continuing an assault on the main strike force or on his teammate and detained the enemy fighters until other friendly forces arrived in the area. With the initial engagement closing in a draw, the four enemy aircraft disengaged toward the protective defenses on Hanoi. Directed by Lieutnenant Commander SCHAFFERT and his A4E teammate, the friendly fighters engaged and, in the ensuing battle, destroyed one enemy aircraft. Lieutenant Commander SCHAFFERT’s courage, superlative airmanship and dogged determination in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” …oohrah, Brown Bear!
CINCPACFLT approved a Distinguished Flying Cross for LTJG Charles E. NELSON, USNR on 8 January 1968. The CITATION reads…
“For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as a jet attack pilot attached to and serving with Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR, embarked in USS ORISKANY (CVA-34), in the successful participation in a combat aerial engagement against enemy aircraft over North Vietnam on 14 December 1967. While initiating an attack on a surface-to-air missile site near the city of Ninh Binh, North Vietnam, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) NELSON’s IRON HAND section was attacked by four MiG 17 fighters. Although his aircraft was heavily laden with ordnance, he nevertheless remained with the ensuing engagement assisting his F8C escort against overwhelming odds. As the enemy unsuccessfully expended their ordnance and disengaged, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) NELSON caught sight of one of the straggling MiGs. He immediately gave pursuit and forced the enemy into violent defensive maneuvers while he vectored fresh friendly fighter (s) in on his position. With amazing skill and determination while still burdened with ordnance, he maintained an offensive position over the extremely maneuverable enemy until the fighters, under his precise direction, arrived on the scene and engaged the MiG. Throughout the long engagement that followed, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) NELSON maintained position over the fight helping coordinate the attack against the elusive enemy while calmly recording the aerial battle with his handheld 35 millimeter camera. Despite the increasingly deadly threat of hostile ground fire, as the battle moved up the hazardous Red River Valley toward Hanoi, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) NELSON remained on the scene until the engagement was terminated with the destruction of the enemy aircraft. Only then did he detach to deliver his remaining ordnance against a lucrative target and provide surface-to-air missile suppression cover for the retiring fighters under fire. His courage under fire, heroic action and extraordinary achievement were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”…. oohrah…
LIEUTENANT Richard Ernest WYMAN nailed the MiG-17 and the SILVER STAR medal… The CITATION reads…
“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as the pilot of an F8E jet aircraft attached to and serving with Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO, embarked in USS ORISKANY (CVA-34) on 14 December 1967. Lieutenant WYMAN was the leader of a section of target combat air patrol employed to defend aircraft conducting a strike on the Tang Tinh Ferry Crossing 12 miles southwest of Haiphong, North Vietnam. When one section of support aircraft came under attack by four MiG 17 enemy fighters, Lieutenant WYMAN led his section of F8E fighter aircraft to the scene of combat at highest possible speed. Lieutenant WYMAN aggressively entered the fray, when enemy MiGs continued to counter with savage gun-firing attacks. Tenaciously pursuing his aggressive opponent, Lieutenant WYMAN led his section in classical combat spread offensive maneuvers which kept the enemy under constant attack by one of the teams of fighters. Managing his fuel judiciously and biding his time for a killing shot, Lieutenant WYMAN’s section retained the offensive against the enemy pilot who was effectively flying his aircraft to the maximum of its performance capabilities. Through skill and knowledge of his own aircraft’s capabilities, Lieutenant WYMAN fully countered every one of the enemy’s numerous evasive maneuvers. Flying his airplane at an altitude even lower than the enemy’s estimated 50-feet, Lieutenant WYMAN forced the enemy pilot to commit his first error of the fight. Lieutenant WYMAN, with split-second timing fired one missile at precisely the moment when the enemy was vulnerable to his air-to-air missile attack. The missile homed truly and tore off the left wing of the MiG 17 which crashed immediately. Lieutenant WYMAN’s aggressive action in engaging the enemy’s forces, and his superior, intrepid airmanship in the face of skilled and determined enemy opposition were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United states Naval Service.”… oohrah…
FAITHFUL SCRIBE END NOTE: CAPTAIN Brown Bear SCHAFFERT is a prolific writer and between March and May, 2016 contributed a dozen articles and comments to the Rolling Thunder Remembered archives… readers of this series of tales might find Dr. Schaffert’s collection articles/stories of interest… In addition, Brown Bear has written a memoir of sorts that he makes available on-line upon request. That too, is great storytelling… Email Brown Bear at: brownbearlead@gmail.com…
HAVE A RED, WHITE AND BLUE week in the land of the free and home of the brave…
NEXT POST. Tale #14: USS HANCOCK and CVW-5 pound the Hai Duong RR/Hwy Bridge and Thanh Lien RR Siding on 19 June 1967…
Lest we forget… Bear
