Wednesday, June 26, 1968
At sea, SAR station. 1800 — MIG-21 DOWNED. Mike's logbook credits the kill to USS Bon Homme Richard. The 1968 Command Operations Report tells it differently — crediting Jouett directly: "Richard TANNER, RD1, one of JOUETT's many expert AIC's (Air Intercept Controller) executed an intercept that resulted in the destruction of one MIG-21." Both are true: CDR Lowell "Moose" Myers (VF-51, F-8H Crusader, Bon Homme Richard) pulled the trigger — maneuvering behind the MiG, firing guns, then destroying it with an AIM-9 Sidewinder — but RD1 Tanner vectored the intercept from Jouett's CIC. Tanner received the Navy Commendation Medal. This was the Navy's 28th MiG kill. 2030 — Refuel from USS Chipola (AO-63).
Original Logbook Page
Documents
Stars and Stripes - 2 F4 Pilots RescuedNewspaper
Pacific Stars & Stripes
Wednesday, June 26, 1968
After 2 Hairy Hours, F4 Crew Rescued
SAIGON (Special) — The rescue of a downed fighter-bomber crew climaxed two hours of dramatic action aboard the carrier America and in the air over North Vietnam.
It began just 12 minutes after midnight, when the two-man F4 Phantom was downed by enemy fire northwest of Vinh. The crew parachuted to a densely wooded hillside 11 miles inland, just south of the 19th parallel.
Before they hit the ground, the pilot of a second jet gave the distress signal. In less than a minute, radarmen on the missile frigate Jouett had pin-pointed the location of the downed pilots.
The Navy search and rescue commander, Capt. Arthur L. Emerson Jr., aboard the Jouett, alerted other rescue ships and dispatched the guided missile destroyer Preble to launch her rescue helicopter.
Simultaneously, the call went out for the attack aircraft to cover the area where the airmen were downed and to provide an armed escort for the rescue helicopter over enemy territory.
The ill-fated Phantom's wingman, still circling over the downed aircraft, established radio communications with the men, assuring them that the pickup helicopter was on the way.
Under the direction of Radarman 2 O'Alan R. Melton, Sper! cer, Ind., the rescue helicopter and accompanying fighter escorts were guided through the moonless night toward the hillside where the survivors waited.
Back aboard the Jouett, and on the downed Phantom's carrier, the America, the drama of the rescue unfolded to dozens of listeners on the radio network. "He's coming, he's coming. Hang on, baby," one of the jets circling overhead reassured the downed airmen.
After a flight over heavily defended enemy territory, the helicopter arrived at the crash site. Unable to see through the moonless night, the co-pilot, Lt. (j.g.) Leroy Cook, Potomac, Mont., radioed, "We're coming in to get you. Give us a flare!" The accompanying aircraft dropped flares, and soon the hillside was as bright as day.
Even so, the crew members were tangled in the dense undergrowth. Repeatedly, the helicopter attempted to approach them through the thick trees, and after many frustrating attempts set down in a small clearing and turned on a rotating beacon so the flyers could find the aircraft.
The stillness of the night was frequently broken by the sound of small arms fire, as enemy troops closed in on the hill. Tangled in the undergrowth, the pilots could see a sling being dangled by the helicopter, but couldn't reach it.
The helicopter had only enough fuel left for one more rescue attempt. The pilot told the Phantom crew to go to a clearing at the bottom of the hill.
Under the illumination of flares, the two survivors, scattered with mud, flight suits ripped to shreds, darted out of the brush, ran 30 yards across the clearing and dived into the waiting helicopter.
As the aircraft rose from the clearing, it was sprayed with small arms fire. The pilot, Lt. (j.g.) Clyde Lassen, Eaglewood, Fla., radioed the good news. "Both survivors on board, we are coming out." The final obstacle was the heavily defended air route to the sea. An anxious silence gripped the shipboard listeners as they watched their radarscopes.
Then came the report, "feet wet," which meant the helicopter was over the water. The tension ebbed away as the Jouett, which was speeding to meet the helicopter, swung into the wind and turned on all her landing lights to receive the rescue craft.
It was now 2:35 a.m., but the Jouett was bustling with activity. The Phantom crew was immediately given a physical check-up and found to be in excellent condition.
Document Scans
Cruise Book
Cruise Book — Pages 112-113USS Jouett (DLG-29) 1968 Cruise Book
USS JOUETT (DLG-29) 1968 CRUISE BOOK — PAGES 112-113
[Photo: Rescued aviator laughing and sharing coffee with Jouett officers, visible relief and camaraderie]
If laurels are to be awarded for JOUETT'S participation in the Viet Nam
conflict, no reward or medal can surpass the satisfaction evident in the
preceding pages.
In addition to the drama of Search and Rescue operations, more prosaic matters
occupied much of JOUETT's time during deployment. Some statistics of this ship's
first Far-East cruise include:
Total miles steamed--over 50,000
Gallons of fuel oil burned--over 3,500,000 gallons
Days away from home port-- 184
Days underway--151
Number of hot meals prepared--over 220,000
Loaves of bread baked --over 12,000
Total payrolls--$712,749
Total money orders sold--$99,344
Pounds of clothing laundered--159,500
Number of uniforms starched and pressed--38,199
Commonplace sights aboard JOUETT in WESTPAC included. . .
. . .shifting of communications circuits. . .
[Photo: Two young sailors operating communications equipment, adjusting dials and switches on radio/teletype consoles]