Crippled Skyhawk
 

Hi all:

Whilst trawling various books and magazines for battle-damage pictures I came across a picture in a book called Air War Over Vietnam Vol III by Dana Bell (Warbirds Illustrated No.21), showing an A-4E of Attack Squadron 212 ("Rampart Raiders") returning to the USS Bonhomme Richard after taking hits from AAA over North Vietnam. Date April 1967.

In the picture the Skyhawk has only the nosewheel and the arrester hook down, and the whole rudder has been shot away.

Can anyone put a date and a name to the incident, and confirm that the pilot (presumably) ejected safely ?

TIA for any input.

Regs,

BC

Re: Crippled Skyhawk
 

Hi BC.

I am not positive, but it could be related to the following incident:

http://www.skyhawk.org/3e/va212/gray1.htm

Re: Crippled Skyhawk
 

Hi,
Aircraft was 151102an A-4E "NP" "225"
VA-212 USS Bon Homme Richard Gulf of Tonkin off NVN hit by SAM lost hydraulics but only nosewheel would lower so following engine failure onapproach the pilot ejected and was rescued. date was 25th April 1967.
photo of this a/c was in "Aircraft Illustrated" I think.

Alex

Re: Crippled Skyhawk
 

With apologies to A4Skyhawk.org



Aircraft: A-4E
Custodian: VA-212 U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard
BuNo: 151102
Modex: NP-225
Location: Vietnam
Date: 25 April 1967
Photo credit: Ray Powell
Contact: Gary Verver
Description: This is the second of four images of damaged 151102. The aircraft was lost after LTJG A.R. Crebo was forced to eject due to the combat damage.
Comments from Chuck Blaker, VF-24:
"Remember it well! I was flying TARCAP when I saw a SAM burst amongst the Strike group. Immediate thought was: "Somebody is going to be on Radio Hanoi tonight." However, when the smoke cleared, there appeared a much abused "Tink" leaking all sorts of vital bodily fluids. Pulled in behind him to provide cover on the egress. Darn thing didn't look like it would make the Beach much less the Boat, but as we crossed the coast it was still flying and even climbing. As I remember, just about everybody pulled up along side to gawk at a Flying Junkyard. The Photo-Beanie told him to fly level so he could get pix from all angles before Al went for a swim."

Re: Crippled Skyhawk
 

Gentlemen: Many thanks indeed for your superb input on this one, the info and picture are far in excess of anything I thought I would obtain.
Gen-men like you make visiting this forum such a pleasurable experience !

Thank you all very much.

BC