Logbook Chronicles: Stories From Aviation Past
Log Entry: March 10th, 1967 (59 years ago yesterday)
The Event: Pardo's Push.
Location: The skies over North Vietnam.
Personnel Involved: Capt. John R. "Bob" Pardo and WSO 1st Lt. Steve Wayne (lead F-4) with Capt. Earl Aman and WSO 1st Lt. Robert Houghton (wingman F-4).
The Event: It is a clear day over North Vietnam. Two F-4 Phantom IIs soar high above the countryside just north of Hanoi. Captain John "Bob" Pardo and his wingman, Captain Earl Aman, soar toward the target area, the sprawling Thai Nguyen Steel and Iron Complex—one of the most heavily defended targets in all of the country. As they near the target, black puffs of flak fill the sky as the two planes come under attack from ground antiaircraft fire. Streams of lead cascade towards them and explosions rock their thin airframes. Aman and his Weapons Systems Officer, 1st Lieutenant Robert Houghton, feel a violent shudder as their Phantom is hit, but the damage is minimal. the damage is minimal and they decide to proceed.
Now directly over the target, both planes release their bombs successfully. Suddenly, Aman feels a second violent jerk—they've been hit again. Almost instantaneously, a long stream of runny jet fuel sprays from their main fuel tank. Aman hastily radios Pardo, "We're losing fuel fast!". "Ok, we'll head for the tanker," radios Pardo back. However, the black liquid continues streaming from Aman's crippled jet, and it soon becomes evident the two won't make it to the waiting KC-135 tanker before fuel runs out. To make matters worse, alarms ring in Pardo's cockpit as he, too is hit by flak. As the two planes climb to 30,000 feet, orange tongues burst from Aman's craft as his engines flame out. He shouts over the radio, "We'll have to eject!".
Pardo, hearing this, realizes that they're still over enemy territory, and there's no telling what the Vietcong will to to Aman and Houghton if captured. In a daring split second decision, he realizes he could slot his Phantom's nose into the drag chute storage area on Aman's tail in a desperate attempt to slow Aman's descent and hopefully push him over friendly territory. He orders Aman to jettison the chute in order to free up space. However, when he tries to insert his nose into the square hole, his nose is quickly swatted away by the turbulent "jet wash". After several minutes of futile tries, he resorts to the idea that makes history: "Earl, extend your speed brake and lower your tailhook."
A tailhook is a metal hook that is extended behind a plane on carrier landing, catching on an arrestor wire and slowing the plane down. Since the hook needs to bear the full velocity of a jet on landing, it and the surrounding area are reinforced and extremely strong. In a desperate stroke of genius, Pardo figured if he could position his windscreen frame against the tailhook, he could push Aman's jet back over friendly territory. It was an incredibly risky plan. Since his engines were down, Aman could do close to nothing to control his aircraft. If it slowed or buckled suddenly, it could cause both jets to collide and disintegrate. If the windshield broke, the sharp hook could impale Pardo. Nevertheless, he went ahead with the plan, slowly easing his windshield underneath the tailhook. As soon as the reinforced metal met the thin Plexiglass of his windshield, spiderweb-like cracks formed, making out-of-cockpit visibility near impossible. Undeterred, Pardo continued pushing, having to back off and reengage every 30 seconds as the hook slid from side to side.
Suddenly, his jet jerks forcefully. The dirty exhaust flowing into his intakes from Aman's jet has caused his left engine to flame out. He shuts it down, now flying on one engine. They fly on over the dense jungles, growing nearer and nearer to friendly airspace. However, one final mountain looms ahead, and Pardo's right engine isn't enough to clear it. In desperation, he switches back on the flaming engine, keeping it on just long enough to gain a bit of altitude. Seconds later, the engine dies for good. Pardo is back on one engine.
Finally, the two planes cross the border with Laos. Laos is neutral territory, but Communist Pathet Lao militias roved the dense jungles. Still, it's much safer territory. Pardo radios Aman, "Earl, we're over Laos. You're going to have to get out." At about 6,000 feet, Aman and Houghton eject from their Phantom. Pardo flies a bit longer to confuse enemy search parties before his remaining engine flames out and he and Wayne eject as well.
As Aman and Houghton land, they are surrounded my militia patrols closing in from all sides, alerted by the sound of an ejection and seeing chutes. If they were to be captured, Pardo's daring heroics would all have been for nothing. Thankfully, Douglas A-1 Skyraiders attack aircraft quickly arrive over the scene, alerted by both WSOs, and suppress searching militias with heavy fire and smoke, just long enough for CIA HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" helicopters to hoist both crews to safety. All 4 men return to base alive.
Captain John R. Pardo has officially cemented his place in history. He has successfully pushed a 60 thousand-pound jet wat 300 miles per hour with his windshield, all while flying almost blind and on one engine.
Once the Air Force got wind of this, however, they weren't so happy. They initially reprimanded Pardo for sacrificing both aircraft, and the incident was not widely reported. However, strong pushback prompted to reexamine the case, and 22 years later all 4 men were awarded the Silver Star for heroism.
