March 10, 1967 Pardo's Push

I'm sure some of you know this story, and probably know it well. For those that don't, it's an incredible feat of airmanship that took place over Vietnam. On March 10, 1967 1st LT Robert Houghton (WSO) and Captain Earl Aman (Pilot) and 1st LT Steven Wayne (WSO) and Captain Robert Pardo were preparing to take off in their F-4s, on a twofold mission. They were to act as escort for a strike package of F-105s going to Hanoi, and then if no MiGs showed up to intercept them, they were to hit the steel mill with the strike package. They were armed with 6 750 pound bombs, four air to air missiles, and a jamming pod.

Seventy five miles from the target, Aman and Houghton were hit by flak, and the aircraft damaged. There didn't appear to be any problems, and both crew members were unhurt, so they elected to continue the mission. As they hit the target, Aman and Houghton were hit by more flak, that ruptured the fuel tanks of their aircraft. They radioed Pardo, and both aircraft headed south to the tanker. They were losing fuel so fast that their only option was going to be to eject over Hanoi.

Pardo told them that he would do everything he could to help them get out of the area first, despite his aircraft also suffering major damage during the attack. They climbed to 30,000 feet to have the most altitude they could as a cushion, and he told Aman to jettison the drag chute. He attempted to put the nose of his fighter into the empty chute holder, but was unable to because of turbulence....

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a reply to: Zaphod58


Ummm...that is one of the most selfless acts of courage that I've had the pleasure to learn...Thanks Zaphod...that was an amazing tale...

Pardo's Push...too cool...I'd not heard that story before...



YouSir

a reply to: Zaphod58

Great story, the F4 was one of my favorite planes they were still in service when I joined the Corps.

Amazing feat of airmanship.

In 1976, I was dating my soon to be wife, she was living in a very rural area. I had turned off the highway on a farm to market road and had made a 90 degree turn to proceed to her house by a mature peach orchard. Having my window down, I heard a jet engine "coughing" and then it quit. I looked to my left and right over the peach orchard and heading straight for me was an F4 which had flamed out. I could see the pilot was frantically doing something and in seconds the engine fired with full afterburner right over my car. Its probably why I'm half deaf in my left ear.

The Phantom was either from Shaw or McEntyre, IDK. Those guys must have brass ones!

a reply to: Zaphod58
Read this story before. Pretty effing incredible. The story is good, but really try to imagine being there and doing it. Like NightFlight said, big brass ones.

a reply to: Zaphod58
Wow...lucky they weren't flying them single engine platforms....

a reply to: Zaphod58

Wow, that's some flying! I can't believe the one pilot was initially reprimanded for losing his phantom



Glad they got some recognition after though.

a reply to: CovertAgenda

Yeah, again, you're right! What are the designers thinking only giving pilots one engine to fly on. That's total insanity! You need to show them the stupidity of that! [/sarcasm]

I've had the pleasure (and fun) to meet several airforce pilots over the years, as they congregate in the area to have various reunions. Of all the pilots, the fighter pilots are the easiest to spot in a crowd. Their personalities are just...very noticable. No such thing as a quiet fighter pilot...but they usually are a hoot to visit with.

What a great story, Zaph.

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

That's the nicest way of putting it I've ever seen. Haha.