The olde mans' take...

[wizzer]

Talked to my dad this evening bout the China problem.

For those who don't remember, he was in the 8th and was a pony escort to Berlin, and flew against the Migs in Korea. He stated, after looking at the photos of the downed EP-3 that the F-8 was making crossing patterns. Left to right, and vice versus. The Chinese pilot was a tad too close coming from the right wing and hit the radar dome on the pass. The dome and it's contents then hit the left 2 props, causing the damage to the left side. My guess is he is probably correct, knowing him as I do. Time will tell.

According to tons of press today, all the old timers said the pilot should have ditched the AC. That was my first reaction, FWIW. Asked him the question..point blank. His comment "Can't question his decision, he is the pilot and I'm not sure what I would have done. They are still alive."

Anyway, a point of veiw from someone not quoted in the press very often.  

For all concerned, I truely hope this is resolved quickly and without anymore loss of life.

wizzer

[This message has been edited by wizzer (edited 04-05-2001).]

[Thirdup]

Assuming the pilot knew (and had time to think thru) the fact that the nearest (US) rescue was an Agies-class destroyer some 14 hours away, you can understand his situation.  Ordering a crew to bail into hostile waters for that long would be a tough call.

According to the navy, he followed procedure for a "non cold war" incident of this nature.   I think your father is correct.....the guy in the left seat had to make the call and nobody down here can really second guess him.

[Salcor]

    Actually that is pretty typical cold war situation.  We played with Russian bombers and intelligence aircraft all the time.  Heck, one of my instructors freshman year was an RC-135 pilot and would tell us that the AC would have one of the crew from the back crawl up and mess with the aircraft so it would slowly go nose high and eventually stall out the shadowing fighter.  I just really hope that they killed all the crypto and intel equipment on board before they landed.



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Salcor

The meek shall truly inherit the Earth because that is where they will all be buried

[Thunder]

I was a Navy CT from 1966 to 1974 and listened to members of the "Pueblo" AGER-2 that were captured and taken to Wanson Harbor in North Korea. The "Liberty" was also shot up by the Isralies but Capt. McGonagle managed to get there ship back to port after loosing 34 men. He recieved a "Congessional Medal of Honor" in a quite ceromony.  There have been many incidents that have happened over the years that are similar in nature, they go by quietly ..as they should. They were doing there job and a great service to our country and I pray for there saftey. I'm sure pilot did the best he could do in the space of time he had to do it in. He probably thought of his crew and there survival. I hope they carried out there distuction orders completly. Its funny that sometimes "real heros" are cast to the dogs because of bigger poitical issues. Its a tough call.. Commander "Loyd M. Bocher" had a tough call and ended up rewarded with an official recommendation for a Courts Martial. This pilot may receive the same fate in time. They are all HERO's in my book... just that simple! God Bless you all you know who you are! <S>

Thunder

[Vulcan]

Funny thing is I can just see the Chinese stripping the plane down know... (in mandarin...) "holy sheet? don't we make these chips?"