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Attack run on the POL site outside Haiphong
The “World Famous Golden Dragons” of VA-192 had gained their name when the squadron’s F9F-5 Panthers starred in two Hollywood Korean War movies, Men of the Fighting Lady and The Bridges at Toko-ri. Switching from fighter to attack squadron in 1956, the “Golden Dragons” arrived in Southeast Asia aboard Ticonderoga in early 1967, and the unit’s A-4s were in the thick of things quickly.
As told by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver in his book The Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, on Apr. 26, 1967 Lieutenant (jg) John W. Cain launched in the squadron’s CAG bird, NM-200, call sign “Jury 200.” As he made his attack run on the POL (petroleum, oil, lubricants) site outside Haiphong that was the target of the Alpha strike, the Skyhawk was hit and the cockpit filled with smoke. Cain continued his attack but the airplane began to roll uncontrollably. He disconnected the hydraulic controls in order to fly on manual, but the emergency procedure did not work. Finding himself at 2,000 feet and barely making 205 knots with an engine that did not respond to throttle inputs, he ejected and came down just offshore, 15 miles south of the city, near the harbor entrance.
SH-3 flying to Haiphong Harbor to save downed A-4 Pilot
Losing his personal survival radio during the ejection, Cain was unable to call for help. However, his squadron mates saw his ejection and called for help. Eventually, a full-blown SAR developed, with 20 aircraft involved, 19 fixed-wing and one helicopter, an SH-3A Sea King from USS Hornet’s HS-2, on SAR duty aboard USS Mahan (DLG-11). Orbiting F-8s and A-1s provided much-needed Rescue Combat Air Patrol (RESCAP) cover.
Lieutenant Steve Millikin and his crew in SH-3A “Chink 69” were orbiting outside the harbor entrance as Ticonderoga’s strike group passed over. They had been having a little fun by engaging in “Tonkin Gulf plinking,” shooting at debris in the harbor. When he got word of an aviator in the water, Millikin immediately headed in at his top speed of 125 knots. When they arrived on the scene, Cain was only 250 yards offshore of a small island. Enemy troops were firing at Cain, who hadn’t inflated his life raft since it would have been too much of a target as he drifted in the water, well within range of the enemy.
Lost at sea several weeks later
Suddenly, over the sound of the gunfire, while thinking his prospects looked bleak, Cain heard the beat of rotors as “Chink 69” approached. In the helicopter, Millikin ordered Petty Officer Peter Sorokin to lower the horse collar for the rescue. Fire from the island increased as Millikin hovered over Cain; the water erupted in geysers as rounds came perilously close. Thinking the fire was coming from the A-1s giving cover, Millikin soon realized they were North Vietnamese mortar rounds. Petty Officer Charles Sather returned the fire with his door-mounted M-60 machine gun, while co-pilot Lieutenant (jg) Tom Pettis opened his window and stuck a submachine gun out, adding to the small barrage coming from the helicopter.
As the engagement intensified, Cain was finally in the sling. Before he could be pulled inside, Millikin turned around and headed out of the harbor as fast as he could. Chancing a glance back to the island, he watched an A-4 drop four bombs right atop the enemy.
Later that day, “Chink 69” delivered Cain back to Ticonderoga. For their actions in the rescue, Millikin received the Silver Star, Pettis the DFC, and the two enlisted crewmen Air Medals. Sadly, Lieutenant (jg) Pettis and “Chink 69” would be lost at sea several weeks later.
The Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.
Photo credit: U.S. Navy
