"On 29 April 1975, cialis sale Air Force Major Buang-Ly of South Vietnam began a daring escape with his family. Loading his wife and five children into a Cessna O-1 “Bird Dog”, he took off from Con Son island south of mainland Vietnam. Under attack by enemy fire from the ground, Buang-Ly managed to make it out to sea where he began a search for the US Naval ships in the area. As luck would have it, he managed to spot the USS Midway as she was taking in the evacuating helicopters. Crewmembers on board the USS Midway spotted the small aircraft shortly after. Attempts to contact the aircraft failed and the plane only circled the carrier with his landing lights on. Because of the large number of helicopters, the carrier was having many craft ditch alongside the carrier after dropping the passengers off. Rescue boats would then pick up the survivors. However, a spotter onboard Midway reported seeing around four people in the Cessna. All thoughts of having the plane ditch were quickly abandoned as the craft was severely overloaded. It was thought unlikely that all passengers could be rescued from the plane quick enough.
However, the Cessna began to swoop over the carrier. This occurred three times before Major Buang-Ly managed to drop a note on the fourth pass. The note simply read, “Can you move the helicopter to the other side, I can land on your runway, I can fly for one hour more, we have enough time to move. Please rescue me! Major Buang, wife and 5 child.” Captain Larry Chambers of the USS Midway quickly ordered all arresting cables to be stowed and the helicopters on deck to be moved, if they couldn’t be moved fast enough, they were to be pushed over the side of the carrier. He ordered any and all volunteers to the deck to help with moving the choppers. Midway crewmembers of all ranks hurried to the deck and began to work.
Once the task was finished and the deck clear, the Cessna lined up with the carrier. The ceiling was 500 feet, visibility reduced to 5 miles, and it began to rain. To make matters worse, the wind picked up to 15 knots and 5 additional helicopters landed on the Midway. Captain Chambers ordered those helicopters immediately pushed overboard and the ship to speed into the wind at 25 knots. Meanwhile, the ships radio crew broadcasted numerous messages in both English and Vietnamese about the downdrafts generated behind carriers. Crewmembers lined the deck, watching the Cessna make its final approach. Witnesses report that no one was breathing at that point.
However, Major Buang-Ly managed a perfect landing in the proper zone. The Cessna touched down, bounced once and came to a stop almost to the bridge of the Midway. The crewmembers on deck immediately broke into wild cheering and they swarmed the small Cessna, clapping and congratulating the Major. Buang-Ly was then escorted to the Bridge of the Midway where Captain Chambers himself congratulated the Major for, “his outstanding airmanship and his bravery in risking everything on a gamble beyond the point of no return without knowing for certain a carrier would be where he needed it.” The crewmembers of the Midway actually set up a fund to help the Major and his family settle in the United States. The Cessna can still be seen today in the aircraft museum in Pensacola, Florida. Major Buang holds the honor of being the first VNAF fixed-wing pilot to ever land on a carrier."
Flt Lt Garry Cooper DFC RAAF flew that actual Bird Dog as a FAC with the 9th Infantry Div while on secondment to the USAF and USA. Garry lives in Queensland Australia and was also awarded the Silver Star, Air Medal, Bronze Star, US AFC and DSC plus the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry in circa 1968 Tet
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:23 pm Posts: 2347 Location: Atlanta, GA
While this much-filmed drama was taking place on the seas, countless aircraft and helicopters were also escaping to Thailand for asylum. BG Heinie Aderholt had formulated and executed a plan for the fall of Cambodia and, upon presenting a similar plan to the US Ambassador in Vietnam, was told that no such plans would be used because they would symbolize a "defeatist attitude".
Aderholt, on his own, instructed Maj Jack Drummond and Capt Roger Youngblood to prepare a landing field at Trat, Thailand to act as a support stop for refugee aircraft bound for U-Tapao, Thailand. While fewer photos exist of this, more airplanes and refugees escaped South Vietnam in this fashion than those who landed on (or near) ships.
With many aircraft gathered at U-Tapao, it was feared that North Vietnam would come to claim the most capable, such as the relatively new F-5s. There was also a genuine fear that the North might next attack and occupy Thailand. The USS Midway, with Bung-Ly's O-1 aboard, steamed to Thailand and deck loaded as many F-5's and A-37's as would fit. This photo shows the menagerie on the way home:
The Cavanaugh A-1H Skyraider 139606 was one of many airplanes (including 11 A-1s) used to escape that day and was saved as a result. A wonderful read regarding this historic time may be found here:
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 54 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
