Pilot recounts being shot down and rescued in Vietnam

  • Published
  • By Harry J. Lundy
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  The A-1 (Skyraider) is the second prettiest airplane in the world," said retired Lt. Col. Bill Sparks."The reason it is the second prettiest is that right behind it comes the (HH-3) Jolly Green helicopter. And if you don't believe it, stand in the jungle and look up."

Colonel Sparks is one of several veterans who had a chance to look at vintage and modern-day aircraft during the Heritage Flight Conference and the sights brought back memories of his own search and rescue in Vietnam.

November 5, 1967, started out at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base with a mission briefing. Then-Captain Sparks prepared for his 145th combat mission like he did for the previous 144 missions. He looked at current maps of Phuc Yen and photographs of his target. With an almost eerie sense of prognostication, Captain Sparks took notice of anti-aircraft and surface-to-air missile positions.

Maj. Frank Billingsley was a C-141 pilot who had just retrained to fly the F-105 Thunderchief. He asked Captain Sparks to go over rescue procedures during that morning's briefing. Little did Captain Sparks know that the 15 minutes he spent going over the process would change his life forever.

The captain and the rest of Marlin Flight took off at 12:30 p.m. Their target was the remaining hangar at a North Vietnamese MiG base.

As they made their approach, enemy flak burst, causing the pilots to lose sight of the target; but they were able to get the hangar in their sights, release their bombs and start the return home.

Before the flight could get back into formation, three SAMs were launched at the F-105s. To avoid being hit, Captain Sparks dropped his aircraft below 50 feet, barely clearing the vegetation rising up from the jungle floor.

The first missile hit the ground. The second lost its guidance and flew straight up into the air. The third and final SAM flew into some houses and exploded.

With that crisis averted, Captain Sparks began his ascent to join the rest of his formation for the flight back to Takhli. As he climbed past 100 feet, the captain saw several 57 mm artillery rounds fly by his aircraft. His aircraft was struck by three.

The first round hit the afterburner section, the second hit the bomb bay doors, and the third struck the air turbine motor compartment located near the front of the aircraft.

Two of his wingmen, Maj. Dick Dutton and Capt. Earl Glen Cobeil, bailed from their heavily damaged aircraft. They were captured by the North Vietnamese and imprisoned at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Major Dutton was released in 1973, but unfortunately, Captain Cobeil did not survive.

Captain Sparks knew there were no rescue missions this deep in enemy territory. He continued to climb, heading south, as the cockpit began filling with smoke.

Sparks could not find the canopy ejection handle on the console, so he flipped the manual unlock lever. Traveling at 800 mph, the canopy immediately blew off.

Knowing he had to get south of the Red River -- if there was any hope of being rescued -- he continued his struggle to control the damaged aircraft.

The blown canopy cleared the smoke from the cockpit, but only provided a clearer vision that he was rapidly losing control of his aircraft.

The fire and overheat lights came on and quit. The aircraft continued to bounce as it strained to stay in the air. Next, all three hydraulic gauges started their descent to zero. The oil pressure gauge followed. Every light on the panel came on and went out. The radio went out after the lights. The F-105 was now completely crippled and kept moving only through its momentum.

Keep moving. South of the Red River. Rescue.

Captain Sparks stayed with his aircraft. He knew that if he ejected, he would be taken by locals, beaten and turned over to the North Vietnamese Army as a prisoner of war.

A few more minutes to make it to the river.

The windscreen began to melt, and Captain Sparks could feel extreme heat against his legs from the fire behind the instrument panel.

Almost over the ridge and to the river.

The bomb bay doors blew off, and a small amount of fire came into the cockpit. The captain had to keep his left foot raised to avoid the flames.

River in sight.

The blaze moved up along the right side of the aircraft and onto the right wing. The right main tire blew; sending the main landing gear down. The mach-plus speed at which the jet was moving ripped the gear from the plane.

Just five more miles.

The Thunderchief pitched up, shuddered, and jerked right as if to roll. It continued to do this two more times as Captain Sparks tried to keep the jet moving closer to the river. He knew that he could do no more, so he pulled the handles and ejected.

Captain Sparks soared across the river. Once he landed, he knew he could be rescued since the HH-3 helicopters could not go north of the Red River.

"I landed in what I thought was elephant grass," Colonel Sparks said. "But I ended up in 75-foot tall bamboo, which is a stupid thing to do."

The parachute got caught at the top, leaving Captain Sparks dangling precariously about 40 feet from the ground. The bamboo gave way and he fell to the ground breaking a kneecap and elbow, dislocating a shoulder, and suffering hairline fractures in both feet.

Major Billingsley began going through the rescue procedures that Captain Sparks had hesitantly discussed with him earlier. He flew his jet in a wide circle around Captain Sparks and radioed in his position to the pararescue team.

Despite immense pain from his injuries, the captain worked his way through the bamboo and a fern thicket to take refuge under a tree until help could arrive.

Two A-1s flew overhead to engage any enemy attack. Upon seeing the planes he recalled thinking, "I'm going to make it. You don't know how wonderful that feels to think, 'I am going to make it.'"

The North Vietnamese started sending rounds into the area. Captain Sparks didn't think anybody would be stupid enough to come to a place that bad.

"I was 75 miles northwest of Hanoi in absolute Indian country, and these guys came up to cover me," Colonel Sparks said. And suddenly, he saw the prettiest aircraft he had ever seen -- the HH-3 Jolly Green.

"They flew eight hour missions -- you know your rear end gets real tired doing that," Colonel Sparks said. "They went into places they had no business being -- and all to pick up somebody and bring them out. The dedication is beyond belief."

Harry Walker piloted the helicopter and hovered near the tree where Captain Sparks was taking refuge. He could see and hear the rotor blades hitting the tree branches.

A small basket was lowered to Captain Sparks. "They put down 135 feet of cable to pull me up, and the A-1s covered Walker," he said.

Meanwhile, over the radio, people warned Mr. Walker that MiGs were in the area.
"Four MiG 17s showed up, and Harry would not leave me," Sparks said.

Mr. Walker responded that he had better things to do, and remained in his position until Captain Sparks could secure himself to be lifted.

Captain Sparks tugged the cable, was quickly lifted 50 feet as the HH-3 turned 180 degrees and began to accelerate to top speed. He broke through the canopy traveling at top speed as the winch hauled him up.

"He pulled me up, and I got to go spend another 30-some odd years with the most beautiful woman in the world," Colonel Sparks said.

Colonel Sparks spent several minutes admiring the A-1 Skyraider parked on the ramp. To see one again gave him goose bumps.

"It's wonderful," said the veteran. "It is absolutely incredible. To come out here and see what my Air Force is doing and know that they remember us is fabulous."