VA-152, A SPAD SQUADRON IN

VIETNAM

PREPARED BY

LT J. M. WATSON

DECEMBER 1967
 CONTENTS

Introduction ................................... 1

Det Zulu ....................................... 2

1965 Combat Cruise ............................. 3

1966 Combat Cruise ............................. 6

1967-68 Combat Cruise .......................... 11

Gazetteer ...................................... 18

Apendix A, Vietnam War ......................... 19

References ..................................... 23
 VA-152. A SPAD SQUADRON IN VIETNAM
Prepared by LT J. M. Watson

INTRODUCTION

As 1967 closes Attack Squadron ONE FIFTY-TWO is completing its third

and final combat cruise with Carrier Air Wing Sixteen aboard the USS
ORISKANY (CVA-34). It will also be the squadron's last cruise flying the
A-1 Skyraider, as the aircraft is being phased out of the Navy's
inventory after twenty-one years of service. This narrative will sum-
marize VA-152 operations in the Vietnam conflict.

At the onset of the war A-1's participated in strikes against major

targets. The aircraft proved too vulnerable to concentrated antiaircraft
fire and during VA-152's 1965 and 1966 cruises it was utilized for armed
reconnaissance over North Vietnam. By 1967, emphasis had shifted from
armed reconnaissance in the southern route packages (Nam Dinh and
southward) to major strikes in the Northeast Triangle (Hanoi, Haiphong and
the northeast rail line). Air defenses in the latter environment precluded
A-1 operations overland and only coastal armed reconnaissance was
conducted in 1967.

By far the most important role to emerge for the A-1 in Vietnam,
however, was in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. The Spads mission
was called Rescue Combat Air Patrol (RESCAP) and consisted of locating
downed pilots, thwarting capture attempts, suppressing ground fire and
escorting pickup helicopters to and from the rescue scene. Assistance of
jet aircraft overland was necessary in the more heavily defended areas.

1
 RESCAP stations were located near the SAR destroyers, on which
the helicopters were based, and A-l's were held on station
continuously during carrier flight operations. Normal two plane

RESCAP handled cyclic operations in the lower route packages. When

ORISKANY launched major strikes, VA-152 was in the habit of launching
a Special RESCAP to augment the SAR forces.

When relieved on station, after an uneventful RESCAP, a secondary

armed reconnaissance mission was carried out. If aircraft were

available in addition to those required for RESCAP or when another

carrier had the RESCAP commitment, flights were launched with a

primary mission of armed reconnaissance.

DET ZULU
In April 1964 a portion of the squadron, called Det Zulu, was
ordered to Vietnam to train South Vietnamese pilots. This mission was
completed in November 1964 and the detachment returned to NAS Alameda in
December.

Det Zulu pilots and student at Bien Hoa.

2
 1965 COMBAT CRUISE

After a short training cycle VA-152 deployed aboard the

ORISKANY with Air Wing Sixteen in April 1965 for it's first
Vietnam combat cruise.

Arriving on 8 May, the squadron operated in south Vietnam for

seven weeks with only occasional missions into North Vietnam.
Moving north on the 18th of June, operations were conducted in
North Vietnam, Laos and Thailand until 2 July, the most notable
event being the rescue of a downed Air Force pilot by Lieutenants
Mullaney, Price, Smith, Wileen, Edson, and LTJG Davis. During
this time the four pilots operated out of Udorn, Thailand. On 23
June CDR Smith and ENS Dolny located and helped rescue a downed
pilot near Xom Duong Quan (for more detail see gazetteer at end
of text). From the 3rd to the 18th of July the squadron again
operated in South Vietnam. Targets, as before, consisted of VC
concentrations, buildings and sampans.

Back in combat again on 10 August, the squadron operated in

North Vietnam, flying armed reconnaissance and RESCAP missions.
Targets were dams, bridges, buildings, sampans, trucks, caves and
roads. On 10 August LTJG Mailhes was lost on a RESCAP mission over
water near Tiger Island off southern North Vietnam. The following
day CDR Smith and LTJG Zambori rescued a pilot from the Gulf. On
24 August LT Taylor and LTJG Zambori rescued another pilot near
Bong Ho. On 26 August LTJG Davis was shot down near Loc Xa. He
was later reported captured. On 29 August LT Taylor was shot down
and killed near Song La while on a Special RESCAP.

11 September to 19 September was spent in port. Back on the

line the 22nd, reconnaissance and RESCAP missions predominated. On
5 October the Air Wing commenced major (Alpha) strikes against

3
 Change of Command, March 1965. Front row, left to right, LT Hartford,
LTJG Mailhes, LT Schade, LTJG Davis, LCDN. Merchant, LTJG Edson, ENS
Boose, M Tank, LTJG Gottschalk. Sack row, LT Mullaney, LTJG Seen,
LIJG Agnew, LTJG Howe, LT Smith, CWO-3 Grueser, CDR Gernert, CDR
Knutson, LTJG Zambori, ENS Dolny, LTJG Garvey, LTJG Wileen, LT
Fuller.

more heavily defended targets. On 17 October CDR Smith, LT Clarke,

LCDR Merchant and LTJG Beene participated in a RESCAF attempt for two
downed Navy pilots at Na Ling near the Chinese border. Due to heavy
resistance, including the first SAM’s fired at A-1’s in North Vietnam,
the attempt was unsuccessful. The four pilots were awarded
Distinguished Flying Crosses for their efforts.

The ORISKANI departed the line on 19 October and returned for

new strikes on the 28th. During this line period the squadron

4
participated in the successful rescue of seven pilots. On 1
November LT Wileen and LTJG Boose helped pick up a downed Air Force
pilot just off the North Vietnamese coast near Haiphong. The
operation involved sinking a junk which was also trying to pick up
the downed pilot. On 6 and 7 November CDR Smith flew 17.2 hours,
completing the first night rescue in enemy territory on the 6th.
Trying to rescue a second downed pilot in the same area on the
following day CDR Smith, LT Wileen, LCDR Merchant and LT Howe
sustained heavy battle damage which cost one rescue helicopter and
forced LT Wileen to land wheels up at Danang. For these efforts CDR
Smith was awarded the Silver Star.
On the night of 10 November LCDR Merchant had an engine failure,

ditched at sea and was recovered. On 13 November LT Clarke was hit on

a RESCAP and forced to land gear up at Danang. CDR Knutson took over

the RESCAP. In trying to locate the pilot he sustained 26 hits to his

aircraft and, though unsuccessful, was awarded the Silver Star. On 17

November LCDR Taylor of the Air Wing Staff, flying with the squadron,

was shot down near Haiphong on a RESCAP. The other aircraft, flown by

LCDR Schade was so badly damaged upon return to the ship that it was

declared a strike. On 28 November ORISKANI left the line and returned

to the United States.

5
 1966 COMBAT CRUISE

After another training cycle and a considerable personnel turnover, VA-152

again deployed aboard U6S ORISKANY with CVW-16. The ship left
San Diego on 29 May and, after stops in Yokosuka, Japan and Cubi Point
Philippines, arrived on Dixie Station on 30 June. In the eight day
period following the squadron flew 128 sorties against Viet Cong troop
concentrations, buildings and supply caches. During the night of the 7th
ORISKANY moved north and launched missions from Yankee Station late in
the next morning.

On 11 July a four plane Special RESCAP composed of CDR Smith, LCDR Smith,
LCDR Schade and LT Feldhaus picked up LTJG Adams of VF-162 near the
east-west ridge north of Haiphong. The rescue was deeper into the North-
east Triangle than any which had preceded it. On 27 July LCDR Harmon and LTJG
Selkey picked up an Air Force pilot west of Dong Hoi and LT Garvey and
LTJG Lewis picked up another Air Force pilot in the same area. After flight
operations the following day ORISKANY departed the line.

The second line period began on 7 August. On that day LT Fryer was shot
down and killed. His aircraft was hit while attacking a train near Qui
Vinh and he crashed in the water off Cape Bouton. On 11 August, CDR Smith,
LTJG Guenzel, LCDR Schade and LTJG Lull picked LTJG Balisteri of VF-111 out of
the islands near Hon Gay. On 13 August after a RESCAP CDR Smith and LTJG Watson
destroyed a PT boat in the islands near Hon Gay. On the same day LCDR Harmon
and LTJG Selkey participated in a successful SAR effort for LCDR Levy, of
VF-111, in the islands east of Cac Ba.

6
 Afir rv- 111111
11 ii
le ii

Change of Command, March 1966. Left to right, LGDR. Schade, LCDR Smith,
CDR Nussbaumer, LTJG Lull, LTJG Dolny, LTJG Ramsey, LI Fryer, LTJG
Selkey, CWU-3 Crueser, LT Edson, LT Price, GJR Knutson, LT Wileen,
ENS Thomas,LTJG Lewis, CDR Smith, LTJG Garvey, LTJG Scene, LT
Feldhaus, LCDR Headley, LCDR Mullaney, LTJG Boose, LTJG Tank, LT
Zambori, LT Gottschalk.

On 18 August one of the more colorful events of the cruise took place. LCDR
Schade and LT Garvey were reconnoitering a road between RT. 1-A and RT. 15
west of Sape Bang. LCDR Schade noticed tracks leading into a wooded
area and on a hunch fired several zuni rockets into the area. He was
rewarded with several secondary explosions. Every rocket and strafing run added
more secondaries. Schade and Garvey were relieved on station by LCDR Harmon
and LTJG Watson who met with similar success. When the latter pair left, smoke
from burning trucks and POL drums had risen to 6700'. Minutes later LCLR
Headley and L1JG moose arrived and added even more secondaries. Finally CDR
Smith and LTJG Selkey hit the still burning area producing more secondary

7
 Ericos Truck Park - the aftermath.

explosions. Total damage was estimated at 22 trucks and 300-800 barrels of fuel oil
destroyed and the areas thenceforth known as "Eric's Truck Park", remained a huge,
brown burned out swath of open ground in the jungle for the rest of the cruise.

On 20 August LT Feldhaus and LTJG Guenzel rescued an Air Force pilot

near Ha Cong. Five days later a catapult holdback separated on LTJG
Beene and his aircraft went in the water a hundred yards off the bow. On 28
August CDR Smith was shot down by a 37 MM site at Hon Nghi Son. The aircraft was
burning so fiercely on both sides that CDR Smith was forced to eject
himself over the vertical stabilizer. This he did by putting one foot on
the seat the other on the stick and kicking as hard as he
could. He still hit the stabilizer but managed to get his chute open before he
hit the water. LTJG Guenzei, his wingman, orbited the area. :TKG Boose and ENS
Thomas soon arrived and a helo from the southern SAR Destroyer picked up CDR
Smith.

8
 On 31 August LT Feldhaus and LTJG Guenzel escorted a helicopter into the
middle of Haiphong harbor to pick up LCDR Tucker of VFP-63 while ORISKANY Jets
covered them. Four days later LCDR Harmon and LTJG Selkey hit another POL
storage area near Lang Ha with many secondary explosions resulting. On 8
September squadron pilots destroyed 17 trucks. LTJG Beene and LTJG Watson got
three at Mui Nua, west of Than Hoa. Lt Feldhaus and ENS Thomas got five at Lang
My in the same area. LCDR Harmon and LTJG Selkey got five on RT. 15 near Lang
Tra. LT Zambori and LTJG Lewis got four near Dong King. After flight
operations secured that day ORISKANY left the line.

24 September found ORISKANY again back on Yankee Station and CDR Smith
and LTJG Guenzel destroyed two bridges on RT. 15. Three days later LCDR Harmon
and LTJG Lull destroyed five trucks between Dong Tau and the Gulf on RTS.
701 and 702. On the night of 5 October LTJG Beene was lost at sea in a
thunderstorm south of Hon Matt. Rescue operations were commenced at dawn but
nothing was found except an oil slick. He was declared missing. Three
days later LT Feldhaus was shot down near Lang Quang. Bad weather, low
clouds and having been hit badly himself prevented his wingman, LTJG
Guenzel, from determining if he was able to bail out and LT Feldhaus was listed
as missing. On 12 October LT Garvey and LTJG Cassell found and destroyed an
ammunition dump and three trucks north of Miu Voi. On 14 October CDR Smith and
LTJG Guenzel located and attacked a POL near Ban Na Phuc. Later LT Zambori,
LTJG Lewis, LCDR Schade, ENS Jaehnig, LT Garvey and LTJG Cassell also hit the
POL. On the same night ENS Thomas was killed near Nai Chuot Bach. In nine days
the squadron had lost three pilots.

9
 On 22 October CDR Smith and LTJG Selkey hit a POL near Phu Nhong. On the

morning of the 26th, while preparing to launch her first strike, the

ORISKANY suffered a disasterous fire when magnesium flares ignited in a

magazine adjacent to hangar bay one. The Executive Officer, CDR Nussbaumer

and ALAN Liste were among the forty-four officers and men who were killed

in the fire. Damage was so extensive that the ship was forced to

return to Hunters Point for extensive repairs. Thus ended ORISKANY's and

VA-152's 1966 combat cruise.

152'nd Vietnam Skippers - CAPT Harold F. Gernert, CbR (now CAPT)

Albert X. Knutson, CDR Cbrdon H. Smith and CDR Donald M.
rvilison.

10
 1967-68 GOM.3AT CRUDE

by the middle of July 1967, when the squadron arrived on Yankee Station,
the complexion of the war had changed. No longer was the emphasis on armed
reconnaissance of lines and communication in the lower route packages. Pressure
had been shifted to the Northeast Triangle, specifically Haiphong, Hanoi, the
routes connecting them and the northeast rail line. Heavy antiaircraft defenses
in this area precluded A-1 operations overland except as SAR forces and in
company of jet aircraft. The first few days of the initial line period were
intended to be a warm up and consequently Air wing strikes were assigned to the
more southern route packages.

The first day on the line was 14 July and squadron activity was directed
against Water Borne Logistic Craft (WBLC) traffic along the coast. A four
plane flight consisting of LCDR Harmon, CDR Willson, LCDR Wolfe and LCDR Baker
sank six WBCL’s. In the afternoon LTJG Selkey and LTJG Jaehnig sank six more.
On the 15th LTJG Cassell was shot down and killed by antiaircraft fire from
Hon Ne while attacking WBLC’s.

On 16 July LCDR Verich from VF-162 was shot down and ejected in the karst
southwest of Phu Ly. CDR Headley and LCDR Sharpe were called in to direct the
SAR effort. At this time darkness put an end to the search and it was
continued on the morning of the 17th. On scene SAR commander was LCDR
Harmon. CDR Willson, LCDR Wolfe and LTJG Guenzel made up the rest of the
RESCAP. In spite of heavy ground fire, MIG's and SAM’s in the area, the
RESCAP, under the cover of Air Wing jets, was able to find LCDR Verich,
escort a helicopter (big Mother 69) to the area and pick him up.

11
 Change of Command, March 1967. Seated, CDR Fv;Iith, CDR Willson. Stundin8,
left to right, LIVJG Miller, LTJG Ramsey, LTJG Selkey, LTJG
Cassell, LT Lewis, CW0-4 Grueser, LCDR Harmon, LTJG Guenzel, CDR Headley,
LT Watson, LCDR Wolfe, LI Garvey, ENS Jaehnig, LTJG Lindsay, LTJG
Spiegel, LTJG Lull.

Two days later, on a strike at Phu Ly, LCDR Hartman and LTJG Duthie of VA-164 were
shot down. The Special RESCAF composed of LCDR Harmono LTJG Langlinais, LCDR Baker

and LTJG Miller was joined by several A-1’s of VA-215 from the USS BONNE HOMME
RICHARD. Under conditions similar to the Verich rescue, LTJG Duthie was picked up by an
Air Force Jolly Green helicopter and evacuated to Udorn, Thailand. During this action,
Big Mother 67, a Navy H-3, was over LCDR Hartman, ready for pickup, when ground fire
critically wounded a crewman. The helicopter was forced to depart the area and the
crewman died in flight. Clementine 2, a UH-2 from the southern SAR destroyer, was

12
then ordered to the scene, escorted by two VA-215 A-1’s. Like Big Mother 67 he
took hits from ground fire and he had to be escorted back to the ship by the VA-215
A-l's and by CDR Headley and LCDR Sharpe, who had been backing up the other SAR

forces.

The rescue attempt for LCDR Hartman continued on 19 July. During the
night the North Vietnamese had rushed troops and guns into the area.

A six plane Special RESCAP composed of CDR Willson, LTJG Ward, LTJG Selkey, LTJG
Jaehnig, LCDR Sharpe and LTJG Sehlin escorted Big Mother 67 into the area in
the company of Air Wing Sixteen jets. CDR Willson, on scene SAR commander, and
LTJG Ward, his wingman, circled LCDR Hartman while LCDR Sharpe, LIJG Sehlin and
the Air Wing jets suppressed ground fire in the area. LTJG Se;kay and LTJG
Jaehnig escorted the helicopter. Once the helo was in the area the on scene
commander marked LCDR Hartman's position with a zuni rocket. At the same time a
cluster bomb dropped by one of the other A-4's failed to open and exploded
intact in the center of the heavily defended valley adjacent to the karst in
which LCDR Hartman was hiding. The helicopter mistook the cluster bomb for
the zuni and flew directly over the flak sights in the valley. They opened up
and the helo went down in a ball of flames with no chance of survival for the
crew.

After the loss the SAR forces retreated to regroup. In the afternoon, LCDR
Harmon, LTJG Langlinais, LCDR Baker and LTJG Miller took a helicopter into the
area but the risk was considered by then to be too great and the SAR effort was
discontinued.

On 20 July LGIJR Wolfe and LTJG Benson directed Clementine 1, a Navy UH-2,
from the northern SAR destroyer, in the pickup of CDR Wittemore of
VA-212 off the BONNNE HOMME RICHARD. The Commander had been shot
down in the islands near the Chinese border.

13
 Electronic search in the Phu Ly area indicated that LCDR Hartman was still evading
capture in the karst. LCDR Harmon and LTJG Selkey droped him supplies on the night
of the 20th and were rewarded for their effort with a SAM lobbed into the area.
On the 21st LCDR Harmon flew to Udorn to coordinate the rescue attempt with the
Air Force. Buildup of forces now precluded rescue attempts from the seaward
side. Rescue attempts from Thailand proved equally unsuccessful.

VA-152 Spad on rocket run near Cape Bang.

14
 During the relative calm that followed, squadron efforts were directed
largely toward destruction of waterborne logistic craft. The remainder of July
netted 16 destroyed and 17 damaged. In August and September squadron pilots claimed
30 destroyed and 65 damaged. Principal WBLC hunting areas were around Cape Mui Ron
and from Brandon Bay north to Cape Bang. On 28 July LCDR Harmon and LTJG Lindsay
destroyed a North Vietnamese PT boat in the islands east of Haiphong.

On 1 August a RESCAP composed of LCDR Wolfe, LTJG Jaehnig, LTJG Selkey and
LTJG Lindsay directed rescue attempts for a Navy pilot from the INTREPID, down in
the islands east of Haiphong. LCDR Wolfe and LTJG Jaehnig located the pilot and
provided cover for him while LTJG Selkey and LTJG Lindsay escorted Clementine 1, a
UH-2 from the northern SAR destroyer, for the pickup. In the process one North
Vietnamese boat attempting to pick up the pilot was sunk. Also on 1 August, LCDR
Harmon and LTJG Langlinais sank a North Vietnamese PT boat in the islands east of
Haiphong. Three days later the pair duplicated their feat.

Throughout the cruise spotting missions had been flown in support of Seventh
Fleet ships engaged in bombardment of targets along the North Vietnamese coast.
Targets had been WBLC’s, suspected supply dumps and areas called Choke Points,
in which transport arteries were made vulnerable by terrain and exposure from the
sea. While damage was mostly in the form of harassment, some targets were
destroyed. During these missions ordnance was held until completion of shore
bombardment, in case the ships were engaged by coastal defense guns. If such an
engagement did not occur aircraft were released to perform coastal armed
reconnaissance, just as squadron aircraft had always been in the habit of doing
when released from an uneventful RESCAP.

15
 152 Spad launching with typical gunfire spotting mission load.

Firing upon gunfire ships was sporadic until early September when,
while supporting offensive operations in the demilitarized Zone, ships
for which the squadron was spotting were taken under fire each day during
the four day period beginning on the lst. After this brief period, such
firings again became sporadic as operations again moved farther north.

RESCAP never again entered thee picture as importantly as during

mid-July. As the Air wing became more experienced and the air war further es-
calated, targets became increasingly closer to the focal points of the
North-east Triangle. Potent air defenses and scarcity of terrain suitable for
evasion in this area precluded SAR operations in most instances. On 26 August
CDR Willson and LCDR Ward rescued an air Force F-4 pilot just north of the
demilitarized zone. On 5 October LCDR Baker and LTJG Miller located ENS Matthene
of VF-111 in the karst southeast of Quang Suoi but heavy ground fire made it
impossible to get a helicopter to the scene. The following day CDR Headley led a
division of aircraft inland north of Hon Gay to conduct electronic search for
the downed Air force pilot. Contact through a survival radio was obtained but it
.as judged to be a hoah. On 26 October CRD Headley and LTJG Spiegel searched for
several pilots down in karst areas southwest of the Red River.

16
 On 9 October a detachment of three aircraft and four pilots was sent to

the Marine Corps Air Station at Chu Lai. Under command of LCDR Sharpe the

detachment operated with the southern element of Seventh Fleet ships engaged in

shore bombardment of North Vietnam. The detachment returned to ORISKANY on 1

November just before the ship left the line.

The month of October was lucrative, netting 64 WBLC's destroyed and 75

damaged. From the end of October on the weather over North Vietnam worsened.

Low overcast, clouds, showers and poor visibility predominated, with only a few

brief periods of fair weather. No further SAR operations were conducted and

spotting for coastal bombardment was minimal also, as these missions became

secondary and coastal armed reconnaissance primary. In November and December 21

WBLC’s were destroyed and 34 damaged. Marginal weather also greatly diminished

logistic effort by the North Vietnamese and the cruise which had been begun

with such fury was ended quietly.

17
 GAZETTEER
Place names from 1:250,000 Joint Operations Graphic (Air) Charts

Ban Na Phuc town, near 19-10N, 104-35E

Bong Ho town, near 19-49N, 105-22E
Brandon Bay body of water, near 19-00N
Cac Ba island east of Haiphong
Cape Bang on coast at 19-26N
Cape Houton on coast at 19-13N
Cape Hui Ron on coast at 18-05N
Dong Hoi coastal town near 17-30N
Dong Kinh town, near 19-32N, 105-394
Dong Tau town, near 19-40N, 105-28E
Ha Cong town, near 17-48N, 106-18E
Hon Gay seaport, 20-56N, 107-07E
Hon Matt island 18-48N, 105-58E
Hon Me island 19-22N, 105-564
Lang Ha town, near 19-45N, 105-254
Lang My town, near 19-48N, 105-34E
Lang Tra town, near 19-26N, 105-27E
Lang Quang hill 1J06, near 19-30N, 105-304
Lang Va town, near 17-27N, 106-34E
Loc Xa town, near 17-13N, 106-42E
Na Leng town, near 21-44N, 105-45E
Nui Chot Bach hill, near 19-31N, 105-21E
Nui Nua hill, near 19-45N, 105-36E
Nui Voi hill, near 19-33N, 105-40E
Phu ly town, near 20-32N, 105-55E
Phu Nhong town, near 19-05N, 104-434
Quang Suoi town, near 20-07N, 105-52E
Qui Vinh town, near 19-16N, 105-42E
Song La town, near 21-18N, 103-58E
Xom Duong Quan town, near 17-52N, 105-52E

18
 APPENDIX A. VIETNAM WAR DATA, 1965-1968
I. Squadron Rosters.
1965 Cruise

Combat
Squadron Roster Missions Remarks
CDR A.E. Knutson 116
CDR G.H. Smith 115
LCDR P.J. Merchant 86
LCDR E.H. Schade 100
LT J.S. Smith 105
LT C.F. Mullaney 110
LT D.E. Fuller 44 Detached Aug 65
LT D.L. Clarke 36
LT F.F. Howe 95
LT R.A. Price 103
LT G.C. Wileen 101
LT D.W. Edson 98
LT E.D. Taylor 42 MIA 29 Aug 65
LTJG D.P. Zambori 99
LTJG G.L. Gottschalk 103
LTJG E.A. Davis 57 MIA 26 Aug 65 (Cap)
LTJG C.In. Fryer 28 Reported Sep 65
LTJG A.J.Garvey 103
LTJG J.R.Agnew Air Intelligence Off.
LTJG J.A.Beene 97
LTJG L.S. Mailes 48 KIA 10 Aug 65
LTJG E.R.Boose 91
ENS J.R. Tank Ground Maint. Off.
ENS W. J. Dolny 98
ENS P.A. Selkey 30 Reported Sep 65
CW03 S.L. Grueser Ground Maint. Off.

USS Oriskany and CVW 16

officers flying with
VA-152
CDR F.T. Hamler 13
LCDR J.J. Taylor 8 KIA 17 Nov 65
LCDR G.H. Crater 18

1944 Total Missions

19
 1966 Cruise

Combat
Squadron Roster Missions Remarks
CDR G.H. Smith 61
LCDR J.J. Nussbaumer 68
LCDR A.B Headley 69
LCDR J.O. Harmon 67
LCDR E.H. Schade 60
LT J.S. Smith 17 Detached Jul 66
LT J.A. Feldhaus 59 MIA 8 Oct 66
LT D.P. Zambori 56 Killed in operation
accident Feb 67
LT C.W. Fryer 22 KIA 7 Aug 66
LT A.J. Garvey 51
LTJG J.A. Beene 41 MIA 5 Oct 66
LTJG J.M. Watson 56
LTJG L.D. Lewis 57
LTJG R.B. Cassell 11 Reported Oct 66
LTJG J.R. Tank
LTJG E.R. Boose 48
LTJG W.J. Dolny 52
LTJG F.M Guenzel 56
ENS P.A. Selkey 57
ENS T.E. Lull 54
ENS M.J. Ramsey Air Intelligence Off.
ENS D.J. Thomas 50 KIA 14 Oct 66
ENS F.M. Jaehnig 10 Reported Sep 66
CWO3 S.L. Grueser Ground Maint. Off.

USS Oriskany officer

flying with VA-152
LCDR G.H. Crater 7

1029 Total Missions

20
 DECORATIONS
1965 & 1966 CRUISES
SILVER STAR

CDR A.E. Knutson LT G.C. Wileen

CDR G.H. Smith

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS

CDR A.E. Knutson LT G.C. Wileen

CDR G.H. Smigh LT D.W. Eison
LCDR P.G. Merchant LT A.J. Garvey
LCDR J.O. Harmon LT G.L. Gottschalk
LCDR E.H. Shade LT J.A. Feldhaus
LT J.S. Smith LTJG J.A. Beene
LT C.F. Mulanay LTJG E.R. Boose
LT D.L. Clarke ENS W.J. Dolny

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL (ORISKANY FIRE)

CDR G.H. Smith SCDR J.O. Harmon

AIR MEDAL

All VA-152 Pilots

NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL

CDR A.E.Knutson LT D.C. Eison

CDR G.H. Smith LT E.D. Taylon
LCDR P.J. Merchant LT D.P. Zambori
LCDR J.O. Harmon LT A.J. Garvey
LCDR E.H. Shade LT C.W. Fryer
LCDR J.S. Smith LTJG G.L. Gottschalk
LT C.F. Mullaney LTJG J.A. Beene
LT J.A. Feldhaus LTJG J.M. Watson
LT D.E. Fuller LTJG E.R. Boose
LT F.F. Howe LTJG W.J. Dolny
LT R.A. Price LTJG F.M. Guenzel
LT G.C. Wileen LTJG P.A. Selkey

PURPLE HEART

CDR G.H. Smith LT C.W. Fryer

LCDR P.J. Merchant LTJG L.S. Maihles
LCDR J.J. Taylor ENS D.J. Thomas

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION

All squadron personnel from 1965 and 1966 cruise

21
 1967-68 Cruise
Through 16 Dec 1967

Combat
Squadron Roster Missions Remarks
CDR D.M Willson 84
CDR A.B. Headley 88
LCDR L.A. Sharpe 81
LCDR J.O. Harmon 91
LCDR J.N. Baker 83
LCDR R.L. Wolf 88
LT G.P. Voss 59 Ground Maint. Officer
LT J.M. Watson 51
LT L.D. Lewis 64
LTJG R.B. Cassell 3 KIA 15 July 67
LTJG R.L. Lindsay 68
LTJG R.L. Langlinais 36
LTJG F.M. Guensel 66
LTJG J.C. Spiegel 63
LTJG H.L. Miller 41
LTJG P.A. Selkey 66
LTJG T.E. Lull 51
LTJG F.M Guenzel 56
LTJG P.A. Selkey 57
LTJG T.E. Lull 54
LTJG D.B. Sehlin 68
LTJG R.W. Benson 55
LTJG M.J. Ramsey Air Intelligence Off.
LTJG J.D. Ward 65
LTJG F.M. Jaehnig 65
WO1 N.L. Faulkner Ground Maint. Officer

1278 Total Missions

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 REFERENCES

Material for this narrative was taken from VA-152 air intelligence logs for
the 1965, 1966 and 1967-68 combat cruises. Wherever possible this information was
amplified by personal interviews with the pilots concerned. Photographs of Spads in
action were taken by the author and formal group photos were taken by the Photographic
Laboratory at NAS Alameda, California. The photograph of Det Zulu is a
snapshot of unknown origin.

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