Amazing Pilot Saved His Wingman, Pushed His Damaged Phantom By Its Tail Hook Out Of Vietnam

Via Minh Dinh Nguyen

Of the 132 missions Bob Pardo flew in Vietnam with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, the most significant is that of March 10, 1967, when he and his with rear pilot 1st Lt Steve Wayne, were on a mission to attack the steel mills close to the North Vietnamese capitol of Hanoi. Flying as his wingman was Capt. Earl Aman and his “Guy in Back” Lt. Bob Houghton. The area around Hanoi was the best protected in military aviation history, and on that day enemy anti aircraft fire was the heaviest Captain Pardo had experienced in his many missions there.

Before they arrived at the objective, the F-4 Phantom of Captain Aman’s was hit, but he managed to stay in formation. As they were closing in on the steel mill Aman’s F-4 was hit by ack-ack once more and his plane started to leak fuel. Then Pardo’s plane was hit as well yet he could proceed with the strike, however his F-4 was now leaking fuel too. When they were over 20,000 feet on their way out, it became evident that Aman did not have enough fuel make it to nearby Laos, where he and Houghton would be able to eject with a fair chance of being rescued by friendly troops. If they were to eject over North Vietnam, the chances of evading escape were slim and capture and, if they were lucky, a lengthy stay in a POW camp would await them.