CDR Salamander - Fullbore Friday

When it comes to the A-1H Skyraider vs. MiG-17s, some are familiar with the story from 1966, but have you heard it first person right after it took place?

This story, which I first covered back in 2009, is a classic and brings us back to a man we honored in another FbF last month: Lieutenant Pete Russell, USN. That’s him on the right in the picture above, with LTJg. Tom Patton, USN as they discuss the story below.

LCDR Leo Cook and his wingman LTJG Wiley were the lead section of Skyraiders working to locate and hopefully rescue a downed US pilot in North Vietnam. While maneuvering at low altitude between ridges and cloud layers, they were jumped by what turned out to be two sections of MiG 17s. Calling out the attack on their common radio frequency, Cook and Wiley fought for their lives. LT Pete Russell and LTJG Tom Patton soon arrived in the area and immediately gained a position of advantage on the MiGs. The details of this encounter were taped by the intelligence officer on board the Intrepid after the incident.

You can listen to the interview conducted by LTjg Bill Morgan, USN, the Public Affairs Officer of the USS Intrepid (CV-11) in the Gulf of Tonkin in October of 1966, below. (NB: the aircraft in question are from VA-176, not VA174.)

Taking on jets with your prop-job? That is in the finest traditions of the naval service, and fullbore.

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