17:16 Big Mother launches, as the Turner and shotgun USS Henderson (DD-785) continue changing course to close on the scene. The helo crew is given a steer of 16 miles. Set flight quarters, stationed the helicopter detail. 17:10 the ship sets SAR alert, received indication that one F4J from VF-33 side number 203 was losing hydraulic pressure and anticipated bailout. On South SAR station, 17:06 over the USS Turner’s IMC, the helo crew is alerted to a SAR. After ejection and seat separation, he self-initiated chute deployment. Finally pushed canopy off and then ejected. Pilot had extreme difficulty leaving aircraft when canopy would not jettison with use of alternate ejection handle, face curtain, canopy jettison handle, or normal open/close switch. Phantoms were later fitted with gas-operated pistons that pushed up the leading edge of the front canopy after the rear canopy had left the aircraft. “Tex” Elliott, VF-33’s executive officer, survived and wrote a report about the problem and it was discovered that a venture effect occurred between 400 and 500 knots that kept the front canopy from releasing.
JETTISON CANOPY RESCUE FREE
Fortunately, Cdr Elliott managed to push the canopy free and his seat then fired. In a repeat of the incident that killed Maj Gen Worley the previous day, “Tex” Elliott’s canopy failed to release after his back-seater’s ejection seat fired. They were both rescued by a Navy helicopter from a SAR destroyer. About five miles off the coast the port engine overheat light came on and the crew ejected. The hydraulic system began to fail as he headed towards the sea and he had to use the rudder to keep the aircraft straight and level. Cdr Elliott dropped his bombs on an anti-aircraft gun position and pulled up but as he was passing through 4,500 feet his aircraft was hit by AAA. Located survivor – 1720: A-7 RESCAP, Mark on topĮnded retrieval – 1730: returned to USS Turnerį-4J Phantom 155551 “Root Beer 203” VF-33, (Tarsiers) USNĪ strike on a road ferry 12 miles west of Vinh was accompanied by a flight of Phantoms to provide flak suppression. Water: 86⁰ Air: 80⁰ Wind: 5 knots Sea State: 1-2 foot swellsĪrrived on scene – 1720: no search required
USS Turner (DLG-20) Routine Day (2) Combat Day SH-3A Sikorsky Seaking helo Det 110 Big Mother 73
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