Last Vietnam POW pilot retires from military

North County Times ^ | 7/1/04 | JAMES HANNAH

[rhema]

The last Vietnam POW flying for the U.S. military called it a career Wednesday, reluctantly folding up his wings after 44 years in uniform.

Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier, who reached the Air Force's mandatory retirement age for his rank at 62, was honored in a ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

"If we didn't have an age-limit law, General Mechenbier would not step down," said Gregory Martin, commander of Air Force Materiel Command.

Mechenbier agreed, and drew laughs from the several hundred people at the ceremony when he poked fun at his predicament.

"When you're getting run out of town on a rail, get in front and make it look like a parade," he said. "Welcome to my parade."

Mechenbier's fighter jet was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured and sent to Hoa Lo prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton."

For part of his six years in captivity, Mechenbier was in a cell 15 feet from now-Sen. John McCain. The two communicated with each other by writing on the bottoms of plates with lead spoons.

Mechenbier was released in 1973 and resumed his duties with the Air Force.

During Wednesday's ceremony, congratulatory letters from President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were read during the ceremony. Mechenbier's voice broke with emotion as he ended his speech with a reference to the Star-Spangled Banner.

"Flying will be the greatest void to fill," he said.

Mechenbier made his final military flight three weeks ago when he returned to Hanoi to fly home remains thought to be those of two fallen comrades, occupants of an Army helicopter and Air Force plane lost in 1968.

Piloting the same plane that took him out of Vietnam three decades earlier, Mechenbier flew the remains to Hawaii to be identified. Also on board were the remains of 19 others believed to be soldiers who died in the Korean War.

Mechenbier called it the high point of his career: "That is probably the single most emotional, memorable thing I've done in 44 years."

[wardaddy]

F-100 was the SuperSabre.

[Deadeye Division]

Dayton Daily News

01 July 2004

Last Vietnam POW still flying retires

Mechenbier caps Air Force career

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — Maj. Gen. Edward J. Mechenbier, who until recently was the last Vietnam-era prisoner of war still flying in the Air Force, officially retired Wednesday.

Mechenbier, 62, of Beavercreek accepted the congratulations of Gen. Gregory S. Martin, commander of the Air Force Materiel Command, and hundreds of well-wishers who gathered in the Modern Flight Hangar at the Air Force Museum to commemorate his 44 years of service.

The hour long ceremony capped a remarkable career that took Mechenbier from the Air Force Academy, from which he graduated in June 1964, to North Vietnam, where he became a prisoner after being shot down in June 1967, and back to the United States.

In 1973, Mechenbier returned stateside as one of the first group of American POWs to be flown in an Air Force C-141 transport in Operation Homecoming.

Mechenbier resigned his commission in 1975 but continued as a reservist, most recently as mobilization assistant to Martin and other commanders within the Materiel Command. He also continued flying in National Guard and Air Force Reserve units, most recently the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson.

Mechenbier recently flew his last mission aboard the same C-141 that spirited him out of southeast Asia. In a mission his fellow wing members arranged, Mechenbier flew the plane dubbed "the Hanoi Taxi" to Hanoi to recover the remains of what were believed to be two missing U.S. servicemen. He capped the mission and his flying career on June 4 with a nine-hour, nonstop flight from Hawaii to Wright-Patterson.

Mechenbier logged more than 3,500 flying hours while in the military.

" 'For the land of the free and the home of the brave.' Think of those words as you watch the news and know that America, and her men and women, are still bringing their dream to others," Mechenbier said, his voice shaking with emotion as he spoke of U.S. soldiers serving overseas.

The 1960 Chaminade High School graduate is corporate vice president of business development for Science Applications International Corp. He said he and wife, Jerri, plan to remain in the Dayton area.

[GretchenM]

This was at PBS today, obviously not updated to reflect his retirement.

"Ed Mechenbier is currently Corporate Vice President, Development for Science Applications International Corporation. He continues his military career in the Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major General serving as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander AF Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB. He also serves as the television host for several live broadcasts of air shows across the country each year including the internationally syndicated United States Air & Trade Show."

[americafirst]

I have the privilege of knowing the general personally. He is a man's man and is the coolest guy you'll ever meet. There was an article written about him a few years back - "Wine Tasting at the Hanoi Hilton" - that will make you wonder where we find men like this. Congrats, general.

[GretchenM]

Mike Harden gets it.

[Interesting Times]

My dad was the crew chief for Colonel Jack Broughton when he strafed Haiphong Harbour. Dad destroyed the camera film as soon as Col. Broughton landed at Takli and taxied in. He gave him a salute, shook his hand and watched the AP's escort the Colonel to his barracks and within 24 hours Colonel Broughton was in California. Broughton wrote a small book entitled Thud Ridge.

As I recall, the Thuds had orders not to shoot back if the Soviet "advisors" fired at them. After they did, Col. Broughton exposed the mission film to keep his guys from going to jail, effectively falling on his sword by doing so.

Thud Ridge and Going Downtown, Broughton's followup written 20 years later after the classification period ended, are terrific books that I have read several times each.

[vetvetdoug]

Now you know who the crew chief was that took the film from the nose cone of the F-105 and exposed the film. Dad did this upon the order from Colonel Broughton respectfully and willfully.

[GretchenM]

Here's the link to buy the "Return with Honor" DVD. $19.98 plus shipping.

http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=1402922

[Diva Betsy Ross]

"When you're getting run out of town on a rail, get in front and make it look like a parade," he said. "Welcome to my parade."

Thanks for the ping Tonk. God bless this great man!!

[AndrewC]

They don't actually fly - they're just so ugly that the earth repels them.

They fly and they fly fast. They just don't turn worth a damn. Unload and extend.

[BlueNgold]

I just have to wonder what the good General would have to say regarding the decision of the CA legislature to not allow ADM Denton to speak during July 4th commemorations...

[SwinneySwitch]

But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew [their] strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
they shall walk, and not faint.

Thanks, General.

[Interesting Times]

Now you know who the crew chief was that took the film from the nose cone of the F-105 and exposed the film. Dad did this upon the order from Colonel Broughton respectfully and willfully.

I remember one of the witnesses on the flight line was grilled later by a military attorney about what he saw. He replied something like, "The Colonel and (probably your Dad) appeared to be reviewing the flight films near the airplane." The attorney asked whether he didn't find that unusual, that they would unroll the film under bright lights that would obviously damage or destroy it. The reply came back, "No sir, if the Colonel wants to look at film at night under the lights, that's fine with me."

[SoCal Pubbie]

"Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier, who reached the Air Force's mandatory retirement age for his rank at 62,"

Questions for those in the know. Are there different age limits for higher ranks? Have the retirement rules changed over the years? I seem to recall that Admiral Rickover was in his seventies and I think Patton was late sixties during WWII, and MacArthur was 71 when relieved by Truman.

[Colt .45]

Yes, this man is a true patriot. Its just too bad there aren't more like him.

[onyx]

Thanks for the pic and the link.

[Kitty Mittens]

I salute this great Patriot; God bless him!

[Gritty]

Maybe this guy should run for President in 2008.

He is made of the right stuff.

[AndrewC]

The Colonel was not the only one to risk career or life for fellow flyers.

Air Force Association

June 1997, Vol. 80, No. 6

By John L. Frisbee, Contributing Editor 

A Spectacular Save

A tanker crew broke the rules to save two "Thuds" about to flame out over the jungle.

The Vietnam War was unique in many respects. It was the first air war in which both tactical and strategic operations were heavily dependent on air refueling. Strategic Air Command (SAC) tankers on temporary duty in the Pacific and Southeast Asia began flying missions in June 1965 and completed nearly 200,000 sorties during the course of the war. Except from the aircrews they served, the tankers have not received the recognition they earned.

One of the most unusual refuelings was flown on May 3, 1967, by a crew of the 902d Air Refueling Squadron operating from U Tapao RTAB, Thailand, on TDY from Clinton-Sherman AFB, Okla. The crew was led by Maj. Alvin Lewis and included copilot Capt. Kenneth Kelly, navigator Capt. Manuel Macias, and boom operator TSgt. Walter Baker. They were on their second five-hour refueling sortie of the day.

The action began when an F-105 "Thud" was shot down over North Vietnam. Wabash Flight, two of the F-105s covering the downed airmen, was led by Col. Jack M. Broughton of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli RTAB, Thailand. To protect the downed pilots, Wabash stayed in the area until their fuel was approaching zero. There was no friendly base they could reach without refueling. Their emergency call for a tanker resulted in all frequencies immediately becoming jammed by transmissions from numerous ground controllers and tanker crews, each anxious to help in their own way. The redoubtable Colonel Broughton told everyone to get off the air so he could contact a tanker, then, as described in his book Thud Ridge, gave a synopsis of what he would do to any noisemakers if he and his wingman had to walk out of the jungle.

Lewis's crew was holding at 32,000 feet on its assigned refueling track about 80 miles south of Wabash. They had completed their refueling for the day and were about to head for home with enough fuel to reach U Tapao--but not a lot to spare--when they picked up Wabash leader's emergency call. While keeping radio silence, navigator Macias plotted the Thud's reported position at 18,000 feet. Despite their own fuel situation, the Lewis crew decided to go for it. It was a tight spot. Wabash leader reported that both fighters were down to 100 to 200 pounds of fuel. Unless help arrived in minutes, they would be traveling by parachute.

At this point, Major Lewis broke radio silence, gave Wabash a heading, and informed him there would not be time for a standard refueling pattern and that because of their lack of fuel, they could give the fighters only enough to keep them out of the jungle, but not a full load. While en route to the F-105s, Macias got a firm fix on the fighters, copilot Kelly began draining fuel from the KC-135's wing tanks to pump to the F-105s, and boomer Baker made ready for a quick hookup.

As soon as Lewis established visual contact with the fighters, he rolled the KC-135 over in what he describes as the closest to a split S you could perform in a four-engine aircraft. Any bank of more than 45 degrees was considered an unusual position and was frowned on by SAC. As they came over the top of Wabash Flight in a most unorthodox approach, he slowed the diving tanker to 320 knots to get into position for a hookup.

Maneuvering a four-engine airplane over the top of the F-105s, then under the nose of a starving fighter--at the right heading, airspeed, and separation--called for some very delicate flying by Major Lewis. As he was about to move into final position, the number two F-105 flamed out. Its pilot was on the verge of punching out, but, encouraged by the tanker crew, he stayed with his Thud and, guided by the signals from Sergeant Baker, glided up to the tanker. Baker drove the refueling boom into the fighter's receptacle with an unerring eye. Fuel began to flow as the two aircraft headed for the jungle at a dive angle between 20 to 30 degrees.

The Thud pilot was able to restart his engine. After receiving a minimum of fuel, he pulled off to let Colonel Broughton, whose engine was surging and about to quit, onto the boom. When the Colonel's aircraft had taken on several hundred pounds--with the ominous gray jungle rushing up at him--his wingman returned to the boom for enough fuel to get to Takhli. Two badly needed fighters worth several million dollars--but more important, the lives of two experienced fighter pilots--had been saved in a spectacular refueling.

The Lewis crew arrived at Takhli with enough fuel for a go-around. It was the last refueling sortie of their TDY, though all of them would return to Southeast Asia. For them, saving the two pilots had been a team effort all the way and a day they will always remember with pride. For that magnificent performance, each member of the crew received the Distinguished Flying Cross and earned an honored place in the annals of air refueling.With thanks to Col. Howard V. McDonald, former commander of the 902d Air Refueling Squadron, and to Maj. Alvin Lewis, both now retired.   Published June 1997. For presentation on this web site, some Valor articles have been amended for accuracy.

[rhema]

Thanks for posting columnist Harden's tribute.