Pardos Push (F-4 Vietnam)

[+MigBuster]

On March 10, 1967, Bob Pardo was part of a four-ship mission to take out a target just north of Hanoi, North Vietnam. Going in, Earl Aman and Bob Houghton's F-4 Phantom took a mortal hit and what happened next is one of the most amazing stories you’ll ever experience.

 

http://www.oldguysandtheirairplanes.com/

[Evildeadmeat]

I had never heard of Pardo's push. What those guys did is just incredibly amazing.

[MAKO69]

I think Olds mentions this in his book, great effort on both crews to get safe area.

[Happy308]

I have read about it in an Osprey book. (i think it was "Usaf F-4 Phantom II Mig Killers 1965 - 68)

Very amazing story.

[KJakker]

This is not the first time I have heard about a jet pilot pushing a fellow jet to safety. I think this story must have circulated during Vietnam because I remember hearing a story of a Navy F-4 crew who pushed a fellow F-4 out over the Gulf of Tonkin so they could eject. They did the same thing with the tail hook. The pilot of that crew mentioned that he got the idea from a story he had heard of an Air Force pilot doing it. Unfortunately I don't know what documentary I saw it in.   

 

Also in an episode of Dogfights F-86 pilot James Robinson "Robbie" Risner pushed his wingman Joe Logan out over the sea so that he could eject after Logan's fuel tanks were damaged by flak. Unfortunately in that case Logan go tangled in his parachute lines and he drowned.

 

Link to the Dogfights video at the time index of the event provided below.

 

[+Wrench]

in art

[Nesher]

I usually skip lengthy videos like this.. but today I thought I'd watch just a few minutes of it..

the story got me hooked to the screen.. thanks for sharing!

I remember hearing about the story from of episodes on JAG.. nice to see him live and well as an old man

 

<S> Pardo!

[ShrikeHawk]

Now there's a real American hero, even after the war. Great video. Thanks for sharing!