Pardo's push

[logroller]

Awesome story. Recommended for silver star in lieu of courts martial.

http://youtu.be/RRNbcPS3A9c

[Marcus Aurelius]

You don't court martial heroes.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardo%27s_Push

In later years, Col Bob Pardo continued to remain concerned for the well-being of his fellow airmen. When he learned that Earl Aman, by then a retired lieutenant colonel, was suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyotrophic_lateral_sclerosis) and had lost his voice and mobility, he founded the Earl Aman Foundation, which raised enough money to buy Aman a voice synthesizer, a motorized wheelchair, and a computer. In concert with the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association ("River Rats"), the foundation later worked to buy a van for Lt Col Aman, which Aman used until his death. In peace or war, says Bob Pardo, "if one of us gets in trouble, everyone else gets together to help."[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardo%27s_Push#cite_note-airforce-magazine.com-6)

[Marcus Aurelius]

While the Captain did not get a movie of the week or anything on his maneuver, there is this...

http://www.tv.com/shows/jag/true-callings-5226/
JAG: Season 5, Episode 3...


This incident with Harm pushing Tuna by his tailhook out of enemy territory was based on an actual incident. On March 10, 1967, USAF Captain Robert Pardo used his F-4 Phantom to push a fellow American's badly damaged jet from North Vietnam into friendly territory.

[Little-Acorn]

InCREDible.

Brings to mind the old joke:

Q: Why did the gorilla drag the chain across the road?

A: Ever try to push one?

Towing a glider is tricky enough. Even when the plane is designed to tow it, and the glider is designed to be towed.

First time I've ever heard of pushing one.

Especially one that glides like a brick, as Phantoms do.

Pardo had to be completely nutz, to even THINK that would work.

Weirder still, it DID.

[aboutime]

InCREDible.

Brings to mind the old joke:

Q: Why did the gorilla drag the chain across the road?

A: Ever try to push one?

Towing a glider is tricky enough. Even when the plane is designed to tow it, and the glider is designed to be towed.

First time I've ever heard of pushing one.

Especially one that glides like a brick, as Phantoms do.

Pardo had to be completely nutz, to even THINK that would work.

Weirder still, it DID.


Great story. Had the pleasure of meeting several ACES from Nam. If anyone thinks TOP GUN and Tom Cruise are wild stories.
There are thousands of stories those Phantom pilots, and others can tell.
Too bad a larger price was placed on equipment than on MEN back then.
Looks like we're still paying for it today.