On November 18, 1965, U.S. Navy pilot Willie Sharp ejected from his F-8 fighter after being hit while positioned over a target in North Vietnam. With a cloud layer beneath him, he did not know if he was over land-where he would most certainly be captured or killed by the North Vietnamese or over the Gulf of Tonkin. As he ejected, both navy and air force aircraft were already heading toward him to help. 

Thanks to Dennis DeFreitas and his Youtube video of Willie’s shootdown available here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md9oNlLYEr8

Co-host James Chilcott speaks with former military flight test engineer Eileen A. Bjorkman, who has written “Unforgotten in the Gulf of Tonkin A Story of the U.S. Military's Commitment to Leave No One Behind” The book includes nail-biting descriptions of air combat, flight, and rescue as Bjorkman places Willie Sharp's story in the larger context of the U.S. military's bedrock credo-No Man Left Behind-and calls attention to the more than eighty thousand Americans still missing from conflicts since World War I. She also explores the devastating aftershocks of the Vietnam War as Willie Sharp struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder.

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I am delighted to welcome Eileen Bjorkman to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information and details of our book giveaway here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode190/

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. 

T0:00 Introduction and Overview of the episode

2:47 Guest Introduction: Eileen Bjorkman

6:37 Combat Search and Rescue during the Vietnam War

11:53 Willie Sharp's Mission and Rescue Operation

28:56 Willie's Ejection, Descent, and Capture

40:31 Willie's Escape and Confrontation with Fishermen

47:17 Final Rescue Operation and Post-Rescue Plans

52:04 Improvements in Rescue Operations during the War

1:02:08 Reflection on Dramatic Events and Acknowledgment of Patrons

1:03:21 Encouragement to Join Facebook Discussion Group and Closing Remarks

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