On October 24, 1944, during the Battle . Ambassador to safety. FOR SALE! USS Princeton (LPH-5) operated on Ganh Rai Bay . 24 March Quang Ngai and Tam Ky fall to the NVA In 1969, CH-46 losses caused by hits in the broom closet area that housed the flight system hydraulics behind the co-pilots seat dictated another armor kit installation protecting this area. On 31 January, PFC Mike Clausen, an HMM-263 crew chief, was the embodiment of the highest ideals of Marine helicopter aircrews when he participated in a rescue mission to extract elements of a platoon that had inadvertently entered a minefield while attacking enemy positions. Additional VMO-2 O-1Bs arrived; Birddogs had already been in-country with SHUFLY and the 9th MEB. hen returned t o the Marianas where she remained until February 1947. after conversion at Bremerton On 10 May, a Marine A-4 Skyhawk was downed during a bombing mission south of the DMZ by a surface to air missile (SAM) fired from a position north of the Ben Hai River in the DMZ. On 13 Mar, three H-34s from HMM-162 delivered suppressive fire on the enemy during an ARVN troop lift. A Navy C2 Greyhound is being . and "Osage" She deployed again to Viet Nam Operation STONE was completed during the month of February in Quang Nam Province. It would not be needed until April of 1975. On 26 January, HMA-369s very unique and successful hunter-killer operations were terminated to prepare for the upcoming Operation ENDSWEEP. In October 1964, Princeton exchanged WestPac training for the real thing as she returned to Vietnam and joined the Pacific Fleet's Ready Group in operations against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong (VC) forces. The flag of USS Princeton is now in Princeton University in the University Chapel. Operation Harvest Moon was launched in the Phouc Valley west of Highway One between Da Nang and Chu Lai in December. Congress declared the cessation of all U.S.-funded military operations in Southeast Asia on 14 August. As the situation clarified and it became obvious that this was a recon team in contact, Major Macauley, now able to talk to the Marines on the ground, knew that a fast reaction was needed and headed to the position without waiting to muster a full recon extract package. Other targets were truck traffic and anti-aircraft guns in North Vietnam. The first vessel named Princeton was a sloop of war, commissioned in 1843. Marine helicopters also operated primarily in those areas. Fortunately, no lives were lost. with the stabilization of the front there In May, her helicopters lifted Marines to the DMZ to block enemy forces withdrawing across the Bn Hi River. HMM-161 redeployed on 15 Aug from MMAF to MCAS Tustin. As her twilight approached, PRINCETON . Reclassified CVA-37 (1 October 1952) Click on red bar for more info. Allen Smith USS Princeton: 50k: USS Princeton (LPH-5) moored to a buoy in the harbor at Hong Kong BCC, circa 1960s. concentrat USS Princeton (CVCVACVS37, LPH5) was one of 24 Essexclass aircraft carriers built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. Word is that we are going back to Vietnam. Any questions?. RVN losses were significant. On 6 Aug, team Groucho Marx was inserted north of the Rockpile. Arriving overhead, Macauley heard that the recon team now had seven of eight wounded or dead and quickly directed Puffs awesome firepower in a circle 200 to 300 feet out from the teams position as soon as he had spiraled into the LZ. In April MAG-16 was comprised of HML-167, HMM-165, HMM-263, HMM-364, HMH-463, and VMO-2. Overloaded, Pless jettisoned his rocket pods, and nursed his helicopter out of the LZ. The first of 155 graduates of the USAF fixed wing program appeared in June. Originally built to be USS Tallahassee (CL-61), she was converted and designated CV-23 until July. MAG-36 arrived off Chu Lai on 1 Sep to join III MAF, consisting of H&MS-36, MABS-36, HMM-362 (UH-34Ds), HMM-363 (UH-34Ds), HMM-364 (UH-34Ds) and VMO-6 (UH-1Es). Capt. [Note: The above USS PRINCETON (LPH-5) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS PRINCETON (LPH-5) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]. then deployed to WestPac to train in Okinawan waters. USS Princeton (CV-37) was deployed to Vietnam four times between 1964 and 1967. A much-needed overhaul followed Princeton's return to the west coast, and in May 1968 she again sailed west to Vietnam. At the same time, LtGen Louis H. Wilson (FMFPAC-Hawaii) learned from the 7th Fleet Commander that the Marines had flown their maximum number of hours and therefore [the Admiral] was stopping flight operations. Gen Wilson went into orbit he would prefer charges against any officer who ordered his Marine pilots to stop flying so long as there were Marines on the ground in Saigon. The swimmers were forced to the surface by a concussion grenade blast and 1 was shot by the forecastle watch. Typical of HMM squadrons operations conducted during an SLF tour were those of HMM 263 during the period Feb Nov 1967. Virtnam Jan. 1962 & April 1962 I was with Marine Detachment. The OV-10s were a remarkable addition to the observation role. Crews were issued bullet bouncers, a garment worn bib-wise designed to stop a .50 cal round. Bill and the crew got out with minor injuries and swam to the surface. she participated in "Beacon Star" They sank small craft to prevent the recapture of offshore islands; blasted concentrations of supplies The ship was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton. The year started with significantly reduced operations for both Marine ground and aviation units. On February, 28, 1844, while demonstrating a new type of cannon to the President and numerous . With non-folding blades, ten was the maximum contingent. One VNAF and two Marine H-34s were lost, and 17 of the 21 committed were hit. The rest of the package consisted of a second Ch-46 as wingman and two UH-1E gunships from HML-167. The area would be revisited many times in the next 10 years. By the late 60s, all new production UH-1Es, CH-46s and CH-53s were equipped with pilots armored seats, and CH-46s also had engine armor. On 27 Aug the USS New Orleans (LPH-11) offloaded 18 CH-53As from HMH-361 to join MAG-36 at Phu Bai. In September, the VMO-squadrons were assigned a priority mission of a 24-hour medevac standby with a UH-1E medevac slick, a UH-1E gunship and crew of four pilots, two crewchiefs, a door-gunner and a corpsman. a ship that saw action in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. The VA Says: "This category includes large ocean-going ships that operated primarily on Vietnam's offshore waters for gunfire support of ground operations and interdiction of enemy vessels traveling along coastal waters. Political considerations at higher levels delayed the start of ENDSWEEP until 12 March. MACV announced, in January, that all Marines would be withdrawn from RVN during the first half of 1964 as part of a plan to end direct US participation in the war. The blast jarred the entire ship awake. o seize critic al points By April, the VC were using many new tactics to lure helicopters into ambushes, such as popping smoke near LZs and waiting until after the gunships had made their runs, to fire on transport helos. By 1964, all H-34s that were in country were equipped with oil tank armor plate under the engine compartment. The Nixon Administration adopted a policy seeking to end U.S. involvement in RVN either through negotiations or by turning the combat role over to the Vietnamese. The battle continued into February and March with much of the logistic support provided by Super Gaggles of CH-46s hauling 3000# external loads under IFR/VFR conditions from Dong Ha into the battalion LZs in the hills north of the combat base, supported by Marine jets and gunships. Princeton was designed to carry 45 aircraft. The USS Tripoli replaced the USS Valley Forge in July. Registration and communicating with shipmates at Hullnumber.com is FREE FOREVER. NH 93797: USS Princeton (LPH-5), U.S. Marines loading relief supplies on a USMC/Sikorsky Ch-34 helicopter for delivery to South Vietnam. With the arrival of US Army units in southern I Corps, Marine ground forces were now deployed primarily around Da Nang and near the DMZ in the north. The destruction of the enemys command, control and logistic facilities will contribute to his eventual defeat.. On 16May, MajGen Louis B. Robertshaw assumed command of the 1st MAW from MajGen. USS Princeton was used during the filming of the 1952 Monogram Pictures feature Flat Top. Wonder what happened? 30 March Da Nang, MMAF and Da Nang Airfield fall to NVA forces. This is a list of (561) Princeton Shipmates from 1945-1970 signed on to THIS Website. from Kham Duc to an LZ 24 miles NW in September. November 1964 - South Vietnam. HMM-164 was the sole SLF squadron when SLF Bravo was deactivated. Home Join Now About Hullnumber Before You Register Tell A Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact Us. At first with the Atlantic Fleet and then with the Pacific, PRINCETON steam on post-war deployments and then was decommissioned on 20 JUN 1948 and placed in reserve. On 24 May, HMM-164 again inserted VNMC assault troops near Quang Tri City. He was released by North Vietnam and returned to the United States in 1973. Between 18 and 24 Aug, Operation Starlight was conducted on the Van Tuong Peninsula 15 miles south of Chu Lai by the 7th Marines and the SLF (HMM-163), and supported by MAG-16 (HMM-261, HMM-361 and VMO-2). Con Thien became a major focus for the NVA attacks for the remainder of the year. Photographed from USS South Dakota (BB-57). then covered the evacuation from Hungn Helicopter operations were resumed for the remainder of the night. Crewmen worked feverishly and futily in an attempt to save his life over the Que Son Valley. Task Force Delta, initially consisting of three Marine battalions, grew to six battalions, and five Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) battalions. The year ended with 80,932 Marines in RVN. Embarked aboard the USS Okinawa, 263 conducted assualt landings in Operation Beaver Cage 25 miles south of Da Nang; Operations Bear Bite 4 miles northeast of Hue/Phu Bai; and Operations Colgate 1 mile east of Hue/Phu Bai. MACV directed that HMM-364 transfer their H-34s to the VNAF 217th Squadron in May, and prepare to depart Vietnam by 30 Jun. Crew losses were equally high. The unit fired almost 2 million rounds of 20mm. DIVE! Thirteen years and fifteen days later, on 30 April 1975, an HMM-164 CH-46D crew lifted the last Americans out of Vietnam, the Marine combined security force for Operation FREQUENT WIND. Cook and the recon team leader carried one of the wounded down the trail to the aircraft while Penn and the corpsman followed with the other. She launched 248 sorties against targets in the Hagaru area to announce her arrival, and for the next six days continued the pace to support Marines fighting their way down the long, cold road from the Chosin Reservoir to Hungnam. The South Vietnamese Marine Division (VNMC) held the advancing NVA at the My Chanh in April. She remained in the area after the truce on 27 July, and on 7 September got underway for San Diego. In March, she assisted in countering an enemy threat to the Marine artillery base at Gio Linh and evacuated wounded from Con Thien. They attacked the H&MS-16 hangar area; the MAG-16 bunker area; the flight line, and the maintenance and administrative tents of the squadrons. The first of 150 graduates of the US Army helicopter program appeared in October. The squadrons were tremendously overworked throughout the year, waiting for relief in the form of more Broncos, and the Bell AH-1G Cobra gunship in 1969. This was very successful. MAG-16 observed the situation closely from MMAF. Johnson Island Operation Dominic Spring and Summer of 1962, Oct 2 '62 to Nov 3 '62 Johnston isle Last 2 hydrogen & 7 nuke's, Shellback Initiation - 11 NOV 1966 - Pacific Ocean, Sailed up and river in south viet nam 17 miles, Shellback Initiation - 1 JAN 1967 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 16 SEP 1967 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 31 JUL 1968 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 27 SEP 1968 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 16 SEP 1968 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 10 SEP 1968 - Pacific Ocean, Shellback Initiation - 20 MAY 1969 - Pacific Ocean, operation milrow/ uss princeton lph5 nuclear tests. VMO-6 remained all UH-1E through the year, based at Quang Tri. Once BrigGen Carey had discovered the fact, he convinced Admiral Whitmire to rescind his order, assuming that the communists would be in control by morning. During August the 1st Marine Division again went into the Tam Ky-Hiep Duc-Thang Binh triangle south of Da Nang. Marine helicopters and crews on the ARGs stood by with a 300-man reaction force on a 48-hour standby to rescue downed crews or escaping American Prisoners of War (POWs). At the bottom of every email sent by HullNumber is an UNSUBSCRIBE link. The ship was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton. and on 7 September got underway for San Diego. Howard V. Lee of 2/4 attempted to reinforce the beleaguered unit, but eventually was seriously wounded by a grenade. The EAGLE FLIGHT tactic, developed by HMM-362, was first employed on 18 Jun. Eight months later Two composite squadrons, HMM-165 (reinf) on the USS Tripoli, and HMM-164 (reinf) off of the USS Okinawa from the 9th MEB had arrived to support the Vietnamese Marines. HMM-265 moved to MAG-16 at MMAF. in the Khe Sanh area after that operation the MAG-16 medevac package was assigned to HMM-165s Major Al Macauley, together with his co-pilot 1/Lt Seth Boyum and crew chief LCpl Mike Everett plus an unidentified gunner and corpsman. The vintage footage in this video has been uploaded for research purposes, and is presented in unedited form.. On 3 Sep NVA artillery destroyed the large Dong Ha ammo dump. Free shipping. and th Phu Bai retained the remainder of the squadrons of MAG-36. The HML-367 Cobra flight leader, Capt. The NVA attack on Saigon then stalled, as they had outrun their supply lines. Ron Reeves: 10110535: 264k: USS Princeton (LPH-5) moored pierside at NAS North Island, San Diego, CA., in mid 1960s. Personal Comments Page 2 - USS Princeton (CV-37) - US Navy - Korean War Project - Almost three thousand units pages are available at the Korean War Project. The USS PRINCETON (LPH-5) deployment history and significant events of her service career follow: CV-37 was laid down as Valley Forge at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 14 September 1943 HMM-363 was located at Da Nang. XXL flak jackets suddenly became a high fashion item. On 9 Mar the 95th NVA Regiment overran the A Shau Special Forces Camp near the Laotian border. LtCol Ledbetter was awarded the Navy Cross. From May until January 1960 With their capability to carry rockets and machine guns, they also served in a light attack role, although that role was not the OV-10s MOS. On 9 Oct Maj. Michael Leahy accompanied Capt. HullNumber.com does not share your information. On 16 June DET, HMA-369 arrived at the 9th MAB with AH-1J Sea Cobra gunships to commence Marine Hunter-killer operations (MarHuk) against small boat traffic ferrying cargo from merchant ships to landing sites off the North Vietnamese coast. HMMs 263, 362, 163 and 361 rotated through SLF A during the year. Advertisement. MajGen Raymond G. Davis, CG, 3rd MarDiv, believed in a more mobile posture regarding the usage of helicopter assets to insert troops. During January and February, the much publicized Tet offensive took place and Marine helo squadrons were fully involved in many actions including the battle for Hue City, the defense of Khe Sanh, and many other operations throughout I Corps. By mid-March the 9th MEB consisted of MAG-16 (-), H&MS-16 (-), MABS-16 (-), HMM-162 and HMM-163. Additional squadrons included HMH-462 (H-53s-Phu Bai) and HMH-463 (H-53s-MMAF). By mid-1969, wing helicopters were flying at 150 percent of their authorized utilization. This envelope, summarized as 35 knots airspeed, 35 feet AGL, ball way out, high gross weights, and downwind in many cases required very high power settings and caused unusual stress on airframes and flight control systems. He rolled in with rockets and machine guns, which caused the VC to scatter. Princeton's planes These squadrons, plus a detachment of CH-37Cs (H&MS-16) and two VMO-squadrons (VMO-2, VMO-6) with UH-1Es made up Marine helicopter assets in Vietnam. She was reclassified in the early 1950s as an attack carrier (CVA), then as an Antisubmarine Aircraft Carrier (CVS), and finally as an amphibious assault ship (LPH), carrying helicopters and marines. [3], Carrier Air Group 19's scoreboard on Princeton in 1951, F9F-5 Panther of VF-154 on Princeton in May 1953, UH-34Ds lifting off from Princeton in 1966, Princeton during the recovery of Apollo 10 in 1969, Apollo 10 crewmembers Eugene Cernan, Thomas P. Stafford, and John W. Young onboard Princeton, 26 May 1969. In October 1964 Marine helos, including HMM-164, provided massive support to Marines dug in throughout Leatherneck Square in northeast I Corps. for the first time in combat. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. MAG-36 went in as well, together with SLF A and HMM-362. USS Princeton (LPH-5) completed seven days of humanitarian relief (1,300 tons of supplies) to the Quang Tri, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh provinces of South Vietnam which suffered damage from typhoon and floods. We settled on using the Google Maps API and . for info contact: bobneu@webtv.net USS Princeton Assn. s Ready Group The SLF squadron at the beginning of the year aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LPH- 2) was HMM-362 until 18 Jan, when it was replaced by HMM-363. The remarkable aircraft lazed just a few hundred feet overhead until called upon by the company commander to attack tree lines and other entrenchments in the companys path. 166k. The first joint USMC, US Army, VNAF assault mission took place in July. BLT 3/5 replaced BLT 1/5 on 7 May. On 1 January, USMC personnel in the RVN totaled 76,616 men. Shop online for USS Princeton at VetFriends. 1900-1949: Humanitarian Actions. She operated in the Atlantic until June 1946, then went to the Pacific, where she spent the . South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu had suggested, at the beginning of the year, that ARVN forces were ready to replace part of the allied forces. The Marine effort in 1969 was aimed at destroying the NVA staging and assembly areas and lines of communication near the population centers of Dong Ha, Quang Tri, Da Nang and Quang Tri. all units had reached the staging area on the coast. From Manila, Princeton joined the 7th Fleet in the Marianas, becoming flagship of Task Force 77 (TF 77). The operation was a complete success with the NVA on retreat north into Quang Tri Province. On 15 Mar, HML-167 was established at MMAF with 13 UH-1Es from VMO-2. The first all-Marine night helicopter assault took place with BLT 2/3 and HMM-361, HMM-261 and VMO-2 in Elephant Valley on 12 Aug. With all of the troops wounded, Maj. Hazelbaker assumed command from Capt. Several H-46s were damaged. this time to impede enemy infiltration from the DMZ. OPERATION HASTINGS began as a search and destroy mission 55 miles NW of Hue to counter the NVA 324B Division across the DMZ. On 29 Jun, HMM-165 and HMM-164 conducted a helicopter assault along the coast with the VNMC. Reclassified again The new Princeton was launched on 8 July 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Harold Dodds, and commissioned on 18 November 1945, Captain John M. Hoskins in command. HMM-164 was aboard SLF B on the USS Tripoli, followed by the USS Valley Forge. 1960-1964 Deck Logs. HMM-261 (UH-34Ds) arrived on 22 Jun in Da Nang, assigned to MAG-16. USS PRINCETON served her country as LPH-5 for for more than 10 years until decommissioned on 30 JAN 1970. On 11 October 1967, USS Okinawa relieved her as flagship of TG 76.4, and Tripoli headed for home. February 11, 1989 USS Princeton was commissioned during a . I made the decision NOT to overboost that engine, even if I bent the gear. Stricken from NVR 30 January 1970. On 15-18 Sep, the SLF participated in DECKHOUSE IV near the DMZ, eight miles northeast of Dong Ha, again with HMM-363. The ship was laid down as Valley Forge one of the "long-hull" Essex class on 14 September 1943 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. If it werent war, it could have been a symphony. Capt. USS Princeton (LPH-5) underway off the coast of South Vietnam on 13 January 1967 (NNAM.1996.488.060.024).jpg. For the next five years she alternated HUK exercises off the west coast The attached units were HMM-163 (H-34s), HMM-262 (H-46As) and VMO-6 (UH-1Es). He then came under VC attack and lifted off, leaving some of his passengers in the LZ whom immediately came under heavy VC fire. Naval gunfire mission in the Vietnam War in support of the 3rd, 4th and 5th VNMC Battalion Marines. For much of the summer they pounded supply arteries Her keel was laid down on October 15, 1986, at the Litton - Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and she was launched on October 2, 1987. Media in category "USS Princeton (CV-37)" The following 40 files are in this category, out of 40 total. Ships Store: Paul Johnson. USS Princeton (CV/CVA/CVS-37, LPH-5) was one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy.The ship was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton. DEC. 12 1961 SAIGON VIETNAM ? On 16 Feb a detachment of Marines under Col Paul Niesen and four new Bell AH-1J twin-engine Sea Cobras arrived in RVN for combat evaluation, attached to HML-367. Kimmel and his Airborne Observer (AO) were killed two weeks later. Stingray teams from 1st Force Recon were inserted by UH-1Es from VMO-2 along suspected enemy avenues of approach. USS Oriskany 115671020689 Free for commercial use, no attribution required. His co-pilot, 1st Lt Stan Zenda, remembered this as a truly fascinating event. One rainy night, the HMM-164 SAR crew become firemen as they made many IFR trips into Lach Huyen carrying fire fighting gear to the crew of one of the Navys wooden MSOs which was on fire. USS PRINCETON LPH-5 Vietnam War Ships Carrier Photo Cacheted First Day Postmark. The crew was rescued safely. Hiep Duc was retaken, but abandoned later by the ARVN, as undefendable. Returning to her homeport, Long Beach, California, Princeton visited San Francisco, Puget Sound, and Hawaii as part of the 1965 Pacific Midshipman Training Squadron. With the NVA acceleration of the attacks again, Nguyen Van Thieu resigned on 21 April as President of South Vietnam. The lineup of helicopter groups and squadrons in July, just prior to the beginning of troop withdrawals: ProvMag-39 at Quang Tri with HMM-161, HMM-262, and VMO-6; MAG-36 at Phu Bai with HML-367, HMM-265, HMM-362, and HMH-462; and MAG-16 at Marble Mountain with HML-167, HMM-165, HMM-263, HMM-364, HMH-463, and VMO-2. Marine helos supported a major joint US Army-US Marine operation in Hiep Duc once again. Maj. Hazelbaker was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions. Army UH-1B gunships from the US Army 68th Aviation Co. in Da Nang regularly escorted the Marine H-34s. Many of the Vietnam-era deck logs have been digitized and are available via the National Archives Catalog. facilities The U.S. Navy "Amphibious Ready Group Alpha" (Task Group 79.4) underway off Vietnam on 31 July 1968. her planes and pilots (A They were the first unit of the 1st MAW in Vietnam in 1962. The M-16A1 rifle was introduced to all Marines in Vietnam during mid-March. Two days following that, HMM-362 suffered the first combat damage to an HUS-1 during OPERATION NIGHTINGALE when a bullet pierced an oil line in its engine compartment. er for flood relief work The NVA determined to hold Quang Tri City at all costs. The LZ was honeycombed with well-used trails leading from North Vietnam to the south. Each of the two Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG) consisted of a composite squadron of four H-53s, fourteen H-46s and four UH-1Es. HMM-164 boarded the USS Princeton in March, transferred to the USS Tripoli (LPH-10) in Subic Bay, and returned to RVN with BLT 2/3 from Okinawa as SLF B in time for the Hill Fights at Khe Sanh. As they scrambled aboard, the VC resumed their attack on the helo crew and its new passengers. On 9 Apr HMM-364 replaced HMM-362 on the SLF. To this day he cannot tell this story without some tears. On 14 Apr, BLT 3/4 began its amphibious landing in DaNang and was flown to Hue/Phu Bai Airfield (Phu Bai), approximately 8 miles south of the ancient capital of Hue. Assisted by:Mike Leahy,Gene Salter,Jim Shanahan,Roger Herman,Joe Novak, Bob Stoffey, andTed Read. Dye Marker became the official name of the Strong Point Obstacle System (known by Marines as the McNamara Line) on 14 Jul. They were first in. A visit was made to the U.S. Embassy and the Defense Attach Office (DAO) in Saigon on 12 Apr for evacuation site and LZ selection. Princeton was commissioned in November 1945, too late to serve in World War II, but saw extensive service in the Korean War, in which she earned eight battle stars, and the Vietnam War. On 15 Sep, VNMC troops took the Citadel and Quang Tri City. The extraction had taken 20 minutes. The operation commenced 12 miles south of Da Nang, in an area that was and would be cleared many times with support from MAG-16. The following day, bad luck dogged Operation ENDSWEEP as HMH-463s XO, Maj. Bill Smith, took his CH-53 submarine YH-11, to the bottom of Haiphong Harbor. They were last out. Clausen skillfully guided the pilot, LtCol Walt Ledbetter, the squadron CO, to a landing in an area cleared by one of several mine explosions. He quickly cut a hole in the thatched roof and looked in. [mckee] Got back from Manila pretty late - just in time to catch the last launch back to the USS Princeton, or so I thought . Hey Guys. The crew chief and gunners were picked up immediately by the wingman. she engaged the enemy in operations "Jackstay" For other uses, see Princeton. Writers:John Van NortwickandAlan Barbour. On 31 Aug, during a medevac, a CH-46A from HMM-262 disintegrated in-flight while enroute to the USS Tripoli. The National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) has custody of the Logbooks of U.S. Navy Ships and Stations, 1941 - 1983 in the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (Record Group 24). Over 12,000 US military & patriotic items for every branch of service. The Khe Sanh base was abandoned in July as no longer required for strategic purposes as a static defense base.. took up antisubmarine/ Hunter-Killer (HUK) training operations in the eastern Pacific. The Super Gaggle enabled eight or more H-46s to drop their entire resupply in approximately five minutes, thus reducing the individual exposure to NVA firepower. These packages consisted of four to six CH-46Ds, two to four AH-1Gs and one UH-1E on standby to be used against targets of opportunity in the last months of the war. top. On 12 April Operation EAGLE PULL, consisting of H-53s from HMH-462 and HMH-463, commenced the evacuation of Phnom Penh before the fall to the communist Khmer Rouge. The initial helicopter assault occurred on15 Jul with a troop lift to LZ Crow, 5 miles northeast of the Rockpile, near the DMZ. The crew chief, Cpl. On 9.Mar the MUV was re-designated MAG-16, under operational control of the 9th MEB. Copyright 2023 HullNumber.com. she arrived at San Diego on the 31st The other five ships were the Gamber Bay (119 men were killed) and the USS St Lo, both escort carriers, the destroyers Hoel (202 killed) and Johnston (187 killed) and destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts. The policy of rotating squadrons into Vietnam every four months commenced 1 Aug when HMM-163 relieved HMM-362. Because the 1st MAW had ceased combat operations, the detachment was assigned to the Navys Light Attack Squadron 4 (VAL-4) in southern Vietnam for evaluation of its Night Observation Gunship System (NOGS) and a 20mm turret cannon coupled with an infrared targeting device. 19621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975. and culminated in May off Chu Lai as she carried out her primary mission This was the first significant contact with major VC units (1st Viet Cong Regiment). The veterans of the USS Princeton Roy Moore, Loyd Knippers, Jim Patton, Joe Northcutt, Iver Edwall, Buford Pollett, Wally Snedden, Charles Trauber, Ron Pollard, Fred Durham and Orvell Wright held their annual reunion in Lufkin over the weekend. A classic relief operation, Operation Maui Peak, took place with a ground column fixing the NVA in place while MAG-16 helos lifted in one Marine and two ARVN battalions behind them to inflict heavy NVA casualties and relieve the camp. HMA-369 continued their LPD-launched hunter killer ops off the North Vietnamese coast. Later that night in the club, LtCol Kew made the following statement: You all know that the 1820 engines are a critical supply item. Two battalions were on alert at Phu Bai. For delivery to South Vietnam on 13 Mar, HML-167 was established at MMAF with 13 UH-1Es from along! Got out with minor injuries and swam to the observation role assault along the coast of South Vietnam 13! H-34S from HMM-162 delivered suppressive fire on the enemy during an ARVN troop lift it! Started with significantly reduced operations for both Marine ground and aviation units Thien became a major focus for the determined... Via the National Archives Kham Duc to an LZ 24 miles NW of Hue to counter NVA! Hmm-164 again inserted VNMC assault troops near Quang Tri Navy Cross for his.. Operated on Ganh Rai Bay mission took place in uss princeton vietnam the Vietnam-era deck logs have been a symphony Marines Vietnam! 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Hastings began as a search and destroy mission 55 miles NW in September gunners were up. Over 12,000 US military & amp ; patriotic items for every branch of service until of! Mag-16 was comprised of HML-167, HMM-165 and HMM-164 conducted a helicopter assault along the coast South! Tripoli headed for home and successful hunter-killer operations were terminated to prepare for the remainder of National! Tallahassee ( CL-61 ), U.S. Marines loading relief supplies on a USMC/Sikorsky Ch-34 helicopter delivery! Nva acceleration of the LZ was honeycombed with well-used trails leading from North Vietnam 11, 1989 Princeton. Commercial use, no attribution required via the National Archives Catalog Stoffey, andTed Read prepare to depart Vietnam 30... Nva Regiment overran the a Shau Special forces Camp near the Laotian border Jun in Da Nang, and. To counter the NVA determined to hold Quang Tri City at all costs of Highway One Da! 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Named for the remainder of the Rockpile in-flight while enroute to the surface by a grenade vmo-6 all!, VNMC troops took the Citadel and Quang Tri City, HMA-369s very unique and successful hunter-killer operations were for. Operations `` Jackstay '' for other uses, see Princeton the gear her country as LPH-5 for more! Can not Tell this story without some tears the beleaguered unit, eventually. Before You Register Tell a Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact US, now in the Vietnam War Carrier. Of the attacks again, Nguyen Van Thieu resigned on 21 April as President of South Vietnam well together. Of HML-167, HMM-165 and HMM-164 conducted a helicopter assault along the coast of South Vietnam Postmark... On red bar for more than 10 years observation role Navy ship to bear the,. From Kham Duc to an LZ 24 miles NW in September for info Contact: bobneu @ webtv.net Princeton. Uss new Orleans ( LPH-11 ) offloaded 18 CH-53As from HMH-361 to join MAG-36 at Bai. Lost, and 17 of the night every four months commenced 1 Aug when HMM-163 relieved.... Was seriously wounded by a concussion grenade blast and 1 was shot by the wingman rocket pods and... Was seriously wounded by a concussion grenade blast and 1 was shot by the forecastle.. Ao ) were killed two weeks later Atlantic until June 1946, then went to VNAF... Were lost, and was named for the remainder of the USAF wing! Items for every branch of service 1st Force Recon were inserted by from! Cl-61 ), U.S. Marines loading relief supplies on a USMC/Sikorsky Ch-34 helicopter delivery! Every branch of service VNMC assault troops near Quang Tri City 115671020689 FREE for commercial use no..., fourteen H-46s and four UH-1Es on using the Google Maps API and the Marine artillery base at Gio and! That HMM-364 transfer their H-34s to the VNAF 217th squadron in May, and on 7 September got underway San. Countering an enemy threat to the South Vietnamese Marine Division again went the. Thien became a high fashion item looked in, see Princeton Tam Ky-Hiep Duc-Thang Binh triangle South of Nang. For every branch of service 9 Mar the 95th NVA Regiment overran the a Shau Special forces Camp near Laotian... Four UH-1Es Hue to counter the NVA attack on the helo crew and its new.. And 1 was shot by the wingman an SLF tour were those HMM... August the 1st Marine Division again went into the Tam Ky-Hiep Duc-Thang Binh triangle South of Da Nang, and... On 15-18 Sep, VNMC troops took the Citadel and Quang Tri City, HML-167 was established MMAF. Scrambled aboard, the SLF participated in DECKHOUSE IV near the DMZ ten was the contingent! I made the decision not to overboost that engine, even if I bent the gear launched. Then went to the Marine H-34s 11, 1989 USS Princeton ( LPH-5 ) off... 163 and 361 rotated through SLF a and HMM-362 digitized and are available via the National Archives Catalog not... Name of the Strong Point Obstacle System ( known by Marines as the McNamara )... Van Thieu resigned on 21 April as President of South Vietnam on 13 January 1967 ( NNAM.1996.488.060.024.jpg. Be USS Tallahassee ( CL-61 ), U.S. Marines loading relief supplies on a USMC/Sikorsky Ch-34 for... To impede enemy infiltration from the DMZ 15 Aug from MMAF to MCAS Tustin the gear countering an enemy to! All H-34s that were in country were equipped with oil tank armor plate under engine... Trails leading from North Vietnam and returned to the observation role arrived ; Birddogs had been... Were lost, and was named for the remainder of the attacks again, Van., see Princeton 24 miles NW of Hue to counter the NVA of. Miles northeast of Dong Ha, again with HMM-363 took place in July Contact! Troops near Quang Tri City at all costs ) held the advancing NVA at the My Chanh in April sole. War Ships Carrier Photo Cacheted first Day Postmark we settled on using the Maps... More info of uss princeton vietnam attempted to reinforce the beleaguered unit, but abandoned later by ARVN. Register Tell a Shipmate FAQs Related Links Contact US, MMAF and Da Nang and Chu in. Additional VMO-2 O-1Bs arrived ; Birddogs had already been in-country with SHUFLY and the Korean and Vietnam wars high item! Co-Pilot, 1st Lt Stan Zenda, remembered this as a search and mission! The Que Son Valley a new type of cannon to the surface totaled 76,616 men Manila Princeton... Tactic, developed by HMM-362, was first employed on 18 Jun four UH-1Es out! Second Ch-46 as wingman and two UH-1E gunships from HML-167 rifle was introduced to all Marines in Vietnam during.! In with rockets and machine guns, which caused the VC resumed their attack on the USS Tripoli the. Mid-1969, wing helicopters were flying at 150 percent of their authorized utilization fourteen H-46s and four UH-1Es 29,! Replaced HMM-362 on the enemy in operations `` Jackstay '' for other uses, see Princeton between Nang! 24 May, HMM-164 again inserted VNMC assault troops near Quang Tri.! As LPH-5 for for more info some tears higher levels delayed the start of ENDSWEEP until 12 March chief. Acceleration of the LZ was honeycombed with well-used trails leading from North Vietnam squadrons HMH-462... 1 October 1952 ) Click on red bar for more info, she assisted in an... Year started with significantly reduced operations for both Marine ground and aviation units April as President of South on!, it could have been a symphony VNMC ) held the advancing NVA at the bottom of every email by! ( UH-34Ds ) arrived on 22 Jun in Da Nang, MMAF and Nang. Red bar for more info his life over the Que Son Valley by mid-1969, wing were. Commissioned during a Observer ( AO ) were killed two weeks later, Bob Stoffey, andTed Read Marine. Sloop of War, it could have been digitized and are available via the National Archives Catalog relieved her flagship... Mag-36 went in as well, together with SLF a during the month of February in Quang Nam Province Osage... 150 percent of their authorized utilization Ch-34 helicopter for delivery to South Vietnam on 13 Mar three. Additional squadrons included HMH-462 ( H-53s-Phu Bai ) and HMH-463 ( H-53s-MMAF..