On 18 May, HMM-263 sustained significant loss and combat damage in Operation Beau Charger during an insertion in the DMZ. During August, HMM-261 conducted a major retrograde operation lifting 1300 ARVN from LZs near the Laotian border to Thuong Duc, SW of Da Nang. ng Cau district and the Song Cai river valley The Princeton (CG 59) is the 13th Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser and the sixth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name of Princeton. Included in this support was the daily use of from two to eight CH-53Ds of HMH-463 to lift heavy equipment and artillery, along with units of the US Army.s 101st Airborne. The 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, the 1st Force Recon Co. and a detachment of MAG-16 helicopters occupied Ha Airfield. The attached units were HMM-163 (H-34s), HMM-262 (H-46As) and VMO-6 (UH-1Es). Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, speaks with Lt. Cmdr. Crewmen worked feverishly and futily in an attempt to save his life over the Que Son Valley. 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. It is very important veterans know that the VA maintains a list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships associated with military service in Vietnam and exposure to Agent Orange based on military records. of Defense changed the official designations of all military aircraft in November. It also includes ships supplying and supporting these operations. During April the 9th MAB with PROVMAG-39 consisting of HMM-164 and HMM-165 (27 H-46s), HMH-462 (16 H-53s-USS Okinawa), HMH-463 (16 H-53s-USS Hancock), HML-367, and HMA-369, was activated for the evacuation. Eugene Mettler (KIA according to Carl Septien, but NOT on The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in DC) 1. OPERATION SHUFLY was initiated with the deployment of HMM-362 into Soc Trang. USS Rasher SS 269 December 17 1969 Portland OR Pmk. She cruised the West Coast, Hawaiian waters, and the Western Pacific (1 October 23 December) in 1948. 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. 30 March Da Nang, MMAF and Da Nang Airfield fall to NVA forces. On 1 January, USMC personnel in the RVN totaled 76,616 men. From SeptemberNovember 1962, Princeton served as flagship of Joint Task Force 8 during the nuclear weapons test series, Operation Dominic. Quick Ship Facts. after that operation USS PRINCETON was an ESSEX - class aircraft carrier and the fifth ship in the Navy to bear the name. The USS Midway (CVA-41) had an additional contingent of 6 USAF CH-53s (special ops) and 4 USAF HH-53s (rescue). MAG-16 was comprised of HML-167, HMM-165, HMM-263, HMM-364, HMH-463, and VMO-2. HML-367 had been activated as an all-Cobra squadron, receiving the Cobra inventory from VMO-2. On 2 Oct 63 , HMM-361 relieved HMM-261. MACV directed that HMM-364 transfer their H-34s to the VNAF 217th Squadron in May, and prepare to depart Vietnam by 30 Jun. and th as flagship for Amphibious Ready Group Alpha A Proud Namesake CG 59 is the sixth ship in a proud series of U. S. Navy ships to honor the name PRINCETON. Mayne, went down the hoist to check it out for survivors. and the western Pacific (1 October-23 December) during 1948. A much needed overhaul followed Princeton's return to the west coast and in May 1968 she again sailed west to Viet Nam. HMM-262 redeployed on 7 May to MCAS Kaneohe Bay. MAG-36 went in as well, together with SLF A and HMM-362. "Proud Hunter" USS Princeton, a 27,100-ton Ticonderoga class aircraft carrier built at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in November 1945, a few months after the end of World War II. she emerged from conversion as an amphibious assault carrier Upon arrival over the area, the helo crew saw that the recon team was located approximately 200 yards from the only LZ. The Princeton's reputation in the Navy never recovered from a devastating incident early in her service. 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. In the Vietnam War from February 1967 to April 1971, operating from Da Nang, South Vietnam. In March, HQMC restructured all VMO squadrons in the USMC to begin receiving the North American OV-10A Broncos. He had to wear the big XXL vest with the right and left flaps overlapped because it was too large. The ensuing recovery operation lasted 3 days and required the insertion of Marine and ARVN security forces numbering over 150 men. The year started with significantly reduced operations for both Marine ground and aviation units. On 30 April 1975, the President of South Vietnam, General Duong Van Minh, told his soldiers to lay down their arms. Princeton sailed for home On 24 Sep HMM-362 relieved HMM-363 as the SLF squadron. The Khe Sanh combat base now had a permanent detachment of 2 H-46s, 2 H-34s and 2 UH-1Es from MAG-16. HullNumber.com does not retain your payment information if you make a purchase. The medevac team was now a single H-34 or H-46 with a UH-1E gunship chase on 24 hour standby. These years of the war saw an increased rate of casualties to both aircraft and aircrew. The 2nd Battalion arrived in September. hen returned t o the Marianas where she remained until February 1947. 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. 14 battle stars, in the Korean and Vietnam wars. ARVN units moving into old USMC areas still required Marine helo support from MAG-16. They were first in. OPERATION HASTINGS began as a search and destroy mission 55 miles NW of Hue to counter the NVA 324B Division across the DMZ. in the Khe Sanh area The Third Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3rd MEB), under BrigGen Marion Carl, landed at Chu Lai on 7 May, coming under the command of the 9th MEB after the landing. Columnar data during this period includes wind direction and speed, barometric pressure, air and water temperature, general state of clouds, weather . Photographed from USS South Dakota (BB-57). The 23 rounds were stacked on these straps parallel to the diir. She first appeared in Vietnam in 1962, and returned for combat deployments through the 1960s. For much of the summer they pounded supply arteries, concentrating on highways, and in August Princeton got underway for the U.S., arriving at San Diego on the 29th, after collecting Destroyer Division 51 at Pearl Harbor.[1]. By mid-1969, wing helicopters were flying at 150 percent of their authorized utilization. HMM-262 assisted Boeing Vertol in the modification program, which lasted until February 1968. The 1stMAW provided BrigGen Homer Hill, Asst. 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. In the early years, armor for H-34s, other than self-sealing fuel cells, and their crews did not formally exist. However, the operation was unusual, as it seemed that the daily flight schedule was based on the progress of the Paris peace talks. The 66th NVA Regiment had been completely surprised by the assault. MAG-16 moved from Da Nang to the Marble Mountain Air Facility (MMAF) on 7 Aug. All MAG-16 aircraft were operating out of MMAF by the beginning of September. Crews were issued vests and diapers of spun fiberglass that were only marginally effective in stopping light shrapnel. (CVL-23) Coordinates: 1521N 12331E. 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 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. her planes and pilots (A By 1964, all H-34s that were in country were equipped with oil tank armor plate under the engine compartment. . Both SLFs participated in Operation Bold Mariner on the Batangan Peninsula, last visited during Operation Starlight in 1965. then supported 1st Air Cavalry and 101st Airborne units engaged in "Nathan Hale" to the south of the "Deckhouse I" area. During the bombardment of the base and the required resupply, losses of helicopters had been high. 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. The OV-10s were a remarkable addition to the observation role. Congress declared the cessation of all U.S.-funded military operations in Southeast Asia on 14 August. The 77 day Siege of Khe Sanh began on 21 Jan when a Marine patrol made contact on Hill 881 with a heavy concentration of NVA troops. On October 24, 1944, during the Battle . Quang Tri was defended by the main-force NVA 325th Division, reinforced. Six squadrons (HMMs 161, 263, 361, 362, 363, 364) were now in- country, plus HMM-261 aboard ship, all with UH-34Ds. On 28 January, at 0800, the final cease-fire was observed. Despite their efforts, the ship burned to the waterline. Nixons troop withdrawal plan began on 14 Jul with BLT 1/9 leaving for Okinawa. 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. 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. One, the success of Operation ENDSWEEP was directly linked to the release of U.S. POWs held in North Vietnam, and two, Marines obey the orders given them. VA-195 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 19 (CVG-19) and made two deployments to Korea aboard the Princeton, from Nov. 9, 1950 to May 29, 1951, and from March 21 to Nov. 3, 1952. John M. Hoskin she was back off the Korean coast and until the end of the conflict launched planes for close ai On 30 July, after completion of Operation ENDSWEEP, the 31st MAU was reconstituted aboard the USS Tripoli with 13 H-53s, 4 H-46s, 2 hueys and 4 cobras. Both MAG-16 and MAG-36 plus HMM-363 from Qui Nhon and HMM-261 from the SLF supported Task Force Delta and the 5th ARVN Regiment as they swept this familiar ground in search of VC and NVA units. From 26 Mar to 6 Apr the SLF and HMM-362 participated in OPERATION JACKSTAY with two South Vietnamese Marine battalions in the Rung Sat Special Zone south of Saigon. USS Forrestal (CV-59) had one Vietnam war cruise, in the summer of 1967. HMM-363 was located at Da Nang. At 0458, Capt Gerry Berry of HMM-165 in Lady Ace 9 lifted the U.S. Each of the two Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG) consisted of a composite squadron of four H-53s, fourteen H-46s and four UH-1Es. The policy of rotating squadrons into Vietnam every four months commenced 1 Aug when HMM-163 relieved HMM-362. On 27 Oct, shortly after midnight, explosions hit MMAF and the Chu Lai SATS field. Major operations took place along the DMZ, in the Da Krong Valley, and on Charlie Ridge southwest of Da Nang. For full info contact: USS Princeton Assn. During the next months it was followed by HMM-265 (MAG-16, MMAF), HMM-165 (MAG-36, KyHa) and HMM-262 (MAG-36, KyHa), all in CH-46As. The III MAF Logistic Support facility was destroyed by a grass fire on 27 Apr southwest of Da Nang. HullNumber.com does not share your information. HMM-261 (UH-34Ds) arrived on 22 Jun in Da Nang, assigned to MAG-16. VMO-6 stood down on 2 Oct and had departed for Okinawa by 20 Oct. HMM-161 and HMM-262 were assigned to MAG-16 on 16 Oct, but remained at Phu Bai due to space limitations at MMAF. Initially, activities were limited to the installation of minesweeping kits (a streaming winch, a tow kit, flight control system modifications, a precise navigation system based on Loran, rearview mirrors, and 2 internal fuel cells) and AMCM aircrew training with the Magnetic Orange Pipe (MOP) at NAS Cubi Point. By the beginning of May, Marine amphibious units were in position offshore. In June, the CH-53D assumed an attack role. This was the first major contact with the 21st NVA Regiment. The blast jarred the entire ship awake. HMM-161 attempted a retraction of the reinforcing unit, but was waved off by the ground commander due to intense enemy fire after picking up 20 of the 45 troops. 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. The DMZ was to be fortified, much to the dismay of the III MAF leadership. r support they combined close air support with raids on power sources in the Hwachon Reservoir area and On 15 April 1962,a Sikorsky HUS-1 (later redesignated the UH-34D) crew from LtCol Archie Clapps HMM-362 touched down on a World War II Japanese fighter strip 3 miles from Soc Trang, southwest of Saigon, in the Mekong Delta. Princeton's mission became that of vertical envelopment--the landing of Marines behind enemy beach fortifications and providing logistics and medical support as they attack from the rear t The wing stations carried 19 shot 2.75 in rockets, flares, CBU-55 (FAE) weapons or 150 gal. The 9th Marines devised a tactical arrangement termed Sparrow Hawk at the beginning of the year with units from MAG-16. $4.90. In July, a detachment of 10 UH-34Ds from HMM-161 moved from Phu Bai to Qui Nhon in II Corps to support the SLF BLT, which came ashore with HMM-163 to secure the port area during the arrival of the 1st Cavalry Division. The ship was laid down as Valley Forge one of the "long-hull" Essex class on 14 September 1943 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Sinanju the national archives hold deck logs for aircraft carriers for the vietnam conflict. On 22 July, HMM-164 again heli-lifted VNMC troops into Quang Tri. for info contact: bobneu@webtv.net USS Princeton Assn. They were helilifted by Sparrow Hawk helicopters on strip alert at MMAF, a combination of HMM helicopters and gunships from VMO-2. The Third Marine Amphibious Brigade (3rd MAB) was officially established in its place. 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 exchanged WestPac training for the real thing as she returned to Viet Nam and joined the Pacific Fleet's Ready Group in operations against North Viet-Namese and Viet Cong forces. 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. On 15 Sep, VNMC troops took the Citadel and Quang Tri City. 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. In February 1953, she was back off the Korean coast and until the end of the conflict launched planes for close air support, "Cherokee" strikes against supply, artillery, and troop concentrations in enemy territory, and against road traffic. USS Princeton (CVL-23) 1943: Independence: Sunk: USS Princeton (CV-37) 1945: Essex: Scrapped: USS Randolph (CV-15) 1944: Essex: Scrapped: USS Ranger (CV-4 . Advancing under enemy fire, they were halfway to the recon teams position when they met the team running down the trail. A Marine FO unit stumbled onto a large NVA contingent, uncovering an enemy intent to attack in force. 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 . No Marine helicopter activity was recorded. 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. Relieving Okinawa as flagship for the Amphibious Ready Group, she engaged the enemy in operations Jackstay, 26 March 6 April, to clear the Rung Sat Special Zone of Viet Cong guerrillas, and Osage, 27 April 4 May, to protect Vietnamese in the Phu Loc area from VC harassment. A much-needed overhaul followed Princeton's return to the west coast, and in May 1968 she again sailed west to Vietnam. The OV-10Ds had the prototype gun turrets from the AH1-J program and prototype laser target designators. The swimmers were forced to the surface by a concussion grenade blast and 1 was shot by the forecastle watch. After a seemingly endless climb and then descent out of the weather, a safe landing was made at a nearby aid station LZ, with Cummings still clinging to the rocket pod, a little messed up by the elements, but otherwise OK. For the period 1960-1964, many logs were produced in a revised format, with slightly truncated columnar data immediately preceding the remarks instead of on a separate page. During December, a most unusual and heroic medevac took place. DIVE! NHHC Photograph Collection. He then came under VC attack and lifted off, leaving some of his passengers in the LZ whom immediately came under heavy VC fire. U.S. Navy Ships in Vietnam. In October 1964 Princeton exchanged WestPac training for the real thing as she returned to Viet Nam and joined . The total number of ships on the list is 308. As he passed under the nose, he looked up, grinned, gave a big thumbs up and could be heard to say: Thanks for coming down and saving my life! Only after that did John see that the Marines right leg was missing from the knee down. The operation was unique in many ways and required the Marines assigned to utilize high levels of ingenuity, flexibility, and political awareness. Search and destroy missions against Viet Cong and People's Army of Vietnam units followed as Princeton provided transportation, medical evacuation, logistics and communication support for the amphibious operation Deckhouse I, 18 27 June, in the Song Cau district and the Song Cai river valley, then supported 1st Cavalry and 101st Airborne units engaged in Operation Nathan Hale to the south of the Deckhouse I area. For 138 days, her planes flew against the enemy. Muse and Sheik grounded on Daito Shima and in April 1962 when she delivered Marine Corps advisors and helicopters to Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta area The VMO-2 broncos, also used during Lam Son 719 to plant electronic sensor strings near approach routes, flew out of country on 31 Mar. MAG-16 observed the situation closely from MMAF. and culminated in May off Chu Lai as she carried out her primary mission VMO-2 lost their V, becoming an all-helicopter squadron for the first time. The following account of an HMM-165 night medevac turned recon extract tells how both extraordinary courage on the part of the crew and spontaneous inter-service coordination resulted in a successful life saving mission. Princeton This was the beginning of the planned replacement of H&MS-16s CH-37Cs. and in February 1966 got underway for another tour in the combat zone. Following these, 263s most significant operation was Beau Charger which was the first official incursion by US Forces into the DMZ. 25 March Hue and Hoi An fall to communist forces Regardless of its eccentricities, the Deuce was the Marines Heavy Lifter since its introduction to the Corps, 10 years earlier. Operation Deckhouse II and support for Operation Hastings followed as Navy, Marine, and Army units again combined, this time to impede enemy infiltration from the DMZ. 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. A similar US Army operation south of the Marines in Binh Dinh province was carried out at the same time. Virtnam Jan. 1962 & April 1962 I was with Marine Detachment. By mid-March the 9th MEB consisted of MAG-16 (-), H&MS-16 (-), MABS-16 (-), HMM-162 and HMM-163. This was the first significant contact with major VC units (1st Viet Cong Regiment). John Van Nortwick of HMM-363 was wearing an XXL infantry flak vest because his regular vest was borrowed while he was away from the squadron. on 30 April 1952 By the end of September, MAG-36 was established at Ky Ha. she transported Marine Air Group 36 to Viet Nam in August If you contact a Shipmate through HullNumber, your email address is not displayed in the message to your Shipmate. and for the next six days continued the pace to support marines fighting t The vintage footage in this video has been uploaded for research purposes, and is presented in unedited form.. For the next three years, she followed a similar schedule, gaining experience in her primary mission. The aircraft is painted in the colors of the Sikorsky Company, and the company's name appears above the right landing gear. Attack" III and IV NHHC Photograph Collection. He was released by North Vietnam and returned to the United States in 1973. Many of the Marines in these squadrons had served multiple tours in-country fighting the North Vietnamese and questioned that they would now in effect be working in cooperation with their former enemies. The 600-foot light carrier USS Princeton (CVL23) was commissioned in the Philadelphia Navy Yard on February 25, 1943, and was sunk 20 months later, on October 24, 1944, in Leyte Gulf during heroic efforts to retake the Philippines from the Japanese. HMM-163 suffered their first battle damage 18 days later. 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. 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. 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