On Mar. 9, 1967, RVAH-13 RA-5C Vigilante reconnaissance/attack navigator (RAN) Lt(jg) Frank Prendergast embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and became the only American aviator to escape after being captured in North Vietnam. His story was almost too incredible to be true
Derived from the A-5 nuclear bomber, the RA-5C Vigilante was the largest and fastest aircraft ever to operate from an aircraft carrier. The ‘Vigi’ made its operational debut during the early buildup of the Vietnam War. Because of its extremely dangerous yet crucial reconnaissance missions, it suffered the highest loss rate of any American aircraft in that conflict.
As explained by Robert R “Boom” Powell in his book RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat, on Mar. 9, 1967, RVAH-13 RA-5C Vigilante reconnaissance/attack navigator (RAN) Lt(jg) Frank Prendergast embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) became the only American aviator to escape after being captured in North Vietnam. His story was almost too incredible to be true.
Prendergast had completed RAG training with Lt. Cdr. Al Wattay, and the two went on to serve together as a tactical crew in RVAH-13. When Lt. Jim “Bones” Morgan (a former enlisted BN and one of the most highly decorated LDOs in the Navy) had to return home on emergency leave, the “Bats” commanding officer, Cdr Charles Putnam, suddenly needed a RAN. That afternoon, he selected Lt (jg) Prendergast to join him on a coastal reconnaissance mission. These flights were typically conducted between 3,000 and 5,000 ft, two to three miles offshore, but in his determination to obtain the required coverage, Cdr. Putnam disregarded well-established safety guidelines concerning altitude and cloud layers.
Near Long Chau, about 30 miles northwest of Thanh Hoa, Cdr. Putnam dived “Flint River 605” (BuNo 151627) down to 350 ft, less than a quarter-mile from the shoreline, to begin their run along the coast. The Vigilante was struck by ground small-arms fire, erupted in flames, and became impossible to control. Putnam initiated ejection for both crew members. Although, likely, the commanding officer did not eject successfully, he was officially listed as missing in action, based on an escort aircraft’s report that a Navy pilot might have been seen running from armed troops.
Prendergast came down in waist-deep water just offshore. He released his parachute, inflated the bright yellow life preserver around his waist, and fired every tracer round from his .38-caliber pistol into the air. About a dozen soldiers waded out toward him, their weapons aimed in his direction, prompting Prendergast to raise his hands in surrender. One of the soldiers spotted his Navy-issued revolver and took it from him.
They then started a slow, waterlogged walk toward the shore, with Prendergast deliberately dragging things out by limping and pretending to be disoriented. At first, an escorting VF-213 “Black Lions” Phantom II made several passes overhead and even launched Sparrow air-to-air missiles at the beach. When two patrolling A-1 Skyraiders from USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) began strafing the area with their 20 mm cannon, most of the soldiers broke away and ran for the beach, leaving only their leader and one other soldier with Prendergast.
Each time the aircraft passed overhead, the North Vietnamese soldier armed with an AK-47 would duck underwater, afraid of being hit. Spotting an approaching SH-3 rescue helicopter from HS-8, Prendergast realized it was his only chance. The next time the soldier submerged, Prendergast drew a small .25-caliber automatic pistol he had concealed in his flight suit and aimed at his guard. The guard responded by pointing Prendergast’s own revolver at him and pulling the trigger. Prendergast had counted correctly—the revolver was empty after firing all the tracer rounds. The hammer fell on an empty chamber with a dry click. Prendergast then shot the guard between the eyes with the small automatic.
As the second soldier surfaced, Prendergast struck him on the head, hurled his AK-47 into the water, and moved toward a nearby sandbar. The Vietnamese soldier retrieved his weapon and opened fire. Once on the sandbar, Prendergast stalled for time by pausing and raising his hands. As the helicopter drew nearer, he suddenly turned, fired his pistol, and ran. The SH-3 then swung in broadside, and the door gunner cut down the enemy soldier with a powerful M-61 machine gun. Prendergast climbed aboard and was flown back to Kitty Hawk. After this incident, the Navy did not allow him to fly any further missions.
RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.
Photo by U.S. Navy
