PREFACE

During the period of the Korean Conflict (1950-1953), VC-35 provided some 23 of the 25 Night Attack Teams for aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet. In 1953, someone in the Navy Department finally concluded it was time to allow Atlantic Fleet Squadron VC-33 to take part in a Pacific Fleet WESTPAC cruise. In return, VC-35 was allowed to send (only) one Team to suffer the "rigors" of an Atlantic Fleet "MED" cruise. Thus it was, that in the summer of 1953, Team FOXTROT (Joe's Diplomats) was formed to perform this arduous task and to suffer through the terrible Mediterranean ports-of-call. In January 1954 VAN Team 26 departed San Diego for Norfolk to board the USS Randolph, CVA-15. The adventure was about to begin and Team FOXTROT was soon destined to make a mark bigger than anyone ever dreamed outside of Hollywood.

MIND THE WIND

April 30, 1954 dawned clear and sunny with VAN Team FOXTROT aboard the USS RANDOLPH steaming through the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. The Cold War was still in full swing and the United States was making a show of its military strength in the area. A Fleet exercise was planned which included a mock strike deep in the heart of Europe. It was the kind of operation VC-35 pilots and crew were specifically trained to perform and two of "Joe's Diplomats" were scheduled to take part, LT. Harvey PATTEN and LT. Burt WARREN. Little did they know at the time that soon virtually the whole world would learn of the exploits of that day. The pilots and crewmen involved in the mission re-ported to the Ready Room early to prepare for the flight. LT. PATTEN was assigned to act as a "Path Finder" for an attack on Nuremberg, Germany and an Ensign from VA-145, flying an AD-4B was assigned as his wingman to carry the (theoretical) load. LT. WARREN was assigned Strasbourg, Germany as his target but was not given a wingman. The ship was in waters off the coast of Sicily and both aircraft were to transit the Swiss Alps in the area of Innsbruck, Austria at different times via different routes. This called for some serious navigation planning to make certain they could find "Mother" at the end of the 7 -8 hour mission. No navigation aids were to be used except radar and visual map references to simulate real combat conditions. Good weather is a plus and a functioning radar makes life much easier, but there is no substitute for the old fashion plotting board. This was the beginning of the problem.

Weather for the exercise was exceptionally good and the two pilots had no difficulty getting through the Alps. LT. WARREN and his crewmen, HALL and HARDWICK were treated to a spectacular to view of the Alps both going, and returning from the target. The flight was uneventful and at the end of some 7 - hours they were very glad to be in the Charlie Pattern, knowing they would soon be able to stretch their legs. However, LT. PATTEN and his wingman were nowhere in sight and did not respond to radio calls. Something was obviously wrong.

To say that something went wrong is a gross under statement. As it turned out, LT. PATTEN strayed through the Iron Curtain near Czechoslovakia and was welcomed by not one, but TWO fully armed Russian MIG-15's! LT. PATTEN tried the old tactic of turning into the enemies guns to fend off the attack while trying to return to friendly territory and almost made it without getting hit, but luck ran out for the VA-145 Ensign; he took a 20 MM shell in the wing root. Fortunately, after some wild maneuvers, they entered friendly skies and the MIG's returned home. No one was injured physically - only pride - so you could say, "all's well that ends well" - well, not quite. Breaching Communist air space by U.S. military aircraft anytime is obviously an international incident of considerable magnitude and this was no exception. In the investigation that followed, not only LT. PATTEN and Team Foxtrot O-in-C LCDR KNOSP were involved, but ALSO: the CO, VC-35, the CO, USS RANDOLPH, Commander SIXTH FLEET, NATO Headquarters, CINCLANT FLEET, the U.S. State Department, Chief of Naval Operations, the President and Vice President, and, oh yes, the Congress of the United States, just to name a few of the interested parties. The Kremlin and all the Communist Bloc nations also heard about it, to be sure. What a way to become famous! It certainly wasn't very diplomatic.

But, the story has a happy ending for LT. PATTEN his crewmen and the VA-145 Ensign finally rejoined the ship, none the worse for their unique experience.