Pushing a jet... in the air...

[Snautzer01]

Major John R. Pardo distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force over North Vietnam on 10 March 1967. On that date, Major Pardo was flying as the pilot of the lead element on the return from a 1,000 mile flight in which heavy flak damage was encountered. He noticed that his wingman's aircraft was in trouble and was advised that the aircraft was extremely low on fuel. Realizing that the wingman's aircraft would not make it out of North Vietnam, Major Pardo implemented maneuvers to literally push the aircraft across the border. The attempt was successful and consequently allowed the crew to avoid becoming prisoners of war. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Pardo has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Veteran Tributes

 

[Torch]

Major John R. Pardo distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force over North Vietnam on 10 March 1967. On that date, Major Pardo was flying as the pilot of the lead element on the return from a 1,000 mile flight in which heavy flak damage was encountered. He noticed that his wingman's aircraft was in trouble and was advised that the aircraft was extremely low on fuel. Realizing that the wingman's aircraft would not make it out of North Vietnam, Major Pardo implemented maneuvers to literally push the aircraft across the border. The attempt was successful and consequently allowed the crew to avoid becoming prisoners of war. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Pardo has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Veteran Tributes

Thus creating the term the "Pardo Push"

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Major John R. Pardo distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force over North Vietnam on 10 March 1967. On that date, Major Pardo was flying as the pilot of the lead element on the return from a 1,000 mile flight in which heavy flak damage was encountered. He noticed that his wingman's aircraft was in trouble and was advised that the aircraft was extremely low on fuel. Realizing that the wingman's aircraft would not make it out of North Vietnam, Major Pardo implemented maneuvers to literally push the aircraft across the border. The attempt was successful and consequently allowed the crew to avoid becoming prisoners of war. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Pardo has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Veteran Tributes

 

[Snautzer01]

Holy crap. Pardo's Push - Wikipedia

That was some courage and ability

 

[cvairwerks]

Interesting thing is Pardo actually copied Robby Risner pushing his wing man, Joe Logan over 60 miles in an F-86 way back in 1952 over Korea.

 

[Snautzer01]

The level of crazines, comradery and skill it truly of scale.
I mean: catching a metal hook on your front screen then gently push glide towards more friendly lines, then after a 15 min episode catch that giant hook with what keeps the rain out again and repeat.

Ohh and one of your engines is packing up. Burning at the wrong side. Just a slight detail.
In Python talk : just a flesh wound.

Then land to get chewed out by some brat. And not punching said brat senceless.
That alone is worthy of a medal.

Both men were aviators in a scale very seldom seen. In the UK with all its faults would have taken it as a good case for Victoria cross material.
And that is a piece of metal that is very difficult to come by

I salute both .

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

The level of crazines, comradery and skill it truly of scale.
I mean: catching a metal hook on your front screen then gently push glide towards more friendly lines, then after a 15 min episode catch that giant hook with what keeps the rain out again and repeat.

Ohh and one of your engines is packing up. Burning at the wrong side. Just a slight detail.
In Python talk : just a flesh wound.

Then land to get chewed out by some brat. And not punching said brat senceless.
That alone is worthy of a medal.

Both men were aviators in a scale very seldom seen. In the UK with all its faults would have taken it as a good case for Victoria cross material.
And that is a piece of metal that is very difficult to come by

I salute both .

Reading up on it, it turns out that Pardo was originally reprimanded for sacrificing his plane on the fllght.

 

[Gnomey]

Crazy!

 

[ODonovan]

The level of crazines, comradery and skill it truly of scale.
I mean: catching a metal hook on your front screen then gently push glide towards more friendly lines, then after a 15 min episode catch that giant hook with what keeps the rain out again and repeat.

Couldn't he have caught the tailhook in his fuel port, where the air to air refueling boom connects, not on/in front of the windscreen (which could have broken, crushing him with the tailhook)? He already couldn't refuel, after the push, due to damage. His plane was leaking fuel pretty badly, but inflight refueling would have gotten him home.


-Irish