Pacific Stars and Stripes information
for HC-1 DET 65
USS ENTERPRISE
For date 680625
HC-1 DET 65 was a US Navy unit
USS ENTERPRISE was a US Navy unit
Primary service involved, US Navy
South Vietnam
Location, Gulf of Tokin
Description: 25Jun68-Rescue 'Big E' Jet Crew
USS ENTERPRISE - Two Navy pilots eject from an F4B Phantom seconds after they were launched from the carrier Enterprise in the Gulf of Tonkin. According to the pilot, Lt. Roderick J. Edens Jr., 26, of Pacific Beach, Calif., "The controls froze just as I started my turn away from the ship." Edens told his radar intercept officer, Lt. (j.g.) William R. McClendon III, 24, of San Diego, Calif., to eject and tried once more to loosen the controls before bailing out seconds later. The pilotless Phantom continued in its turn and crashed about a half-mile from the Enterprise. The two naval aviators splashed in the water almost directly ahead of the 90,000-ton Enterprise as it raced at high speed through the Gulf of Tonkin. The ship swerved sharply to avoid the two downed fliers and passed only 50 feet from McClendon (right). Both men were picked up within minutes by a rescue helicopter from Helicopter Combat Support Sq. 1, Det. 65. The helicopter pilots were Lt (j.g.) Edward G. Ray, 25, of Granite, Ill., and Ens. Jack Bery, 23, of Linsbery, Kans.
Comments: LTJ Ray, Edward G.; pilot; ;
ENS Bery, Jack; pilot; ;
The source for this information was 6806PSS.AVN supplied by Les Hines 3/97
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023