JOHN HEILIG
Home City of Record: Miami FL
Date of Loss: 05 May 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 184700N 1052600E (WF456767)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Aircraft/Veicle/Ground: RF8A
Other Personnel in Incident: none
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 April
1990 from one or more of the following: raw data
from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence
with POW/MIA families, published sources,
interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK.
REMARKS: 730212 RELSD BY DRV
SYNOPSIS: The Vought F8 "Crusader" saw action early
in U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. Its fighter
models participated both in the first Gulf of Tonkin
reprisal in August 1964 and in the myriad attacks
against North Vietnam during Operation Rolling
Thunder. The Crusader was used exclusively by the
Navy and Marine air wings (although there is one
U.S. Air Force pilot reported shot down on an F8)
and represented half or more of the carrier
fighters in the Gulf of Tonkin during the first
four years of the war. The aircraft was credited
with nearly 53% of MiG kills in Vietnam.
The most frequently used fighter versions of the
Crusader in Vietnam were the C, D, and E models
although the H and J were also used. The Charlie
carried only Sidewinders on fuselage racks, and
were assigned such missions as CAP (Combat Air
Patrol), flying at higher altitudes. The Echo
model had a heavier reinforced wing able to carry
extra Sidewinders or bombs, and were used to attack
ground targets, giving it increased vulnerability.
The Echo version launched with less fuel, to
accommodate the larger bomb store, and frequently
arrived back at ship low on fuel. The RF-A models
were equipped for photo reconnaissance. The RF-G
were also photographic versions, but with additional cameras and navigational equipment.
The combat attrition rate of the Crusader was
comparable to similar fighters. Between 1964 to
1972, eighty-three Crusaders were either lost or
destroyed by enemy fire. Another 109 required
major rebuilding. 145 Crusader pilots were
recovered; 57 were not. Twenty of these pilots
were captured and released. The other 43 remained
missing at the end of the war. In addition, there
were 16 pilots who went down on photographic .
versions of the aircraft.
Of these 16, seven were captured (six were
released, one died in captivity).
Lt. John Heilig was the pilot of an RF8A on a
combat mission in Nghe An Province, North Vietnam
on May 5, 1966. As he was about 20 miles northwest
of the city of Vinh, his aircraft was hit by enemy
fire and crashed. Heilig was captured by the
Vietnamese, and held prisoner until his return in
Operation Homecoming in the spring of 1973.
Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports
relating to Americans missing, prisoner or
unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been
Government. Many authorities who have examined this
largely classified information are convinced that
hundreds of Americans are still held captive today.
These reports are the source of serious distress
American prisoners. They had a code that no one
could honorably return unless all of the prisoners
returned. Not only that code of honor, but the
honor of our country is at stake as long as even
one man remains unjustly held. It's time we brought
our men home.
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and
Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers
Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark
St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as
found in the original publication (including date
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO
JOHN HEILIG
Lieutenant Commander - United States Navy
Shot Down: May 5, 1966
Released: February 12, 1973
I wish to express my sincerest appreciation to the
loyal and patriotic American citizenry, exemplified
by those who have shown such personal interest and
made so many sacrifices on our behalf, and for our
families, and who have supported our President in
his efforts to obtain our release.
It has been over seven years since I stood on the
deck of the USS Hancock and watched the beautiful
shoreline of America fade in the distance. Yet
upon my return, I still find, as I knew I would,
the same warm and human people and the abiding
dedication and loyalty to America from those who
have made her great. Thank you!!
December 1996
John Heilig retired from the United States Navy
as a Captain. He and his wife Patti still live in
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