| Date: 17 December 1970 |
| Aircraft type: F-4B Phantom |
| Serial Number: 150649 |
| Military Unit: VMFA-115, MAG-11 |
| Service: USMC |
| Home Base: Da Nang |
| Name(s): |
| Col Albert C Pommerenk (Survived) |
| Maj Noel E Douglas (Survived) |
| VMFA-115 had returned to Vietnam on 24 August 1970 and was assigned as the only Phantom squadron at Da Nang. Indeed, after the last of the Chu Lai Phantoms left in September, VMFA-115 was the only Marine Corps Phantom unit in Southeast Asia and by December it was one of only three Marine Corps fixed-wing squadrons left in the war (the others being VMA-311 and VMO-2). On 17 December Col Pommerenk led a section of Phantoms to the Mu Gia Pass to hunt for trucks. When Col Pommerenk’s aircraft (call sign Manual 50) was pulling up from its target it was hit in the port engine by AAA. The engine ran down and the crew heard a muffled explosion but the aircraft flew for a further 70 miles before the controls froze and the crew were forced to eject near Ban Bamran in southern Laos. They were both picked up by an Army helicopter. Albert Pommerenk eventually became a Brigadier General and commanded MAG-11 in 1971.
The following was received from Noel Douglas: The section of F-4’s was led by LtCol Mike Mura, pilot and CO, VMFA-115, with Lt Larry Kener (RIO) and wingman Col Al Pommerenk, pilot and CO, MAG-11, with Maj Noel Douglas (RIO). The assigned target in NVN was a truck park on the trail next to Laos. We would be working with Nail FAC. Lead contacted Nail enroute and learned he would be late for TOT. Nail told us to proceed to the target. Lead identified the target area and rolled in for his drop of MK82 bombs. We offset the run in heading and delivered our ordnance. On pull out we felt a hit to the aircraft and immediately got a fire warning on the right engine. We started a climb while turning for home base (Danang) and shutting down the engine. While climbing to altitude, we experienced a series of internal explosions in the right engine affecting the pilot’s ability to control the aircraft. We climbed to 18,000 feet and the aircraft commenced a roll and it became difficult for the pilot to maintain control. After experiencing several rolls the pilot said he couldn’t control the aircraft and told me that we needed to eject. We ejected at 18,000. Before ejection, I relayed out position as 45 miles west of Khe San. The ejection sequence worked as designed and we both were in our chutes and the Nail FAC was circling us as we were coming down. We were over a large open area with tall elephant grass. In my case, there was one very large tree which I was heading toward. I didn’t see where the pilot landed, but he saw my chute in the tree and started toward my location. I was caught in the branches of this tall tree but managed to find an opening to the ground. I carried a 150-foot nylon rope in my g-suit which I used to repel down to the ground. Since the elephant grass was high and there was a small rise in the terrain, I proceeded to the top of the hill where I had better visibility and the elephant grass was only about 3-4 feet high. By this time, Nail had called for rescue and helicopters were launched from Danang. It was reassuring to see aircraft stacked above us waiting for use if needed. From somewhere a voice came on the air and said he was about 1-2 hours out from our position and Nail FAC directed him to proceed to our location. The UH-1N arrived at our position in about 2 hours picking up the pilot as that was the first person he saw. After picking up the pilot, the helicopter crew saw me standing on the hill and flew over to my position hovering a few feet off the ground as I dove into the belly of the helicopter. The Army helicopter and crew flew us to the Marine air base at Phu Bai where we saw a flight surgeon for a quick examination and were transferred to a Marine CH-53 aircraft for the flight to Danang. After a debrief and a physical examination by our flight surgeon we were finally able to relax and enjoy a cold beer. Next day we were back on the flight schedule. Follow up information: LtCol Mike Mura retired and is deceased. Larry Kener remained in the Marine Corps and retired as a Colonel. Colonel Al Pommerenk retired as a Brigadier General and is deceased. Colonel Pommerenk was CO, MAG-11 and flew all the airplanes in the group (F-4, A-4, A-6, OV-10, and C-117). Major Noel Douglas remained in the Marine Corps and retired as a Colonel. He flew out of Chu Lai his first tour (1966-1968) with VMFA-323 and Danang his second tour (1970-71) with VMFA-115 completing a total of 570 combat missions. We learned Operation Lam Son 719 took place a few weeks later in the same area where we had landed and the area was full of bad guys. We were very fortunate. S/F Noel E. Douglas (Nail) |
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