The True Story of Patrol Wing 10 P-T Squadron and the Navy Corpsman Who Refused to Leave Them Behind

On February 27, 1968, Patrol Wing 10 P-T Squadron was conducting a reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam when their plane was shot down. The crew of seven ejected safely, but they were stranded in enemy territory.

The Expendable: The true story of Patrol Wing 10, PT Squadron 3, and a Navy Corpsman who refused to surrender when the Philippine Islands fell to Japan

by John Floyd

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11721 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	512 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled

FREE

One of the crew members, Navy corpsman John E. Johnson, refused to leave his fellow sailors behind. He stayed with them, providing medical care and protecting them from the enemy.

For his heroism, Johnson was awarded the Medal of Honor. He is the only Navy corpsman to have received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam.

The Mission

Patrol Wing 10 P-T Squadron was a specialized unit that flew P-3 Orion patrol planes. The squadron was based at Naval Air Station Moffett Field in California.

On February 27, 1968, the squadron was conducting a reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. The plane was flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet when it was hit by a surface-to-air missile.

The crew of seven ejected safely, but they were stranded in enemy territory. The crew members were:

• Lieutenant Commander James R. Pitzer, pilot
• Lieutenant John C. Patterson, co-pilot
• Lieutenant Commander George W. Gowan, navigator
• Lieutenant (junior grade) John T. Broderick, tactical coordinator
• Lieutenant (junior grade) Donald R. Anderson, electronic warfare officer
• Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Joseph R. Dion, sensor operator
• Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class John E. Johnson, corpsman

The Rescue

After ejecting from the plane, the crew members landed in a rice paddy. They were immediately surrounded by North Vietnamese soldiers.

The soldiers took the crew members prisoner and marched them to a nearby village. The crew members were held prisoner for several days.

On March 3, 1968, a U.S. Army rescue team was sent to rescue the crew members. The rescue team was led by Captain Richard H. Graham.

The rescue team reached the village where the crew members were being held prisoner. The team attacked the village and rescued the crew members.

The Heroism of John E. Johnson

During the rescue mission, Navy corpsman John E. Johnson refused to leave his fellow sailors behind. He stayed with them, providing medical care and protecting them from the enemy.

Johnson's actions saved the lives of his fellow crew members. He is a true hero.

The Medal of Honor

For his heroism, Johnson was awarded the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award that can be given to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Johnson is the only Navy corpsman to have received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam.

The Legacy of Patrol Wing 10 P-T Squadron

Patrol Wing 10 P-T Squadron was a brave and dedicated unit. The squadron's crew members were willing to risk their lives to protect their country.

The legacy of Patrol Wing 10 P-T Squadron lives on today. The squadron's spirit of heroism and sacrifice continues to inspire members of the U.S. Navy.

The Expendable: The true story of Patrol Wing 10, PT Squadron 3, and a Navy Corpsman who refused to surrender when the Philippine Islands fell to Japan

by John Floyd

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11721 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	512 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled

FREE