Comments for Unusual Strike Packages.

Unusual Strike Packages.

2006-09-01T15:34:47Z

From an email.

In October 1965, CDR Clarence J. Stoddard, Executive Officer of VA-25 "Fist of the Fleet", flying an A-1H Skyraider, NE/572 "Paper Tiger II" from Carrier Air Wing Two aboard USS Midway carried a special bomb to the North Vietnamese in commemoration of the 6 millionth pound of ordinance dropped. This bomb was unique because of the type... it was a toilet!
The following is an account of this event, courtesy of Clint Johnson, Captain, USNR Ret. Captain Johnson was one of the two VA-25 A-1 Skyraider pilots credited with shooting down a MiG-17 on June 20, 1965.

I was a pilot in VA-25 on the 1965 Vietnam cruise.

The 572 was flown by CDR C. W. "Bill" Stoddard. His wingman in 577 (which was my assigned airplane) was LCDR Robin Bacon, who had a wing station mounted movie camera (the only one remaining in the fleet from WWII).

The flight was a Dixie Station strike (South Vietnam) going to the Delta. When they arrived in the target area and CDR Stoddard was reading the ordnance list to the FAC, he ended with "and one code name Sani-flush".

The FAC couldn't believe it and joined up to see it. It was dropped in a dive with LCDR Bacon flying tight wing position to film the drop. When it came off, it turned hole to the wind and almost struck his airplane. It made a great ready room movie. The FAC said that it whistled all the way down. The toilet was a damaged toilet, which was going to be thrown overboard.

One of our plane captains rescued it and the ordinance crew made a rack, tailfins and nose fuse for it. Our checkers maintained a position to block the view of the air boss and the Captain while the aircraft was taxiing forward.

Just as it was being shot off, we got a 1MC message from the bridge, "What the hell was on 572's right wing?" There were a lot of jokes with air intelligence about germ warfare. I wish that we had saved the movie film.

CDR Stoddard was later killed while flying 572 in Oct 1966.
He was hit by three SAMs over Vinh.

Now, the humorless anti's would demand an investigation into the war crime.

Comment from Murray on 2006-09-03

2006-09-03T06:55:24Z

I'm unreliably informed by a pilot that a piano launched off a flight deck over Hong Kong harbour will be easily visible by the castors glowing red by the time it leaves the deck. This was the same source who claimed to have been involved in sticking a tank barrel through a window of the officers mess and firing a blank during a formal dinner. I personally never moved beyond a coleslaw greanade myself. Actually I don't even know what that is. I also have no kowledge of what a "dog food mortar" is. Well ok sure the yelling of "left stick, left stick, drop ramp, drop ramp" into the radio during a major mech inf assault was atributed me but I deny all knowledge of any such event. I also had nothing to do with an entire infantry platoon (less the shiny new plt cmd) getting up and moving one ridge line over in the middle of the night. My father also wants it known that he and other un-named chiefs of the Royalist did not at anytime fit out their mess with carpet from the RY Britania and they certainly never inflated at 40 man raft in the captains cabin. These day people wouldn't have to make such claifications or denials. Sad really.

Comment from fdcol63 on 2006-09-01

2006-09-01T17:09:36Z

Naval ordnance manuals call this the "Mk VI SH1T" device: "Smelly, High Impact, Toilet". LOL

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2006-09-01

2006-09-01T14:54:22Z

Negative knowledge this location as to which explosive compound might have been the filler. Ewwww for asking the question! Regardless of how obvious it was... 8^D

Comment from marvin on 2006-09-01

2006-09-01T14:53:13Z

the real question is: Which costs more the 'saniflush' special or the regular package next to it.

Comment from marvin on 2006-09-01

2006-09-01T14:51:25Z

Was it 'loaded' or was it just a inert package?

Comment from J-P on 2006-09-01

2006-09-01T14:26:52Z

I don't think I'm ever going to be able to say "...and the kitchen sink" with a straight face ever again.

Comment from Major John on 2006-09-01

2006-09-01T14:16:10Z

I can only imagine what the VC/NVA on the ground must have thought....hear a whistling noise, look up and see a toilet incoming. Incredible Psyops act, if naught else! Thanks for passing that story along to all of us.

Comment from Boquisucio on 2006-09-01

2006-09-01T13:00:17Z

Puts a new meaning to: The Schi� Hit die L�fter