Thomas Woolcock
Died: 2008
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Lt Vern Von Sydow/Lt(jg) Jim Rooney/AX2 J.W. Jones/AXAN Roland Cockerham flying Big Mutha 73 are scrambled and launch in less than 3 minutes from the South SAR ship, USS Dewey (DLG-14), to rescue Cdr Thomas E. Woolcock, CO of VA-153. While flying a strike mission off the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) his A-4E Skyhawk (BuNo. 150057) was hit by a SAM. He was able to make it "Feet Wet" before ejecting approximately 5 miles East of Vinh, NVN. The Big Mutha crew rescued him from the water between the USS Bordelon (DD-881) and HMAS Perth (DDG-25) and the NVN shore batteries which were engaged in a heavy exchange of gun fire. Read the Rescue After Action Report. Read the Stars & Stripes article. Read Lt(jg) Rooney's Navy Commendation Medal citation. Thomas Woolcock passed away in 2008. |
Created: 04/15/09
