Lê Thanh Đạo (born 1944) was a MiG-21 pilot of the Vietnamese People's Air Force, he flew with the 921st and 927th fighter regiment and tied for fourth place amongst Vietnam War fighter aces with six kills.[1]
"We took off from Noi Bai Airbase ascending to an altitude of 3,500m toward Ba Vi... we discovered the enemy Phantoms and intercepted two aircraft in a pair, and I prepared to launch my missile, when another F-4 hit my MiG-21 and I had to eject immediately. While I was descending, a Phantom fired a burst from their cannon which made many holes in my parachute... I had fallen and crashed into a big rock at high speed. I was unconscious for two days; both legs and vertebra were broken... locals made a stretcher from my parachute and transported me a distance of 9km where an Mi-6 helicopter brought me to Hospital No. 108 where I stayed for 4 months... I was only able to return to flight duty after a year."
— Le Thanh Dao, VPAF MiG-21 pilot, describing his final engagement with F-4 Phantoms on October 15, 1972[2], MiG Aces of the Vietnam War, Toperczer, Istvan, 2015, Library of Congress # 2015932137, Page 214
The following victories include the kills that are known to be credited to him by the VPAF:[3][4]
18 December 1971, a USAFF-4D (serial number 06-241, 555th Tactical Fighter Wing, pilot Johnson, WSO Vaughan, POWs);
10 May 1972, a USN F-4J (pilot Blackburn (MIA-KIA),[5] RIO Rudloff (POW), US claims AAA);[6]
12 June 1972, an F-4 Phantom (US does not confirm);
24 July 1972, an F-4 Phantom (US does not confirm);
^"Vietnam Air Losses Search Results". www.vietnamairlosses.com. Retrieved 2022-05-31. Both crew were seen to eject and to land only about 100 yards apart. Lt Rudloff was temporarily blinded during the incident and was taken to the Hanoi Hilton but he had no further direct contact with his pilot... A report that Cdr Blackburn committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide pill circulated after the prisoners returned from Hanoi, but this seems fanciful and cannot be substantiated. His remains were handed over by the Vietnamese government on 10 April 1986 and positively identified in November of that year.
^. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
Bibliographyedit
Toperczer, Istvan (2015). MiG Aces of the Vietnam War. USA: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-0-7643-4895-2.
April 10, 2024
thanh, Đạo, born, 1944, pilot, vietnamese, people, force, flew, with, 921st, 927th, fighter, regiment, tied, fourth, place, amongst, vietnam, fighter, aces, with, kills, took, from, airbase, ascending, altitude, 500m, toward, discovered, enemy, phantoms, inter. Le Thanh Đạo born 1944 was a MiG 21 pilot of the Vietnamese People s Air Force he flew with the 921st and 927th fighter regiment and tied for fourth place amongst Vietnam War fighter aces with six kills 1 We took off from Noi Bai Airbase ascending to an altitude of 3 500m toward Ba Vi we discovered the enemy Phantoms and intercepted two aircraft in a pair and I prepared to launch my missile when another F 4 hit my MiG 21 and I had to eject immediately While I was descending a Phantom fired a burst from their cannon which made many holes in my parachute I had fallen and crashed into a big rock at high speed I was unconscious for two days both legs and vertebra were broken locals made a stretcher from my parachute and transported me a distance of 9km where an Mi 6 helicopter brought me to Hospital No 108 where I stayed for 4 months I was only able to return to flight duty after a year Le Thanh Dao VPAF MiG 21 pilot describing his final engagement with F 4 Phantoms on October 15 1972 2 MiG Aces of the Vietnam War Toperczer Istvan 2015 Library of Congress 2015932137 Page 214 The following victories include the kills that are known to be credited to him by the VPAF 3 4 18 December 1971 a USAF F 4D serial number 06 241 555th Tactical Fighter Wing pilot Johnson WSO Vaughan POWs 10 May 1972 a USN F 4J pilot Blackburn MIA KIA 5 RIO Rudloff POW US claims AAA 6 12 June 1972 an F 4 Phantom US does not confirm 24 July 1972 an F 4 Phantom US does not confirm 24 July 1972 Firebee shared 9 September 1972 an F 4 Phantom US does not confirm 11 September 1972 a USAF F 4E pilot Ratzlaff WSO Heeren POWs 1 October 1972 an F 4 Phantom US does not confirm See also editList of Vietnam War flying aces Weapons of the Vietnam WarReferences edit Gordon Yefim MiG 21 Midland Publishing 2008 ISBN 978 1 85780 257 3 Toperczer 2015 pp 214 Vietnamese Air to Air Victories Part 1 Vietnamese Air to Air Victories Part 2 Vietnam Air Losses Search Results www vietnamairlosses com Retrieved 2022 05 31 Both crew were seen to eject and to land only about 100 yards apart Lt Rudloff was temporarily blinded during the incident and was taken to the Hanoi Hilton but he had no further direct contact with his pilot A report that Cdr Blackburn committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide pill circulated after the prisoners returned from Hanoi but this seems fanciful and cannot be substantiated His remains were handed over by the Vietnamese government on 10 April 1986 and positively identified in November of that year US Losses in the Vietnam War Archived from the original on 2012 03 31 Retrieved 2012 01 29 Bibliography edit Toperczer Istvan 2015 MiG Aces of the Vietnam War USA Schiffer Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 0 7643 4895 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Le Thanh Đạo amp oldid 1202970818, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
