Navy Press Release on Mishap
NWSA1112. USS John Paul Jones rescues downed aviators
SAN DIEGO (NWSA) -- USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) rescued two
air crew after they ejected from a Navy F-14A on Sept. 20, while
conducting routine operations in the Pacific Ocean, 800 miles
west of Guam.
The aircraft was from Fighter Squadron 213 (VF-213), based
at Naval Air Station Miramar, Calif., and attached to Carrier Air
Wing 11. USS John Paul Jones is a part of the Abraham Lincoln
Battle Group.
The crew of John Paul Jones had gathered topside to watch an
F-14A Tomcat fly-over and maneuver as part of a battle group
exercise. The crew was watching as the F-14A approached from the
stern on the starboard side when suddenly, as the aircraft passed
amidships, a ball of fire erupted from the tail section. Crew
members saw a violent explosion and the jet disintegrated in mid-
air.
It took the crew only seconds to transition from spectator
to search and rescue. Lookouts on the bridge wings spotted two
parachutes drifting towards the sea amongst the debris.
Rescue coordination was quickly established between the
officer of the deck, the combat information center (CIC) and the
rescue boat detail. The general announcing system directed the
crew to man the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB). Within
minutes the RHIB was lowered into the water and sped toward the
parachute's location to assist the two downed crew members.
The RHIB was directed from the bridge wing to the smoke
marking the downed air crew. The rescue RHIB came upon the
aircraft's radar intercept operator (RIO) who appeared in good
shape. Indicating he was OK, he pointed to his pilot, floating
some 50 yards away. Arriving at the pilot, the rescue swimmer
jumped into the water while the corpsman verified that he was in
good medical condition. Recovering both the pilot and the rescue
swimmer, the RHIB repositioned to recover the RIO.
The swimmer reentered the water to conduct a quick medical
check and found the RIO's legs fouled by a line. Cutting the
line and raft seat away from his legs, the swimmer realized the
RIO had more serious burns than the pilot and the RHIB crew
carefully brought the RIO on board.
The RHIB rescue crew safely recovered the air crew in only
eight minutes. CIC provided the bridge with accurate course
recommendations while updating the battle group commander with
the air crew's position and medical status.
The air crew was taken to the medical dispensary for further
treatment while awaiting the arrival of the carrier-based
helicopter to return them to USS Abraham Lincoln. As they were
leaving, the air crew expressed their gratitude for their rapid
assistance and rescue to the ship's company who had gathered on
the mess decks.
USS John Paul Jones is assigned to the Abraham Lincoln
Battle Group, under the operational control of Commander Carrier
Group 3, RADM Robert M. Nutwel, homeported in Alamdea, Calif.
John Paul Jones is the first Arleigh Burke class destroyer
to deploy to the western Pacific and is returning to its home
port of San Diego after a six month deployment to the western
Pacific and Arabian Gulf, where it participated in Operations
Desert Storm, Southern Watch and Vigilant Sentinel.
USS John Paul Jones is commanded by CAPT Peter B. Opsal, of
Richfield, Minn. The ship is 505 feet long, 67 feet wide,
displaces approximately 8,600 tons and carries a crew of 353.
John Paul Jones is the third of the new Arleigh Burke class
of destroyers. The ship was commissioned on Dec. 18, 1993, and
is designed to conduct a variety of missions including launching
Tomahawk land attack missiles, anti-air defense and anti-
surface/subsurface warfare duties.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
