The Crazy Pilot Who Nursed His Skyraider Home

On March 10, 1966, during the Vietnam War, a US Special Forces camp was overrun by over 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Heavily outnumbered, the remaining American troops urgently called for air support.

Major Bernard Fisher of the First Air Commander Squadron took off from Pleiku Airbase in a WWII-era A-1H Skyraider. His wingman was Dafford Myers, a close friend and fellow WWII veteran.

The two pilots swiftly climbed to 8,000 feet, searching for a gap in the dense clouds. Spotting an opening, they and another flight of Skyraiders dived through, arriving at the embattled camp. The ground forces instructed them to strike everything except the northern bunker, where US soldiers were holding out.

Trouble Up Ahead

As the Skyraiders began their attack, the Vietnamese unleashed intense anti-aircraft fire. Fortunately, the rugged Skyraider, capable of enduring heavy damage and loitering for hours over the battlefield, held its own.

Fisher strafed enemy positions and dropped fragmentation bombs on the camp’s southern side, but his plane suffered extensive damage, including a shattered tail section and multiple bullet holes. Circling back, Fisher watched in horror as Myers’s Skyraider took a direct hit from a 20mm anti-aircraft gun. Myers’s engine failed, and he crash-landed, but he managed to radio his friend before going down.

Risking Everything

Despite orders to retreat, Fisher resolved to rescue Myers. Flying low to provide cover, he spotted Myers, who waved frantically from the weeds. Ignoring warnings from command, Fisher declared, “I’m going to get him out.” He knew his friend wouldn’t survive long on the ground under heavy enemy fire, and capture wasn’t an option—North Vietnamese forces rarely took prisoners.

Fisher made a daring landing on the enemy-controlled runway. His Skyraider took additional damage, but he managed to touch down. Myers, burned and covered in mud, sprinted to the plane. With gunfire erupting around them, Fisher pushed the heavily damaged aircraft down the overrun runway and pulled into the safety of low clouds. Despite the battered airframe, the Skyraider maintained power, and the two men made it back to base. Forty-five minutes later, Fisher crash-landed safely.

“It’s always good to make it back home,” Fisher later recalled. Myers, though injured, managed a smile, asked for a cigarette, and embraced his friend.

A Successful Mission

The Skyraiders’ efforts saved 80% of the US troops at the camp. For his extraordinary bravery, Fisher was promoted to Colonel and awarded the Medal of Honor, becoming the first Air Force member to receive the decoration in Vietnam.

His selfless actions exemplified true heroism, risking his life to save a comrade and contribute to the successful defense of the camp.