Wednesday, April 4, 2001

By Wayne Specht, Misawa bureau chief

Reports that Chinese soldiers boarded the crippled Navy EP-3E Aires II on Hainan Island are not sitting well with former members of the VQ-1 and VQ-2 patrol squadrons.

Since the aircraft made an emergency landing on the Communist island Sunday, visitors to the VQ-1/VQ-2 Survivors public internet chat room have been sharing their concerns for crew members, and for the plane’s sensitive classified cryptological equipment.

"Having spent more than 1,300 hours in the EP-3E, it makes me sick to think that the Chinese will get a look inside before they return her," said a Dallas man who said he flew with VQ-1 over South China Sea waters from 1988 to 1991. "I am sure (the crew) will be returned safely after China has used the crew for their own political agenda."

Another writer, from Kissimee, Fla., questioned the aircraft commander’s decision to land the surveillance plane on Communist territory.

"Why would one of our younger brothers or sisters land in Communist China? If he had control he could have ditched. Was he ordered by some ‘post-Tailhook’ appointee to surrender?" the writer wrote. "Did they sabotage their recorders, did they deep six the boxes, did they try to get away, were they on fire, what the hell happened? All the confidential material falling into somebody else’s hands, what has the Navy come to!"

On Tuesday, the same Florida man added more comments after apparently listening to updated news reports.

"This looks really bad. Taiwan controllers have released tapes where our pilot agrees to fly to Hainan because the Migs threatened to shoot him down," he wrote. "I can not believe it has come to this, that no-one on the crew would mutiny before letting an American aircraft commander surrender his plane while he had the capacity to resist. I pray there is more to this story than we are getting."

Another sailor who signed in from Michigan said he remembered close calls while flying EP-3 missions.

"It was only a matter of time before an accident was bound to happen. I remember Russian and Chinese jets getting extremely close to our EP-3s. My hopes and prayers go out to our mates and their families," he wrote.

Another writer signing in as only "VQ survivor," warns fellow VQ flyers to be careful what they post.

"All: at a time like this it’s safe to assume the likes of CNN, et al., have found this site. Be careful of comments left here. Total support of our shipmates … ’nuff said," the writer posted.

Back to April's stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from March, 2001
Stories from February, 2001
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home