   In 1965, United States Intelligence indicated that bombing bridges over major rivers in North Vietnam would significantly affect the North Vietnamese war on South Vietnam. North Vietnamese Bridges then became primary targets for United States Navy strikes in the North. VA-144 was assigned a bridge bombing mission on December 1, 1965. Later that day Mac launched in his A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149560, side number NF 547, from United States Ship Ticonderoga CVA 14 on a mission to drop a bridge span deep in North Vietnam. Mac's A-4C was loaded with a single 500 pound bomb on the center station to increase the Scooter's combat performance. Just after rolling in on his bomb run Mac and his Scooter took a direct hit from North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire. The Scooter exploded and Lieutenant Junior Grade John V. "Mac" McCormick, United States Navy was Killed-In-Action. Gone. A fine officer, top-notch pilot and dedicated American was gone in a flash! Mac McCormick left grief stricken family, shipmates and friends.  Lieutenant "Mac" McCormick and "Purp" Purpura (brown shirt) in the VA-144 ready room.  Photographs from Frank Purpura. |