  The Blue Blazer Executive Officer Commander James P. Mehl wasn't flying NF 302, BuNo 152022, on his last sortie in the Vietnam War. The XO's Skyhawk was flown earlier in an airwing strike on Kep airfield by another Blue Blazer pilot, where it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and its pilot captured. Four days later Commander James P. Mehl suffered the same fate. This is an account of his last sortie. "On May 30, 1967 Commander Jim Mehl was the section leader of a two-aircraft strike group assigned targets in Thai Binh Province, North Vietnam. Upon entering the target area, Commander Mehl and his wingman began receiving indication that a surface-to-air missile (SAM) site to the north was preparing to launch a missile. Commander Mehl eluded one missile and maneuvered his aircraft to fire his Shrike missiles at the site. When in a 10-degree nose-high attitude, a second missile impacted the underside of his aircraft. Commander Mehl immediately turned toward the water, but was forced to eject near the city of Hung Yen. His parachute was observed after he left the aircraft. Commander Mehl landed in a field situated in a heavily populated area near the juncture of Ha Tay, Hai Hung, Nam Ha and Thai Binh Provinces. People were observed to converge the area immediately, precluding any rescue attempt. A report from the Hanoi broadcast system mentioned Commander Mehl by name and stated that he had been captured. In the spring of 1973, 591 Americans were released from prisoner of war camps in Vietnam, and Captain James P. Mehl was among them. He had been promoted to the rank of Captain during his captivity. |