Son Tay Raid#1: Colonel John Gargus, USAF-EP#21
In November, 1970, U.S. special forces attempted to rescue POWs from captivity in North Vietnam. The Son Tay raid was one of the most complex and dangerous missions of the War in Southeast Asia. It laid the groundwork for future joint forces operations by serving as a model of organization, cooperation, and flexibility of execution.
This is the first of three episodes with Col John Gargus USAF (Ret). In 1970, then Major Gargus was a key mission planner for The Son Tay Raid. Because of his expertise in navigation over Vietnam he also served as the lead navigator on the mission helping to guide all the Raiders behind enemy lines, undetected, arriving at the Son Tay Prison compound at 0218 on the morning of November 21st, 1970.
In this episode we discuss his early life, including his own escape from communist Czechoslovakia at the age of 15, his early years in the Air Force when he developed some very unique navigation skills, how he later became involved in the planning for the top secret Son Tay Raid, and how they set up a mock-up of the Son Tay Prison in Florida to secretly train for the mission.
This Son Tay Raid Web Site has pictures and other key information about the Raid:
Link to the book about the Son Tay Raid written by Colonel Gargus:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/160344212X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_HxPNFbTQ7QJ8W
