Naval Aviator, American Hero

John Sydney McCain III

By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Military Artist/Historian

Aviation Art Store

This is the original painting.

Print Size 12x18" There are only 350 prints in the series.

Limited Edition Prints Retail for $50.00  They are signed and numbered by the artist only.

Poster prints retail for $18.00. Poster prints will not be autographed or numbered.

Only 550 poster prints were published.

How To Order...

I have not had the opportunity to interview McCain personally so I will be taking notes form his books and stories from his friends.

I did meet John McCain one time and I really appreciated the opportunity to meet such a great American.

John McCain earned his Navy wings of Gold in Pensacola, Florida. The first attack aircraft that McCain flew was the A-1 Skyraider off a carrier deck of the USS Intrepid. McCain served two and one-half cruses in the Mediterranean on the Intrepid and two on the USS Enterprise. After the second tour on the Enterprise the air group was summoned back to the ship under the guise of taking the ship out of Norfolk back to sea on a secret mission which turned out to be the Cuban Missile Crises. McCain and his fellow pilots waited for a week for orders to take off for their first combat mission only to be disappointed when the crisis was somewhat resolved.

After his tour on the Enterprise, McCain was assigned to the Chief of Air Basic Training in Pensacola. This was a cherished assignment yet McCain was eager to become a combat pilot flying missions over Viet Nam. His wish was granted when he received orders to Jacksonville, Florida. He was given orders to a squadron that would be assigned to the USS Forrestal. He had just completed training in the A-4 Skyhawk. Later that year the USS Forrestal was sailing on a course that would take it to Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf off Viet Nam.

On July 29, 1967 McCain was sitting in the cockpit of his Skyhawk ready for his sixth mission. He was waiting for his turn to take off when his fighter was struck by an arrantly fired missile from another fighter on the deck of the Forrestal. His external fuel tank exploded knocking off several bombs that were mounted under the wings of his Skyhawk. McCain was sitting in the middle of a fireball that was foaming fire from under his fighter. In an instant McCain opened his canopy and crawled onto the nose of his burning attack aircraft. Pulling himself out to the end of the refueling probe he was poised over the fire. Dropping to the deck into an inferno he raced through the curtain of flame swatting at his flight suit that caught aflame.

McCain then ran back to help the deck crew as they raced towards the flames he watched them spray one on the 1000lb. bombs that had fell from his Skyhawk into the fire. Within moments the bomb detonated killing everyone in the area throwing McCain backwards onto the flight deck. Shrapnel tore into McCain’s chest and legs. The fire was spread as more fuel ignited and more bombs and rockets fired off. McCain jumped up and went below were he helped move bombs away from the fire that had spread into the hanger below. It was one of the worst naval accidents in recent history yet the brave acts of the crew saved the Forrestal.

Thinking his war cruse was over, McCain and others form his squadron jumped at the opportunity to join a squadron on the USS Oriskany that was short of pilots. After a brief rest period McCain reported to VA-163, the Saints, aboard the Oriskany and back to the war.

On October 26, 1967, McCain launched from the Oriskany for his twenty-third mission over North Viet Nam. The target was the power plant in Hanoi. The flight of A-4’s came in and were immediately tracked by enemy radar controlling the dreaded SAM missiles. McCain saw the SAM’s launched from the ground as the air filled with black burst of anti-aircraft fire.

McCain’s on board warning system alerted him that a SAM was heading for his Skyhawk. He was on his approach to the target and decided to continue. He dropped his bombs at 3,500 feet and as he was starting evasive maneuvers the right wing of his Skyhawk was blown off. McCain ejected.

As McCain ejected his arm was broken by separating parts of his attack aircraft. Witnesses say that his parachute barely opened before he hit the water. McCain was pulled out of True Back Lake by  civilians. John McCain was then an official POW from that day until March 15, 1973. John McCain retired from the Navy as a Captain in 1981. He then entered politics and was first elected to Congress in 1982.

I love the book "Faith of my Fathers".

I have become quite fond of John McCain's grandfather, Sid. A true leader, not arrogant butt-head thinking he is God. He listened to his men and learned form them.

McCain's grandfather, Sid, was in the right place at the right time. He was an aviator. Best of all was that he got his wings after the age of fifty. During the run-up to WWII as well as during the war, many of the Navy leaders were men who believed in the power of the battleship and fought the development of the aircraft carrier. It was men like McCain that stood fast for the advancement of airpower in the Navy. He was revered as a giant among men, and for a skinny 140lb man that is saying something. He was know for supporting his men as far and as long as possible.

Another thing I like about the descendants of McCain is that they fought for the Confederate States of America, of which I am a citizen with one of my mothers descendants marrying Jefferson Davis. I still hope one day that the South rises again, but that's my wish. The McCain's family wealth wilted after the Civil War much like my families. My great, great grandmother was thrown out of her plantation by Sherman's Army as he burned Atlanta and their home.

McCain's grandfather was also in charge of the first contingent of Marine and Navy aircraft on Guadalcanal. McCain was in the thick of all the assaults on the island airfield. He witnessed his aviators fly every day and every night knowing that the next mission could be their last. McCain witnessed heroism which stayed with his the rest of his life. All the stories I personally heard form Joe Foss, James Swett, Thomas Mann, Jefferson DeBlanc as well as Navy dive bomber pilot Harold Buell were savage, brutal and heroic. What an incredible moment in time!

Sid McCain worked his way through Washington once he returned from Guadalcanal to build up the Navy's air arm as well as its pilots and crew. His work paid off when he was assigned to command Task Force 38.1 and later the entire air command of the Fleet. It was the highest honor of his life and he earned every part of it. He gave orders they say is a clear soft voice and his orders were carried out quicker than other commanders in that his men were compelled to follow him through reasoned persuasion and not high handed commands. What a leader!

Sid, completely calm in battle on one occasion as a Japanese kamikaze was heading for their ship simply stayed in place leaning against the ships rail smoking a hand-rolled cigarette as if nothing dangerous was going to happen when he said to another officer beside him, "they will get him with one of the 5 inch guns". The enemy aircraft was brought down like he said.

I am not going to apologize for taking up this space telling the story of John McCain's grandfather. I will read more about this great man. So should you.

Below is information from Garth Didlick who has supplied me with a wealth of information over the last two years.

All of Garth's research is in "Red."

McCain's VA-163 A-4E Skyhawk was Bureau Number 149959 and had 300 on the nose. As you may know all Navy aircraft that end in "00" such as 100, 200, 300, etc... are assigned to the CAG (Commander Air Group). So McCain was flying the CAG A-4E when he was shot down on October 26th, 1967.

Since the USS Forrestal was getting repaired due to the massive fire that occurred on July 29th, McCain and other VA-163 pilots were temporarily assigned to VA-43 on the USS Oriskany along with some VA-163 A-4E's including 149959. My guess would be that the USS Forrestal markings would have been painted out and USS Oriskany added by October. Since that is the Carrier VA-163 was flying from at the time.

This is the aircraft McCain flew on October 26, 1967.

McCain was not the CAG, he was flying the CAG bird, which was Modex "300". I have talked to a number of carrier fighter pilots and even though they had an aircraft assigned to them they flew whatever bird was located on the deck for launch on their particular mission. On a carrier it would be too much of a headache and hassle to try to orchestrate each pilot flying his own plane. On the other hand the USAAF pilots during WWII were able to fly almost exclusively their own planes unless it was down for heavy maintenance.
 

Here is the same photo in color.

That is not McCain taking the barrier. It is a wounded pilot by the name of Denny Earl. "300" was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and Denny was wounded in both legs.

He flew it back to the Oriskany and had to use the barrier. "300" was repaired and then lost with McCain two weeks later.

I found a color copy of BuNo 149959 "300" and two other VA-163 birds carrying bombs.

Garth sent me these photos with his research. Great photos! Thanks Garth!

The value of the color photos is great. It gives me the proper shade of blue for the chevron on the tail.

Who would like an original painting by a nationally known artist, autographed by one of the most famous Americans in recent history?

John McCain autographed a canvas for me which I will paint the A-4 that he flew over Viet Nam.

I was wondering if anyone is interested in buying this very special painting?

For information on the acquisition of this painting, Please call.

Painting size is 18x36".

I will also publish a print of the painting.

The buyer of the painting will receive 25 of the Limited Edition prints as well as 100 of the posters.

These are for you to sale or give away to family or friends.

I will have a Limited Edition print totaling only 350 in the series.

These will retail for only $50.00 each. Each print will be signed and numbered by myself, the artist only.

As long as John McCain is in public office it is considered improper for him to take part in a commercial activity.

There will also be a poster print available for $18.00 of which I will only publish 1000 of these.

I want everyone to be able to afford one of these prints that is why I am charging no more for this artwork than any of my other prints.

If you served with John McCain and would like to share your stories, please contact me below.

Thank you.

Print Directory

This has all the military art prints that I have published since 1993.

Military Library

In my library you will find dozens of stories of all the aviators I have worked with and interviewed.

These stories will also be published in several books I will be releasing in the near future.

Also in the library are many other military subjects you or your friends may be interested in.

Please tell your friends about my endeavors.

I love my job!

September 5, 2008