We get a first-hand account from the third pilot onboard the EP-3 and his experiences whereas being held by the Chinese language, in addition to being launched and coming residence.
On April 1, 2001, a United States Navy EP-3E indicators intelligence (SIGINT) plane collided with a Chinese language interceptor over the South China Sea, inflicting the EP-3 to make an unauthorized emergency touchdown on Hainan Island and sparking a global incident between the US and the Folks’s Republic of China. The American crew can be held for 11 days by the Chinese language.
The Collision and Aftermath
Two Chinese language Navy J-8 II plane intercepted the EP-3 whereas conducting a indicators intelligence mission involving overflights of the South China Sea. Aggressive passes had been made on the American plane by the Chinese language pilots, leading to a collision that may critically harm the EP-3, destroy the Chinese language plane and trigger the lack of the pilot. The EP-3 must land on the Chinese language Island of Hainan on the Lingshui airfield.
After touchdown, the crew of the American plane was detained by the Chinese language authorities, and the Chinese language took possession of the EP-3. Labeled data had been destroyed by the crew previous to touchdown; nevertheless the Chinese language nonetheless tried and succeeded in gathering data and supplies from the plane.
Diplomatic efforts achieved the discharge of the crew after 11 days, whereas the plane was not launched again to the US till it was disassembled. Technicians from Lockheed Martin dismantled the plane and it was returned on an AN-124 transport plane in July 2001. The plane was reassembled in Georgia, repaired and positioned again in service.
The EP-3
Constructed by Lockheed, the EP-3 was an digital indicators reconnaissance model of the P-3 Orion anti-submarine plane. Launched within the Sixties and primarily based on the L-188 Electra airliner, the P-3 acquired many modifications throughout its service life.
The EP-3 variant was recognized by the acronym ARIES (Airborne Reconnaissance Built-in Digital System) and was able to intercepting indicators reminiscent of communications or extra particularly digital indicators indirectly utilized in communications. A complete of 12 P-3Cs had been transformed to the EP-3E ARIES II ELINT (Electronics Intelligence) variant, the final one delivered in 1997. The final EP-3E was retired in 2025.
The plane acquired energy from 4 Allison turboprops engines and had a size of over 116 ft and wingspan of 99 ft 8 in. It normally carried a crew of 24, which included linguists, cryptographers, and technicians.
The J-8 II Interceptor
The Shenyang J-8 II (Finback-B) is a improvement of the sooner J-8 (Finback) interceptor. Growth started within the early Nineteen Eighties and it entered service in 1988. The first customers embody the Folks’s Liberation Military Air Power and the Folks’s Liberation Military Naval Air Power of the Folks’s Republic of China.
The J-8 II’s energy is derived from two WP-13A-II turbojets able to pushing the 70 ft 10 in lengthy jet to 1,452 mph. Armament features a single twin-barrel Kind 23-III 23 mm cannon and 7 exterior exhausting factors capable of carry a wide range of weaponry and drop tanks.
The J-8 II additionally was radically redesigned with the Kind 208 pulse-Doppler radar put in. Over 70 % of the unique J-8’s airframe construction and techniques had been reworked, together with the nostril air intakes and the shock cone being changed with a radome and lateral air intakes.
The Interview with Jeff Vignery, third Pilot
The Aviationist: Are you able to please present us some background data reminiscent of the place you grew up, the place you attended college, and your path to the U.S. Navy?
I used to be born in San Diego California at Balboa Naval Hospital after which we moved to Goodland, Kansas, as soon as my Dad completed his time within the Navy as a JAG officer. I grew up in Goodland and graduated from Goodland Excessive College, after which attended and graduated from the College of Kansas. I used to be within the Naval ROTC program whereas at KU.
What unit or items had been you part of throughout your Navy profession and what duties did you carry out?
I used to be a part of VQ-1 in Whidbey Island the place I flew the EP-3. Whereas stationed there, my floor jobs had been Public Affairs Officer and Aviation Security Officer. After leaving Whidbey I took joint flight teacher orders with the Air Power’s thirty second Flight Coaching Squadron in Enid, Oklahoma. I instructed Air Power and Navy college students within the T-1A Jayhawk.
On the time of the Hainan Island Incident, what place and rank did you maintain?
I used to be the third pilot on the crew and a Lieutenant Junior Grade. Under is a breakdown of the crew positions.
1P / PPC (Patrol Aircraft Commander): Probably the most senior pilot, accountable for the protected operation of the plane and mission accomplishment.
2P (Second Pilot / Co-Pilot): A professional pilot who’s skilled however not but totally certified to be a PPC.
3P (Third Pilot): Probably the most junior pilot who’s in coaching and performing as a security observer and/or copiloting whereas gaining expertise.
What sort of plane is the EP-3 and what sorts of missions did it fly?
The EP-3 is a sign intelligence plane constructed by Lockheed. We flew reconnaissance missions all around the world.
What duties did you carry out on the EP-3 on that specific mission on April 1, 2001, and the place did the mission happen?
I used to be the third pilot on the plane and we had been flying off the coast of China.
What number of crew members had been onboard the EP-3 for this specific mission?
We had 24 crew members on board the EP-3.
Are you able to briefly describe what occurred throughout the time main as much as the collision with the Chinese language J-8II interceptor? Are you able to describe the collision? What did you witness?
On the time of the incident I used to be sitting within the left seat of the cockpit. I used to be observing the Chinese language fighter method our plane on an approximate 45 diploma bearing line. He would get near our plane after which break free. On his third try of doing this, it’s my assumption that he was attempting to “thump” (a tactical, typically aggressive maneuver the place a fighter jet zooms straight in entrance of a slower, intercepted plane (like a spy airplane or bomber), inflicting the goal to fly by means of the fighter’s wake turbulence) our plane. I imagine he miscalculated and wasn’t in entrance of us sufficient when he pulled up on his plane.
This resulted in our #1 engine propeller chopping his plane in half simply in entrance of his vertical stabilizer. I instantly regarded on the plane commander in the correct seat (Shane Osborn) in disbelief at what had simply occurred. Shortly after that the plane bumped up after which went right into a gradual roll to virtually inverted as we tried to get the plane beneath management.
What sort of harm was performed to the EP-3 and the way did it have an effect on flight efficiency?
The nostril cone was torn off, the #1 and #3 engines needed to be shut down and the propellers did not feather, HF antenna wrapped across the elevator which led to some elevator points, and no airspeed indicator. I inform folks the plane was shaking like a single moist towel in a washer on spin cycle that’s caught on one facet. Shane Osborn carried out a two-engine, no flap touchdown utilizing the GPS to interpolate airspeed..
What turned of the Chinese language plane and pilot?
It’s my understanding that each had been misplaced at sea.
What occurred on board the EP-3 after the collision?
After the collision we had been all pleased to be alive. We frolicked figuring out our subsequent steps because the airplane was surrounded by armed personnel and so they had been yelling for us to come back off of it.
At what level was the choice made to land the EP-3 on Hainan Island?
As soon as the plane was considerably beneath management we carried out a seat swap and requested the Navigator (Regina Kaufman) present the closest airfield. Nonetheless, after I left the flight station I used to be going to my ditching station (the place I might sit for ditching the plane within the ocean). So my assumption was we had been going to ditch the plane within the ocean.
What had been your ideas after the collision after realizing the harm performed to the EP-3?
Effectively, I don’t suppose there’s a solution to understand the complete extent of the harm till after you exit the plane. Truthfully, I used to be thanking God for offering a miracle.
What was the emergency touchdown like and the reception?
I feel any touchdown after one thing like that’s the greatest. The airplane was instantly surrounded by armed Chinese language navy personnel.
Are you able to describe what occurred after the crew exited the plane?
We had been ushered onto a bus the place we waited for hours. It’s my assumption that they didn’t know what to do with us and had been ready for course from increased authority.
How did the Chinese language troops and personnel deal with the crew of the EP-3?
No bodily hurt was performed to anybody on the crew. They largely left us alone till you had been taken for interrogation. Typically throughout interrogation there have been threats however they had been by no means executed.
When did you understand they weren’t sending you residence instantly and had been you capable of talk with family members again residence and in that case how typically and by what means?
I feel all of us realized it after a few days after we had been requesting to talk to the Pink Cross and/or a U.S. navy consultant and nothing was taking place. We weren’t capable of talk in any respect with family members again residence that I keep in mind.
Did the Chinese language interrogate the crew? If that’s the case are you able to describe how that was performed?
The pilots had been interrogated individually twice a day at random occasions. Typically we had been interrogated in the midst of the evening, early within the morning, or afternoon.
Did you witness something the Chinese language did with the EP-3 whereas they’d management of it?
No, we had been saved in barracks away from the airfield and instructed to maintain the blinds closed on our home windows.
How was the crew’s morale throughout the time they had been detained? How did you cope with the unknowns of what was going to occur subsequent?
I feel morale was as greatest it could possibly be in that sort of state of affairs. We inspired prayer and prayed earlier than meals after we had been all collectively. The 2P (Pat Honeck) and myself would provide you with brief skits to carry out after we had been all lining up for meals to try to hold the crew smiling or laughing if we might.
When and the way did you discover out you had been lastly being launched?
If I keep in mind accurately, the Protection Attache Brigadier Common Neal Sealock got here and let all of us know that we’d be going residence the following day. We had been all allowed one telephone name to a beloved one to allow them to know we’d be coming residence the following day.
While you had been launched, how was the crew transported and to the place? What did your journey residence appear like?
We had been transported by Continental Airways. First time, I ever had my very own row of seats on a airplane and served a meal on precise plate ware as a substitute of paper. We stayed one evening in Guam then headed to Hawaii. Spent a pair days in Hawaii for debriefing and President Bush made certain we made it residence in time to spend Easter with our households.
Are you able to describe the reception you acquired whenever you returned residence?
Unbelievable reception each at Whidbey Island and my private one in Goodland, Kansas. Undoubtedly sudden in each instances. I feel your entire crew felt like we had been doing what we had been skilled to do. Sadly one other plane bumped into us and, in my view, God ensured that plane remained airworthy sufficient for us to get everybody to security.
I perceive the crew was invited to the White Home by President George W. Bush. Are you able to describe that have?
Assembly the President of the US was superb. He confirmed us across the oval workplace and defined the varied art work within the area. One in every of our crew really requested if they might sit in his chair behind the desk. After all the key service was shaking their head no however President Bush replied “completely”. Which was nice as a result of all of us took a flip sitting in that chair.
Do you stay in touch with any of your former crew members from this incident?
We do stay in touch the most effective we will when life doesn’t get in the best way. An electronic mail does get despatched each April 1st and crew members reply with an replace on the place they’re and what they’re doing. Those who had been ready did get collectively this yr on April 1st to see the airplane in a boneyard in Arizona. Sadly, loads of us had been unable to make it.
Are you aware what turned of the precise EP-3 from this incident?
The precise EP-3E is now on show on the Pima Air & Area Museum in Tucson, AZ.
Is there the rest you’d wish to let our readers learn about this occasion and your expertise?
After I look again at this occasion and the close to misses all through. I really imagine God was watching over us and saved the airplane airborne till we had been safely on the bottom. The expertise elevated my religion in God and continues to be my reminder that he’s at all times with us.
The Aviationist want to ship out an enormous thanks to Jeff Vignery for agreeing to reply our questions and share his experiences. As well as, very particular because of Rachel Berkheiser and J. Ronald Vignery for working behind the scenes and connecting us with Jeff.
