New York Times Revises McCain's Military Record With Correction

The New York Times carried a correction today for an August 9 story that essentially revises a key component of John McCain's military career -- that he was a "fighter pilot":

An article on Sunday about Senator John McCain's campaign management style described his role as a Navy pilot in Vietnam incorrectly. He flew bombing missions as an attack aircraft pilot, but he was not a "fighter pilot." (The error has appeared in numerous other Times articles the past dozen years, most recently on April 9 and on Dec. 15, 2007.)

It would seem like an important matter, given the fact that the paper of record was going so far to cop to a decade-long litany of error. But it appears that the Times is really splitting a hair here. Providing the vital "More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Fighter Planes" research today is Gawker's Ryan Tate, who reckons the Times needs to be told, "Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full of tortured reasoning!"

When McCain was famously shot down over Vietnam, he was flying his usual plane, a small jet aircraft known as the A-4 Skyhawk, which the Times now refers to as an "attack aircraft." That's a safe and widely-agreed upon label for the plane pilots dubbed "Scooter" (heh), but the newspaper needn't have apologized for calling it a "fighter." Many in the aviation community regard it as precisely that, starting with the military's most famous training program, Top Gun.

Top Gun, the nickname for the Navy fighter pilot school made famous in the Tom Cruise movie of the same name, originally used the A-4 to simulate Russian MiGs. The key attribute for a "fighter," according to widely recognized definitions, is high speed and maneuverability and weapons designed to shoot down enemy aircraft.

...

All versions of the aircraft can carry Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for self defense, according to Bill Gunston and Mike Spick's excellent "Modern Air Combat." And they often did, for example in the service of the Israeli Air Force, where an A-4 shot down a Syrian MiG-17 during the Yom Kippur war. Boom, fighter!

Tate goes on to point out that while the A-4's purpose is often interpreted as an "attack bomber," at least one authoritative source, The World's Great Attack Aircraft, "refers to the plane as a 'versatile little fighter-bomber.'"

Naturally, I have to wonder why the Times is committing themselves to a wordy future of referring to McCain as "an attack aircraft pilot who flew bombing missions" when their audience is not primarily made up of military experts and "fighter pilot" is a simple and accurate enough way of describing McCain's military service. In keeping with the need to correct decade-long assumptions (and the Top Gun theme in general!), the Times might be better advised to reconsider whether it's accurate to call McCain a "maverick."

Comments

[BillCarson]

"Reverse Ace" John McCain's Crash Log:

1958: McCain was practicing landings; his engine "quit" and he plunged into Corpus Christi Bay.

Second crash incident: Flying too low over the Iberian Peninsula he took out some power lines and crashed.

Crash three: While flying a trainer, McCain apparently experienced a flame-out. He ejected moments before the plane slammed into a clump of trees.

1967: As an A-4 Skyhawk pilot on the USS Forrestal, a freak accident occurred when a rocket slammed into the exterior fuel tank of McCain's plane, killing 134.

Final Crash: McCain's A-4 Skyhawk was hit by antiaircraft artillery over Truc Bach Lake near Hanoi.

[BillCarson]

Here's a good link on "Reverse Ace" John McCain :

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_mccain_lost_five_u.htm

[FogBelter]

Something came to mind ... has the US ever elected a Military man President who is associated with a conflict we lost?

[roxnev]

D.D.E. Surrendered in Korea. try Tricky Dick in Nam. Ronald Reagan Iran Contra war

[LeoMarvin]

Wow. Nice mix of historical fiction and poor reading comprehension.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Just because Ronnie wore a military-like uniform in WWII propaganda films does NOT mean he served in the military. He was a bad actor in Hollywood, not a soldier, sailor or Marine in any theatre of war during WWII.

[Berettasskeeter]

As we've never lost a war, I don't think so.
Semper fi

[AzRealProgressive]

Good point. Not militarily.

[SSF]

McCain is just an older, angrier version of George Bush Jr.; a spoiled-rotten son of privilege and entitlement whose gotten every break and been allowed to cut every corner!

[AzRealProgressive]

Yeah, both are a lot like JohnKerry.

[LeoMarvin]

The A-4 came in a fighter configuration, and that's not the version McCain flew. The Times is correct. How much does it matter? Not much, but why not correct the record, especially when some people will form irrational conclusions from the wrong designation? The fact is that movies like Top Gun reinforce many people's impression that fighter pilots are the bad-asses of the sky.

[AzRealProgressive]

If he would have flown a tricycle with wings, the fact remains he was shot out of the sky along with more than a thousand other pilots during that time. Why don't you check on the life span expectationof a navy pilot during that time. It was weeks.

[BrettnCalgary]

The onus is on you to prove your lies, not on us to check.

You lie like a rug.

[ebonyjsg]

WHO REALLY CARES! McCain had it easy with the postion his father and grandfather had! My father served in Vietnam war and he can tell you what the men on the ground endured! McCain only stayed over there in Vietnam because they treated him like royalty because of who his father was! MCCAIN IS A FRAUD!!

[AzRealProgressive]

5 years in a North Vietnamse prison was certainly being treated like royalty. It was called the Hanoi Hilton, sarcastically, in case you missed that point. And would you care to elaborate on your service?

[timthemedic]

Why should anyone who attacks McCain feel any need to "elaborate" on their service? That alone does not have any merit on their comments.

But I will gladly not only attack McCain, but we can also compare DD214's, "V" devices, time served, combat stripes, badges and tabs if you would like. I'm fairly certain I would have more, but that wouldn't prove, or give any more credence to my statements.

Unless you want it to. Then you can tell me I'm right only because of what I have done in the service. Really, I would like to hear that from you.

[NoSandwiches]

In McCain's own memoir, he noted that they did treat him differently than the other prisoners. He felt a certain immunity becuase of this, so he used this to push his captors further, knowing that the consequences for him would be bad, but not as bad as for those without connections. He could have just sat back and enjoyed the "prvilidge" afforded him but instead took it as a challenge. I believe that he was offered to be let go, but would not cooperate, nor go home before others who were there longer.

There is no doubt that he endured terrible treatment.

Still doesn't qualify him in any way to be POTUS.

[Marlyn]

In that photo, why isn't John McCain wearing a big codpiece like GW Bush does?

[MajorKong]

Not that anyone cares, but that looks like a T-2 Buckeye trainer McCain is standing in front of in that picture, not an A-4.

[AzRealProgressive]

Nope. Not hardly.

[BrettnCalgary]

hmm...

Major Kong, long time rational and intelligent poster, who has convinced me of his credibility on matters of cold war reality, and I'm as cynical as they come, but it is hard to keep up a line of bullshit for years.

You, new troll, obviously taking the place of an older sock, full of lies and vituperation, posts no proof of a definitive claim to oppose a qualified opinion of someone with credibility.

Even if he is wrong, he is more correct than you (couldn't bring myself to call him right).

[MajorKong]

An A-4 has a low-mounted delta wing with the intakes mounted above the wing. That aircraft has a mid-wing with the intake below the wing. It's a T-2. Look at the photos and decide for yourself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:XA4D-1_137812_NAN9-54.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/T-2C_Buckeye_Pax_River.jpg

[BlackJAC]

Nah, looks more like an F-8 Crusader or A-7 Corsair.

[forpeace]

*

The REAL McCain

http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/468-the-real-mccain

*

[Mr Grey]

Here is more of what we can expect from Senator McSame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

[chrisbee]

why is there a "stop abortion" ad on this site?

[mosh]

It pays the bills.

[tea in the harbor]

I do not question McCain's courage, although I find it a bit courious that I've never heard an account of his success in battle.

I also will never question the courage of another Navy Pilot, one who was the most successful fighter pilot of the Viet Nam war and, I beleive, it's only Ace. But that does not in any way lessen my disdain for a man I watched cry and apologize to his family for the shame he brought upon them as he was lead off to prison for accepting bribes, a crime I think should be called simple treason. Duke Cunningham will likely never see the outside world again, and rightly so.

I therefore find it very odd that so many seem to think Little Johnny's actions forty years ago qualify him for the Presidency today.

[Marlyn]

You must be like me, smothered by the Republicans in San Diego.

[mari2JJ]

To really understand the full situation about the McCain military service, one has to consider his dismal grades in the academy, his behavior as a naval flyer and how he treats military personnel now. His naval academy days are full of reckless behavior and lousy grades (ie he matriculated very close to the very bottom of his class). Then there is his philandering while in the Academy. And that trait did not end with his imprisonment. Remember he dumped his disable wife and married an heiress. His behavior then was markedly like the Edwards behavior now. "Sick wife, oh well I need a better model now" seems like the pathetic mantra of both of them. Morally bankrupt.

[tea in the harbor]

I was in the military,(Air Force), and my memories of that time make me wonder what his grades would have been if his father were not an Admiral.

Anyone who believes that did not have an affect on those grades has either 1. Never been in the military, or 2. Is probably drooling out the corner of their mouth and waiting for the attendants to bring dinner!

[RRonin]

Naval Academy grads close to the bottom of their class don't get into flight school, unless, of course, Daddy is an Admiral....

[jackie2]

Edwards' behavior was inexcusable & most people agree that his political future is over because of it-The pundits say that if he had become the Democratic nominee & then had this exposed it would have destroyed the party's chance of winning the presidency-McCain, however, hasn't paid any political price whatsoever for his conduct-Why the double standard?-McCain had a sneaky affair with Cindy, a woman who was 19 years his junior, rich & cuter than his unsuspecting wife-Then he walked out on his wife & 3 kids so he could marry his moneyed girlfriend-At least, thank God, Edwards didn't divorce Elizabeth-But they both did betray their wives' trust- & a cheater is also a liar-And if a man will lie to his own wife, I'm pretty sure he'd lie to strangers, especially when he wants us to make him our president-

[MizLiz]

I wonder what John McCain's kids would have to say about his treatment of their mother.

[Heavenhelpusall]

Is it fair to say the he bombed his bombing mission?

[AzRealProgressive]

Of course. Something shot him right out of the sky. Called anti aircraft fire.

[GuyFawkes]

So Exxon John wants to take a hard line full of "consequence" for Russia? And the next day, a cease fire negotiated by the French, happens.

Isn't it time for the world to admit this old man for all his "experience" doesn't know a thing about foreign policy except "bomb, bomb, bomb"?

[Liberoservative]

"It takes a special kind of person to put themselves at that level of personal risk and still competently carry out their mission duties."

Yes, it does.... but we need to go back even further than that.
FACT: He got into Annapolis on a legacy having his father and grandfather four star admirals...

FACT: He graduated at the bottom of his class at Annapolis

FACT: He got into the air program BECAUSE of his legacy..... Trust me... I was AT Annapolis and only the highest scoring Midshipmen get into the flight program.... the rest go to the Surface Warfare, Marines or Supply Corps.......

FACT: He proved to be unsuited for air warfare because he was such a "maverick"... no, he was just stupid.....

and the last FACT:
He has built his reputation on his Navy career and he refuses to release his Navy Performance Standards, his FITREPS... his record....

What is he hiding? This man is not fit to be POTUS... this man is not ready for a CIC position because this man knows nothing of world politics or economy... the only thing he knows is War and more War....

Noun Verb SURGE

[AzRealProgressive]

Not hardly. A family member of mine won an appointment to Annapolis. He now is at the bottom of the med. ocean because his helicopter flew in. He was not in the top of his class, not even close. And he made it to flight school. Care to revise that answer?

Need some more examples pal?

[BrettnCalgary]

Your argument is that your relative was as incompetent as McCain, but not quite as lucky in his crashes?

I believe you.