JOHN McCAIN SURVIVES CRASH

John S. McCain, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander was shot down over Ha Noi, Viet-Nam during October 26, 1967, while piloting an A-4E (#149959) fighter-bomber from the USS Oriskany. The starboard wing of his aircraft was hit by a Surface-to-Air SA-2 missile, which the Soviet Union supplied to the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam (DRV), better known as North Viet-Nam.

McCain ejected over central Ha Noi and landed in a small lake in the center of the city. He almost died by drowning because both his arms and one leg broke during ejection from the aircraft. Apparently, the U.S. Navy after more than three years of flying bombing missions against North Viet-Nam had not improved aircraft ejection seats.

McCain was captured and held prisoner for five and one-half years until being released during March 14, 1973, approximately, two weeks before the last American troops departed Viet-Nam.

McCain remained in the U.S. Navy after returning from North Viet-Nam but retired so he could campaign during 1982 as a Republican candidate in Arizona for the U.S. House of Representatives. Then during 1986 he won the U.S. Senate seat long held by Barry Goldwater, the former Republican presidential candidate against Lyndon Johnson during the 1964 election.

McCain ran for president during 2000 and lost the nomination to George Bush, Jr. after losing the Republican primary in South Carolina where the Bush organization distributed tens of thousands of letters and flyers alleging McCain was linked to Charlie Keating, the kingpin of the savings and loan scandal in Arizona. Also, the Bush organization spread rumors that McCain had a baby with a black woman although his daughter had been adopted from Mother Therea's orphanage in India.

And, the Bush election committee used psuedo-patriot Ted Sampley to attack McCain as a secret agent for North Viet-Nam, acting as a so-called "sleeper agent" per the Manchurian Candidate film character.

tip of the hat to Elect George Bush, Jr. Committee.