Operation Pierce Arrow

During my second cruise to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) operational theater, on USS Constellation, while  anchored in the harbor of the Crown Colony of Hong Kong, the August 2, 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident was taking place. PT boats from North Vietnam made torpedo attacks on U. S. Destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy. The ship got underway about 0800 on  August 4 and steamed for the Gulf of Tonkin. At 2336 EST (11:36 A.M. our time), August 5, 1964, President Johnson announced to the nation that the Navy was making retaliatory attacks against PT boat bases in North Vietnam. Our Executive Officer led a  strike of four AD Skyraiders to the northern-most target at Hon Gay, north of the major port of Haiphong.  When we arrived in the target area the PT boats were underway, maneuvering and firing. Antiaircraft fire was relatively heavy and varied from small automatic weapons to 37 mm, 57 mm, and some large 85 mm weapons. We each made two to four runs, doing the most damage with our 20-mm cannons. Several PT boats were burning or damaged following the attack runs. A-4 Skyhawk pilot Everett Alverez was shot down and captured at Hon Gay.