On February 24, 1969, Airman First Class John L. Levitow was assigned duty as a loadmaster aboard an AC-47 “Spooky” gunship flying a night mission in support of Long Binh Army Post in South Vietnam when his aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole 3 feet, 1/4 inches in diameter through the wing along with more than 3,500 holes in the fuselage. All occupants in the cargo compartment were wounded and slammed against the floor and fuselage. The explosion ripped an activated flare from the grasp of a crewmember who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army ground troops engaged in combat. Airman Levitow, though stunned by the concussion of the blast and suffering over 40 fragment wounds in his back and legs, staggered to his feet and turned to assist the man nearest to him who had been knocked down and bleeding heavily.
As he was moving his wounded comrade forward and away from the opened cargo compartment door, he saw the smoking flare ahead of him in the aisle. Realizing the danger involved and completely disregarding his own wounds, Airman Levitow started toward the burning flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling wildly from side to side. Airmen Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood from his many wounds and the partial loss of feeling in his right leg. Unable to grasp the rolling flare with his hands, he threw himself bodily upon the burning flare. Hugging the deadly device to his body, he dragged himself back to the rear of the aircraft and hurled the flare through the open cargo door. At that instant the flare separated and ignited in the air but clear of the aircraft.
Airman Levitow, by his selfless actions, saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death. For his heroism he received the Medal of Honor from President Richard M. Nixon on May 14, 1970. He is the lowest ranking Air Force member ever to receive the honor.
John Levitow was a regular visitor to Dover AFB and to the museum. On several occasions he was guest speaker at the graduation ceremonies for the Airman Leadership School. He was the Airlift-Tanker Association’s “Hall of Fame” inductee for 1998 and a C-17 Globemaster III was named for him on January 23, 1998, “The Spirit of John L. Levitow.” He passed away at his home in Connecticut on November 8, 2000.
Sources: USAF Southeast Asia Monograph Series, Vol. VIL Mono. 9; Air Force News Service; Airlift/Tanker Assoc.
Gallery
Below are images of the AC-47 “Spooky” John Levitow was in. The plane was hit by over 3,500 shrapnel holes, one of them 3 feet, 1/4 inches in diameter.
Although John Levitow is claimed as an airlift hero, he was actually out of airlift and assigned to an air commando squadron as an AC-47 loadmaster at the time of his action. (My roommate at Charleston, Dalton Horne, was in the same squadron and the two of them ate supper together before they went out on their missions that night.) The highest decorated enlisted airlifter was TSgt Charles L. Shaub, who was put in for the Medal of Honor for a mission over An Loc in 1972 but the award was downgraded to the Air Force Cross – http://www.sammcgowan.com/shaub.html.
John was a friend of mine. We were both members of AFSA, Air Force Sergeants Association. We attended 2 different conventions together. You could not have met a more friendly, intelligent or polite person. The good Lord decided to bring him up to heaven in 2000. We miss him very much.
We had an AC-47 Spooky or Puff over us every night and I credit them with saving countless lives. They placed accurate fire to defend us with 18,000 rounds per minute of 7.62 MG fire. The bullets from the three Gatling guns spat out 100 bullets each second. They were 14 inches apart and looked like solid red streaks to the target. We told the new guys that they were those new LASERS they have only heard about.
Your Grandfather saved my bacon that night in Feb. 1969. We never met, but he will always be my friend. GOD BLESS HIM, and you. Spec. 5 Eric Y. Jones Sr. US Army USARV Long Binh Vietnam.
Never forget what all these brave men do for us and our country we all live. My father was over there in Vietnam also flying a AC-119 Shadow. They took the call. God Bless them all and thank you for your service to our great country.
Diane Zumhingst-Scott
My First Sgt was there also and told me all about this mission they were on back then, A true hero and great american airmen. RIP
Jack, you should be proud of your grandfather. It is not only the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines who perform heroically, but also the men and women of the U.S. Air Force. Those of us who served on the ground always knew who had our backs from the air. God bless.
I’m so proud of my grandfather
John Levitow 3