In Episode 67 of Military Tales, we feature Captain Richard E. Diller, an Air Force A-1 Skyraider pilot who served in Vietnam. Captain Diller recounts his experiences during the challenging, multi-day Boxer 22 rescue mission, detailing his flights including flying at low altitudes near the Ho Chi Minh Trail to keep the enemy busy and taking crucial photographs from 10,000 feet that would years later significantly aid the family of the front-seater lost in the incident. He emphasizes his deep sense of responsibility to help families of lost servicemen find closure, sharing emotional stories of connecting with the relatives of fellow pilots like Jim Herrick and Rick Chan to provide information and help them understand what happened, stressing the importance for veterans to “Write Your Story down, tell your story”.
In the latest episode of Military Tales, we hear a truly impactful story from Captain Richard E. Diller, an Air Force veteran who flew the legendary A-1 Skyraider during the Vietnam War. Known affectionately as the “Spad,” the A-1 played a critical role in close air support and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, and Captain Diller’s account of his involvement in the Boxer 22 rescue mission is a testament to the bravery and challenges faced by these pilots.
Captain Diller, who served nearly seven years on active duty, spent five of those flying. Initially aiming for transport aircraft after pilot training, he found himself assigned to the A-1 [Previous conversation history/Episode 66 context]. His journey took him to bases like Pleiku and Da Nang, and he was part of units where young lieutenants quickly stepped up into leadership and flight lead roles [Previous conversation history/Episode 66 context]. He was an instructor pilot, often flying with new guys getting checked out.
His firsthand account of the Boxer 22 mission begins on the first day. He was flying an instructional mission when called back to base because his A-1 was needed for support in a dangerous area where a crew had ejected. Both crew members initially survived, and a major rescue effort was planned. However, Diller did not fly that first day as he had already completed his flight with a student.
The second day saw the main force attempting the rescue. By this time, they knew the front-seater, Ben Danielson (Boxer 22 Alpha), had been killed, and the focus was on rescuing the back-seater, Woody Burger (Boxer 22 Bravo). Captain Diller went out with Rex Huntsman a little later. They listened in as helicopters attempted the pickup, but intense ground fire forced the helicopter to pull out, leaving Burger just five feet from rescue. With the main rescue forces needing to refuel and rearm, Diller and Huntsman were assigned the critical task of keeping the enemy busy. They flew at a very low altitude, around 100 feet, in an area just miles from the heavily armed Ho Chi Minh Trail and Mia Pass. They used CBUs (Cluster Bomb Units), dropping them one at a time to suppress the enemy. Despite the area being heavily armed with guns up to 37mm, Diller and Huntsman were surprised not to see any ground fire, though they did observe one secondary explosion.
The third day brought renewed hope. An early morning call confirmed the survivor was still alive, and a briefing detailed a large-scale plan involving two “Daisy Chains” โ formations of eight A-1s circling on each side of the river. These aircraft were armed with Willie Pete (white phosphorus) for smoke to obscure vision, incapacitating gas to hinder enemy gunners, and CBUs. However, Captain Diller’s aircraft experienced a mechanical problem, requiring him and another pilot, Dave Freestad, to return to the ramp. After their planes were fixed, they returned to the area but were instructed to hold at 10,000 feet, acting as a reserve. From this high altitude, Diller had a clear view and, having brought his camera, took several pictures of the actual pickup. He watched as a helicopter, guided by Jack Hudson, successfully located and hoisted Woody Burger aboard. Upon landing back at base, Diller saw the rescued survivor with only a minor scratch.
Woody Burger’s debriefing provided incredible details. He had moved up the river after ejecting, watching from about 60 yards away as the enemy searched the area where he had been hiding, even firing an AK-47 and throwing an unexploded A-1 gas canister into the reeds. He also demonstrated remarkable presence of mind by giving his canteen to the flight surgeon upon rescue to have the water analyzed for contaminants. While Burger was rescued, Boxer 22 Alpha, Ben Danielson, was sadly described as a “victim of the system”.
Captain Diller refers to his direct involvement in the third day’s rescue as a “very modest contribution”. However, this is strongly contradicted by the interviewer, whose family was connected to Boxer 22 Alpha. Diller’s photographs from 10,000 feet proved to be a significant contribution to the family’s understanding of what happened, specifically helping to identify the location of the crash site many years later.
This experience seems to have underscored for Captain Diller the profound lack of information many families of lost servicemen faced. He feels a strong responsibility to help these families gain closure. He shared stories of assisting two other families:
Captain Diller reflects on his service, acknowledging he misses flying and the camaraderie but not the hardships. He describes flying as a natural talent for him, like playing baseball or basketball for others, which led him to assignments like the F-106. While he didn’t initially want to fly the A-1 and go to war, he recognizes that flying the “Spad” “opened up a new world” to him. He advises other veterans to “Write Your Story down, tell your story” because “when you’re gone nobody’s going to do it for you”. His own book, Firefly, chronicles the history of night missions over Laos, a topic he felt was previously unwritten. His dedication to helping families find answers is a continuation of a deeply ingrained “volunteer spirit”.