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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
Lt Col Charlie Brown
Diplomatic efforts to negotiate the release of the crew and the aircraft took 11 days. While the release of the crew was unconditional, the Chinese government would only return the aircraft if it was disassembled first. On 12 April 2001, the EP-3 crew departed China on a plane bound for Guam. Their eventual destination was Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, the home base of VQ-1. After debriefings occurred in Hawaii, the crew returned to NAS Whidbey Island. On 14 April 2001, NAS Whidbey Island hosted a large homecoming ceremony at which the crew’s return was celebrated. The repatriation and homecoming of the crew became known as Operation VALIANT RETURN. The EP-3 aircraft was dismantled on Hainan by technicians from Lockheed Martin and returned in pieces via cargo plane to an air base in Georgia. After the aircraft’s parts arrived in Georgia in July 2001, the aircraft was reassembled and repaired. The aircraft was then returned to service.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Lt Col Charlie Brown - I think we "Disassembled" the MIG-25 We Got Our Hands on in Japan.
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Remember the situation well, my old squadron when it was still based in Guam and RVN. Thanks for remembering it shipmate PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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