How I Dodged Missiles in an F-4 Phantom and Lied to Survive as a POW | Charlie Plumb

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On June 5, 1960, Charlie Plumb entered the U.S. Naval Academy. After graduating in 1964, Plumb was commissioned Ensign, completed Navy Flight Training, and reported to Miramar Naval Air Station. There, he flew the first adversarial flights in the development of The Navy Fighter Weapons School-also known as “Top Gun.”
Plumb deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, where he began flying the F-4 Phantom Jet. There, he flew 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam and made over 100 carrier landings.
In May 1967, on his 75th mission, Plumb was shot down over Hanoi. He was taken prisoner and tortured. He spent 2,103 days - nearly 6 years - as a Prisoner of War. While a Prisoner of War, he served as a chaplain for two years.
On February 18, 1973, Plumb was released during Operation Homecoming. In 1974, he joined the Naval Reserves. There, he flew A-4 Sky Hawks, A-7 Corsairs, and F-18 Hornets.
He retired from the United States Navy with the rank of Captain. Plumb was awarded, among other things, the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and two Purple Hearts.
Interview recorded on May 28, 2023
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Video Credits:
Interviewer - Greg Corombos
Director of Photography - Jon Hambacker
Editor - Daniel Taksas

[@Nicklafuego]

There is no shame in survival, glad you came home Plumber. Thank you for your service sir what an incredible life!

[@PureNationalism13]

There can be shame in survival.

[@Naltddesha]

@@PureNationalism13he’s not talking about survivors guilt. He said he felt shame in admitting the name of the air craft carrier he took off from. Not sure what your comment was about

[@ILSRWY4]

@@Naltddesha that IS NOT what he was talking about... why would you feel ashamed of saying something that was ALL READY WRITEN on his chute. He said he didn't have to lie about that... you clearly didn't listen, he is talking about when he threw his gun in the rice patty AND GAVE UP. That is what he was talking about.

[@ILSRWY4]

my Dad was a POW in WW2, only he never "gave up" he was hit with a German grenade that went off in his face, blew his top pallet of his mouth out, had several other shrapnel wounds, knocked unconscious and was taken pow while he laid there out of it. I don't think he would agree that "everyone in his prison Broke". Sorry I guess thats the difference between the Greatest Generation and Vietnam vets.

[@scottmattern482]

​@@ILSRWY4glad your dad got medical treatment, instead of being tortured for two days. Sounds like he had a much better pow experience, than the Hanoi Hilton. Its funny when a generation of people call themselves the "greatest", when they had such a terrible time with civil rights, national debt, political assassinations, environmental disasters, actually using nuclear weapons, calling Elvis Presley the devil for dancing and shaking his hips in a way that might turn-on a woman, etc

[@gmdsr1177]

Excellent interview. Too bad more of their stories haven't been told. These guys were HERO'S.

[@americanveteranscenter]

We're working on it!

[@rustybaldwin4851]

They are still heroes alive or gone death can't take that from them !

[@jugo1944]

Heroes** Jesus, the illiteracy in this country

[@donaldkwasnicki9554]

Agreed

[@barlowmccarthy1295]

Are*

[@nichille]

I had the privilege to attend Charlie’s speech in person at a corporate event years back. I’ve never heard such applause before or since. One point that stuck with me - 40% of Vietnam Vets were diagnosed with PTSD - only 4% of the POW’s were diagnosed with PTSD. There is no prison as bad as the 8”x8” cell between your ears.

[@alkitzman9179]

Remember the pilots were Officers and held to a high standard. Most PSTD were drafted and then told they had problems after the war.. Cpt. Plumb's best line was I told my kids if you get arrested don't call me . Spend a night in a jail cell . My late Father did that to me. Great Advice I was 20 then and haven't been in a cell since. Yes Dad, Gramps, Brother and I are all Army Vets . Great story Cpt. Plumb

[@lawrence5039]

The officers did better than the enlisted guys as POW's. Many of each came to NRMC Oakland, and the enlisted really needed psych help....which our Hospital was known for..the entire 5th floor. We didn't count the stats, just worked with each man according to his needs. Whew, what a relief when they came back alive, but busted up pretty bad. I honor them, but I'm disgusted in McNamara and LBJ saying from the start that we could not win that war...ugh.

[@willj1598]

Most of the time you hear somebody start talking about being the best of the best and you dismiss them as a braggart. Then you listen to someone like this and realize they are probably being modest and they are about as tough as they come

[@johnshields6852]

My uncle Jack piloted the F4 phantom in Vietnam, I remember he came home on leave a couple of holidays and I was in awe, I was around 10 and I was kinda surprised no one talked about the war, I figured it was taboo to ask him anything, so I didn't. It's a beautiful airplane, obviously I'm bias. Thank you for your stories.🇺🇸🙏

[@bensears7499]

A guy at church is an F4 phantom pilot. He went out of His way to help me while I was fighting alcoholism and bankruptcy. He is humble and does not advertise His life at all.

[@taylorc2542]

It's remarkable that he was only 24 and in charge of an F4.

[@rajivravish1367]

❤

[@samrodian919]

What an excellent interview! Captain Plumb is sharp as a tack, and his recollections clearly so vivid in his depiction to us all. A brave man, though he probably would not agree. So glad he got home. Enormous respect to him and all the others who made it home, and I'm a Brit by the way!

[@alkitzman9179]

You nailed it. Look up Hero or Courageous in the dictionary and its his description you will find.

[@BurglarBars]

What a amazing story and message. I'm glad he made it home and got to tell his story.

[@volusian95]

The idea of being deep in the heart of NVA territory and destroying your emergency radio - must have been quite a feeling. A brave man.

[@trumanstumo1718]

Excellent Sir!! Thank you for your service!! To hear your stories really mean a lot to us ground crew. I was stationed at the PAX RIVER NAVEL AIR TEST CENTER in 1960-63. As a plane captain on the chance vought crusader. In those years we were required to pull flight time each month . We were testing a F4 PHANTOM at the time so needless to say, I climbed into the back seat as many times that I could! A test pilot by the name of JJ OLSEN told me to hold my stomach muscles tight when doing maneuvers and I wouldn't get sick. I am 81 now, and have never done anything that even begins to come close to the maneuvers we did. Negative & positive G's, in flight refueling , and of course MACH TWO. even received a mach two pin from McDonald Douglas and still proudly have it. What a rush!!

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Thank you Mr. Plumb. Thank you for enduring what you did yet still be an amazing man and an inspiration to us all.

[@raincoast9010]

An inspiration would be someone who would refuse to fight a bankers war.

[@imtheman4805]

raincoast9010 I’m very sorry you drew the short straw of Life

[@raincoast9010]

@@imtheman4805 sheep

[@raincoast9010]

@@imtheman4805 no short straw, it's just that my eyes were closed but were opened by a friend. cheers.

[@imtheman4805]

raincoast9010 My sincere sympathies I didn’t realize you were a Follower and Not A Leader Good luck with what he tells you to believe next

[@alericc1889]

One of my uncles was an F4 pilot in Vietnam, came back without a scratch and took his own life in 1981 and he never spoke of what went on in his time over there.

[@carlmayer691]

Sorry to hear that.. you wonder WHY our US government doesn't give our great veterans the world when their done serving their country, injured in war, my God people.. we have to have this done by others, Tunnel to Towers, other non profits helping out .. yet our government in it's infinite wisdom cannot help our veterans.. can't even give them decent mental and physical health care,, and that is why I was always FURIOUS w/ John McCain.. he lived it yet did NOTHING during his career in Congress.. NOTHING.. hate to say it but President Trump made some serious changes in our VA ... Things need to change . big time.. all this money going to fight other countries wars.. yet our veterans suffer.. NONE should be homeless, none should suffer.. Fix It !!

[@No_ReGretzky99]

Sorry to hear about that brother it sucks when somebody takes their own life but suffering isn't fun either my cousin who was bullied his whole life overweight and a computer nerd is what people refer to it as I love computers but he met his one and only girlfriend and married her a year after they met online in a Warcraft game she cheated on him with a 17 year old dude and he committed suicide he knocked on her door she opened it he blew his head off

[@gbsailing9436]

Or in his mind over here....😪

[@xvsj5833]

Thank you for your courage and service to represent our wonderful nation ❤🇺🇸

[@user-qq2vq4fv8b]

Ha , l wonder what general bone spurs would have to say about him?

[@faithismespeaks6848]

@@user-qq2vq4fv8b ,He probably would have treated him with respect, and not left him behind to die like Biden did to so many who helped us. Biden just left trillions of dollars in equipment to the enemy, so he was, and still is a traitor to all Americans. Kind of like you are with your smarmy self absorbed attitude and disrespect.

[@anthonyscott5134]

Phenomenal interview! As a brat of a career, Air Force, C130 loadmaster, I was in Navy R.O.T.C in High School and Army R.O.T.C in college. I was 10 years old in 1966. My dad was stationed at Langley AFB and served in Vietnam. I say this because this background contributed to my then and current respect for our military and it’s service people. I knew other kids whose fathers were POW’s, and met some of those fathers as well. This background and listening to the statement in the video at about 18 minutes in where he’s told by his fellow POW “Everyone breaks” is why when I hear people disrespect our former POW’s I get so deeply angry and sometimes act out. So it is for these reasons I find it unfathomable that people, who proclaim so loudly and often how much of a “patriot” they are, for this reason alone, could support a person, and yes I’m talking about trump, who in his statement about John McCain, stated “ he’s a war hero, because he was captured, I like people who weren’t captured”! That is a direct and blatant show of disrespect to every American POW, but these people couldn’t care less about that! These people either are active duty or retired military or civilians who’ve never served, but both have never experienced the horror of being a POW, and being tortured, and yet have the nerve to criticize, belittle, and disrespect these American HEROS! Some lines, even in politics should NEVER be crossed! Makes my blood boil!

[@cdr861532]

I’ll never understand why so many people in the GOP were able to let that slide…….still bothers me too.

[@anthonyscott5134]

@@cdr861532 It’s because they truly live in an alternative reality where they can support that statement while still claiming to be a “patriot” that “supports the troops”.

[@boscodog4358]

Sir, I am proud of you and your service to our country!

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Spent a year in Vietnam with the 173d airborne brigade and some of that time in tunnels and still can’t imagine the horror of being a POW for one day let alone for years with the brutality the NVA were capable of

[@dave3156]

Wow what a moving program. Glad you made it. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. You sir are a hero we should all admire.

[@shawnrubel9143]

What an incredible story that needs to be shared. Great job with the interview sharing it. Thank you for your service!

[@carolecarr5210]

Our men & women who served in Viet Nam all suffered but the POWs suffered unimaginable torture, psychological & physical pains because our Presidents asked them to "serve their country". Our government was wrong but the military did their best even with restrictions placed upon them. Amazing a POW like Captain Plumb can even smile & thrive. Thank you all.

[@philobetto5106]

You said it... I feel ashamed these men have to witness our country hijacked by a bunch of jelly-spined corrupt politicians compromised by the enemy

[@renatosureal]

Pls, name me ONE woman who died fighting in the FRONTLINES.

[@alkitzman9179]

Look it up 13 Nurses were killed by the enemy . Some of those were attacked by the VC or NVA while attending the wounded . There were no Front Lines in Nam . The Aid stations were very close to the action.. Do a little research my friend@@renatosureal

[@OGPvPMC]

You sound really uneducated probably because you are lol @@renatosureal

[@jamesyoungquist6923]

I'm a vet with PTSD from war. Seeing Charlie Plumb's resilience and positivity gives me hope. Thanks for the interview

[@stinkygamer3094]

Thank you for your service and this mesmerizing story. Welcome home pilot

[@connorkelly121]

What a fantastic interview. I honestly wish it was longer. I was fascinated the whole time of what he had to say. I have so much respect for Mr. Plumb, thank you for your service!

[@gregoryv.zimansr4031]

He has an amazing story. Thank you for your service.

[@grassmanBoca]

Shows. How great and smart our pilots were and are!

[@realwealthproperties5671]

Wow! What an incredible interview. Thank you so much for this one. The brave soldiers who served in the Vietnam war do not get enough respect.

[@duynguyen-jp7il]

I wonder why the american proud of their veteran who served in the Vietnam war though?

[@BillyColeII-dr6dk]

A political war run by the politicians?@@duynguyen-jp7il

[@glockparaastra]

What an ordeal to live through. I salute you Sir! 🫡 Thank you for your service. Greetings from South Africa.

[@jimmysweet8907]

God bless you sir. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. You are a true American Hero!

[@j1st633]

Holy crap! What an amazing interview.

[@spydude38]

Thank you CAPT Plumb for your sacrifice. We owe you so much.

[@asintonic]

amazing story. i shed a tear at the end. Some of my fellow Americans take freedom for granted.

[@lambdacalculus8316]

Thank you for sharing this deeply emotional story! Freedom is priceless. Many people still live under tyranny and persecution. This story brings perseverance and hope.

[@stewartsnape2936]

This man is another of our heroes, unimaginable courage , eternally grateful for them , they fought for the life we have today

[@m00nraker4545]

My great uncle graduated from the Naval Academy in 65, and arrived on the 'Hawk in Fall of '67. He was lost on 1/18/68 when his F4 flew into the gulf of tonkin. I never got the chance to meet him but it is awesome to hear from men like Charlie who were in the same role as my Uncle and survived that awful war.

[@micjam1986]

Thank you for posting this.. what a wonderful man.. God bless him

[@NPC-0013]

Imagine getting shot down and then they take you to meet “the village people” 😂😂😂 YMCA

[@ajetmech2002]

God Bless you. I was an aircraft crew Chief on the F4 Phantom E &D and RF.

[@Frankie5Angels150]

When I initially got assigned to the F-4 Phantom in 1980, I was disappointed I didn’t get one of the new F-15s or 16s (which I got to fly later anyway,) but now I’m so glad that I got to fly Big Ugly for a few years!

[@johnellis6462]

I was in nationl service during the war so enjoyed this ,. what a genuine man no gung ho pilot

[@zororosario]

Stuck waist deep in mud being beaten wih farm tools!😮. I admire your courage and Thank you for your service., Cheers.

[@haroldmclean3755]

Great Story, Very interesting indeed 👍 Much Respect

[@jimbike8064]

Great interview and insight. We dont realize how precious freedom is till we lose it.

[@LanceRomanceF4E]

Had the privilege to fly the F-4E 1983-87 before moving to the F-111. Had MiG killers in my phantom squadron at Homestead AFB and more ‘Nam vets at Clark AB Philippines. The old heads taught us more about flying at the bar than in the classroom. The older I get the luckier I feel to have had the experience that we took for granted as young men back in the day.

[@rogerbeavers2149]

Incredible interview. Hopefully his Radio Intercept Officer made it home as well.

[@thomasfx3190]

So glad the rudder worked that one last time! Great flying & glad you came out in one piece.

[@Ranzoe813]

Thank you for everything Mr. Plumb

[@rsm609]

Value precious Freedom, thank you Sir for that lesson.

[@JoelCorrente]

Thanks for sharing your experiences Plumber. I truly appreciate being able to listen and watch.

[@mdb1239]

Wonderful interview. Thank you

[@arcticdingdong]

He joined the military exactly 42 years prior to my birth that’s crazy. Godbless this man

[@Broken_dish]

great episide as always from this channel love listening to the heros of usa the first time i heard charlie's story on jocko podcast is what got me interested in the vietnam air war for the first time in my life before that i only watched a few documentaries about the overall war and another on some of the snipers of vietnam..so glad i found that its changed my life listening to there guys that ive come to respect to the absolute maximum god bless wish happy days and R.I.P

[@realwealthproperties5671]

Periods, commas, question marks, exclamation points. These are a few of my favorite things!

[@Broken_dish]

@@realwealthproperties5671 not necessary and being a grammernazi is so old your the first person in about 10 years to actually care go ahead waste those brain cells correcting people if it makes you feel better but know that nobody cares or thinks your cool for acting like a yt comment is academics its just a comment on a video get with the times old man

[@No_ReGretzky99]

Look up the sniper documentary about I think his name is Marcus something the best sniper in the Vietnam war

[@Standing.W.Israel]

Wow, thats powerful, "Just to take a shower or be able to walk outside"... these generations of kids that are so entitled to evwrything have no clue how much they actually have just to be able to do the simple things in life.

[@squint04]

Thank you for sharing your story and for your service sir!!

[@thestardusters7640]

Charlie Plumb, You sir, have been my hero since 1989! I hope, some day to be able to tell you how much you and Denver Key have meant to me and my family.

[@immanuelpattiselanno8123]

Amazing stories....glad to see you in good condition till your age now...🙏💞

[@AjF392]

We will never hear of all the accounts from the NVA Airforce of the many Phantoms, ThunderChiefs, Skyhawks and Voodoos shot down by Migs

[@charleywalker2982]

Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.

[@jethrox827]

Great interview sir👍

[@ancliuin2459]

How valuable to be shared this experience to. Thank you.

[@richardthornhill4630]

Powerful experience to appreciate freedom and the realization of freedom is not free. Thanks to all our Veterans who served. Semper Fi..

[@chillis28]

Much respect Sir!

[@nelsontodd9184]

Thanks for your service

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

POW's had it the worst. No limit to torture methods or duration. Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice.

[@MrPlankinton]

Charles Plumb came to Holton Kansas and spoke at my highschool in 1974. I bought his signed book that day. I was 17.

[@Lou-wy1zy]

@17:18 the fact that he remembers their whole conversation a long time ago by just tugging the strings is just 🤯

[@gbsailing9436]

Thank you for your service! 🙏

[@austinferguson8879]

These interviews are soo good.

[@anlerden4851]

Thank you so much for your service and lovely dedications to Our Beautiful America Dear American Sir.🤗🥰😊🙏❤🤍💙🇺🇲💪🏻👍

[@sheridanhonore3712]

Great interview!

[@artheriford]

I read a book Charlie wrote several years ago. He threw out the first pitch at the first game at Royals Stadium in 1973. I shouldn't refer to him as Charlie. Captain Plumb. You are a true hero, Sir.

[@No_ReGretzky99]

I grew up 30 years around Omaha Nebraska, used to go to the royals games at rosenblatt stadium they were the farm team for the Kansas City royals

[@artheriford]

@@No_ReGretzky99 They still are

[@cshader2488]

I have so many questions for him! What an amazing human.

[@peterklein5981]

I served on the flight deck of the USS Kitty Hawk about twenty-five years after he was shot down. The dangers an aircrew goes through just operating off of an aircraft carrier is enough to be inspired by what they do.

[@mandyfox9376]

Great interview thank you Fly Navy 👍

[@stevemizar4143]

Thank you for your service! God bless you!

[@unnamedchannel1237]

at 24, I couldnt imagine going through that. Maybe at the age I am now I could have the mental ability but not physical . 24 physical yes not mental

[@skiphamblin6938]

Salute to you Sir. As part of the wolf pack at Ubon I have the highest respect for you. I am so glad you are home.

[@brianrobertson1211]

Thank you sir. I salute you.

[@ultimatum1895]

Him describing that torture method of being tied all messed up was hard to listen to, and im pretry desensitized to a lot of bad stuff. Goddamn.

[@Asiaguydude]

One of the best pow interviews. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

[@No_ReGretzky99]

Hey sir you did nothing wrong my dude you did nothing wrong don't ever feel ashamed of that man you gave up nothing that they didn't know thank you for your service and glad you made it back home brother you're more than welcome in this country❤❤❤❤

[@zacharyrosser9916]

Amazing content

[@wesinman2312]

Fantastic report, thank you so much for sharing. You didn't do wrong, you were being tortured, coerced. The body and mind can only stand so much. You were a good patriotic man, and still are.

[@louietuna8091]

You sound very brave to me Charlie 'Plumber'. And you have a humble spirit. Thank you American Veterans Center. PS I wonder what Charlie thinks of how a former president treated John McCain, regarding his service?

[@Renegator1]

What a great man. Thank you.

[@airprok8328]

You just did what you had to do to survive. You had a family and wife to live for. God bless you and your family.

[@larsu-gx579]

I thought the NVA believing the idea that you could line up multiple aircraft carriers to make a longer runway was pretty funny at first, but to be fair, the fact that we actually just throw the planes into the sky with a giant slingshot sounds pretty ridiculous on paper as well.

[@tedbeaver2394]

This was great!!

[@Dra741]

You dodged six missiles you are damn good does the most important thing about a missile is when it's nice that you have to see it, it's very important that you see the direction that it's coming so you could turn into it I can't wait to see how this guy did this

[@marcomarcon5802]

This guy is great

[@aislinnkeilah7361]

Our own state department was releasing target info to Vietnam to reduce civilian casualties! Hindsight is 100% but we really should never have taken on the Vietnam war. We can thank LBJ the CIA and military industrial complex for that. Nice interview with a great officer.

[@OGPvPMC]

You mean they were giving up American positions? Teling them locations of our own guys? I'm confused

[@RacerX1971]

Thank you for your service and sacrifice..no shame that you surrendered..you survived

[@enduringcharm]

What a riveting interview, so glad I stumbled across this!

[@Paulschultz-ny6hz]

You are a hero who did everything he could to survive. God Bless and this is a great story of the hell American's went through in war of hell.

[@robertbandusky9565]

A true American hero🇺🇸

[@AndrewGriffiths-enipad9miss]

WOW… absolutely amazing,… riveting,,… I’d really like to meet this bloke,

[@rileygilles2736]

After my biological grandpa died my grandma fell in love with a wild weasel and these sound like the stories he told me as a youngster

[@repoman146]

thank you sir. for your service. my father flew phantom also. feet dry with no rockets or gun' he was tac. he took pictures. yo ya'll both deserve all our thanks. if your ever in central texas. i would like to buy you a drink

[@sarcasmo57]

Wow, well told story.

[@standubaj8989]

My hats off to you guys 🤙I served 66-68

[@carolecarr5210]

My comment below brought a comment, " name me one woman who died in front lines". Sir, you are obviously unaware that the "fight" was also done by Nurses assisted caring for those wounded in numerous field hospitals & base hospitals. Rockets, etc.were frequently landing inside their perimeters, & sometimes VietCong coming up inside bases from tunnels firing bullets, etc.. 8 Nurses names are on the Wall in Arlington.

[@unlocogato]

Really enjoyed the ending, his perspective on freedom not being free. I've heard it costs a buck o five.

[@rickfrey9950]

Incredible heroes