3 U.S. Fliers Rescued by Vietnam Return to Their Philippine Base

SUBIC BAY NAVAL BASE, Philippines —  Three U.S. Navy fliers rescued by a Vietnamese ship after ditching their plane in the South China Sea returned to their home base Tuesday and thanked the Vietnamese for saving them.

“We’d like to thank the Vietnamese navy for pulling us out of the sea and the Vietnamese government for their courtesy and hospitality,” said Lt. Richard K. Maurer, 30, of Harveys Lake, Pa.

“They treated us very well. They were very concerned for our safety,” said Maurer, the pilot, who was flying with Lt. (j.g.) Elizabeth A. Steinnecker, 29, of Tampa, Fla., and Petty Officer 1st Class Michael R. Neel, 34, of Albuquerque, N.M.

“I feel fabulous,” Steinnecker said after embracing her husband, Lt. Christopher Steinnecker. The wife, who is three months pregnant, was co-pilot of the CT-39E twin-engine transport plane.

U.S. officials said the three were flying from Singapore back to Subic Bay Naval Base, northwest of Manila, on July 12 when their navigational equipment failed. With only a little fuel left, they made a “controlled landing” in the sea near the Spratly Islands.

The plane sank, but the Americans were rescued by a Vietnamese navy vessel and taken to Vietnam. They were turned over to U.S. officials in Ho Chi Minh City, and flown to Bangkok, Thailand, an embassy spokesman said.