The Tragic Final Flight of CAPT Harley Hall | a Comprehensive Account with Ernie Christensen

On January 27, 1973, a significant chapter in U.S. military history concluded with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, marking the end of American military involvement in Vietnam. Yet, this date is also remembered for a poignant tragedy, the loss of three esteemed aviators: Navy Captain Harley H. Hall, and Air Force Captains William W. Morris, Jr., and Mark A. Peterson. For the first time on video, RADM Ernie Christensen, USN (Ret.), shares a personal account of the events leading to the loss of these American heroes. At the time, Christensen was the Operations Officer of VF-142, "The Ghostriders," serving his fourth tour in Vietnam aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). He worked closely with Commander Harley H. Hall, then the Executive Officer (XO) of VF-143, "The Pukin Dogs," and the Flight Leader during their tenure with the Blue Angels in 1970. On their final mission, Hall, Christensen, and their squadrons embarked in their F-4J Phantom II jets towards Quang Tri Province, near the Demilitarized Zone. Hall's rear seat was occupied by Lieutenant Commander Al Kientzler, acting as a radar intercept officer (RIO) for this mission. Despite it being the final day of hostilities, conflicts near the Cua Viet River escalated as the North Vietnamese Army advanced towards the South. Tasked by a Forward Air Controller (FAC), Cdr Hall and his wingman, Lt Terry Heath, aimed to disrupt a North Vietnamese truck convoy. Tragically, during their third pass, Hall's jet was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Unable to maneuver the damaged F4 to safety, Hall and Kientzler ejected over a nearby village. A swift search and rescue mission ensued, involving a U.S. Air Force OV-10 Bronco piloted by Captain George William Morris, Jr., and Captain Mark Allan Peterson. In their urgent effort to save the Navy pilots, their OV-10 was downed by a surface-to-air missile, leading to their own ejection into the jungle. Sadly, they were fatally wounded by enemy fire shortly after landing. Lt Kientzler was later released from North Vietnam in March 1973 as part of Operation Homecoming, but Cdr Hall was never returned and remained listed as POW until 1979. Despite no evidence or remains ever recovered, his status was changed to "Killed" in 1979 by the U.S. government. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) lists 684 POWs returned home alive from the Vietnam War. As of December 5th, 2023, 1,578 Americans are still listed as missing and unaccounted-for. For an in-depth exploration of Harley Hall’s life, the book “Left Alive to Die” by Susan Keen is highly recommended. Ernie Christensen concluded his distinguished Navy career as a Rear Admiral in June 1997. His remarkable service record includes over 5,200 flight hours and five combat tours, during which he completed 360 missions and performed landings on seven distinct aircraft carriers. A notable highlight of RADM Christensen's career was his two-year tenure with the Blue Angels, where he was pivotal in their transition to the F4 Phantom in 1969. His leadership roles were equally impressive, including serving as the Commanding Officer (CO) of TOPGUN, the USS Kansas City, and the USS Ranger (CV-61). Video Produced by: Ryan Nothhaft Contact: [email protected] Special Thanks to: Ernie Christensen & the Hall Family for participating and granting permission to publish this video Visual Resources and Footage: Kate Gibson-Woods: Videographer of Interview Robert Dallas: VF 143 Footage U.S. National Archives: USS Enterprise, F4 Phantom Cockpit Footage & Photos Ron Rentfrow: Photos of CAPT Harley H. Hall