Pardo's Push Challenge Coin - F-4 Phantom

This challenge coin honors "Pardo's Push," the March 10, 1967 mid-air rescue in which Capt. Bob Pardo used his F-4 Phantom to push his wingman's crippled jet toward safety in Laos. After Capt. Earl Aman's aircraft was hit and ran out of fuel over North Vietnam, Pardo positioned his own damaged aircraft's nose against Aman's tailhook and pushed for several minutes, keeping both crews out of enemy territory. Once clear of North Vietnam, both crews ejected and were recovered safely — Pardo with 1st Lt. Steve Wayne, and Aman with 1st Lt. Robert Houghton, all of the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing.

One side of the coin depicts the mid-air maneuver; the reverse bears the emblems of the River Rats and the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, encircled by the squadron's motto, "To Fly and Fight, and Don't You Forget It."

A tribute to one of the most remarkable rescues of the Vietnam War, available at the Aviation Heritage Park store.