This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Nicole Summers, MMFN
to remember
Bixel, Michael Sargent, LTJG.
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From - Tue Jul 14 07:11:12 1998 I was a veteran of the air war over North Viet Nam. I noted the lack of information for Mike Bixel and thought I would pass along what I remember and you can decide if it is useful. Also in that same squadron (VA-115 on USS MIDWAY) was Mike Bixel. Mike and I trained together at Whidbey Island before deploying. Mike was lost during a night carrier landing accident on the USS Midway. His pilot was Bruce Kallsen who survived the accident. It was a horrible accident in which several men died on the carrier deck from the crash and the subsequent fire. Bruce and Mike had landed in a sideslip which sheared off one of the main landing gear of the A-6A when it touched down on the deck. The plane continued up the axial deck to impact the planes parked on the bow. Mike ejected just prior to hitting the parked planes. The pure heroism of the flight deck crew in quickly putting out the fire limited damage to the ship and saved lives. Mike was not seen after the ejection. It is uncertain if his parachute had time to open. Most agreed that Mike had time to make a safe entry into the water. The search for Mike and others who may have gone into the water was unsuccessful. Mike Bixel was a fine shipmate and excellent officer who deserves to be remembered. Sometimes it seems that the absolute best amongst us didn't come home. Dave Anderson July 1998
Other Comments:
This Sailor has an (IMO) In Memory Of Headstone in: Barrancas National Cemetery, Florida (VA).
Vietnam War/Vietnam Cease-fire Campaign (72-73)/Operation Linebacker I
From Month/Year
May / 1972
To Month/Year
October / 1972
Description Operation Linebacker was the title of a U.S. Seventh Air Force and U.S. Navy Task Force 77 air interdiction campaign conducted against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) from 9 May to 23 October 1972, during the Vietnam War.
Its purpose was to halt or slow the transportation of supplies and materials for the Nguyen Hue Offensive (known in the West as the Easter Offensive), an invasion of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), by forces of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), that had been launched on 30 March. Linebacker was the first continuous bombing effort conducted against North Vietnam since the bombing halt instituted by President Lyndon B. Johnson in November 1968.