In the first three WESTPAC combat cruises to SouthEast Asia ( SEA ) ( 1965 – 68 ) , VA-163 sustained periods of heavy losses , including 14 aircraft destroyed by enemy action , with at least five pilots killed , five captured , and two severely wounded . The ' Saints ' also lost two squadron Commanding Officers ( CO ) to combat action , with the first during the 1965 WESTPAC combat cruise , CDR Harry Jenkins , in November 1965 ( shot down , and made a POW ) . The second was CDR Wynne Foster , who lost an arm to flak in July 1966 , but ejected and was rescued . ( Foster later recovered , and waged a successful battle to remain on active duty . ) These unit losses were then followed by the tragic at-sea USS Oriskany fire , in October 1966 , which then claimed more unit personnel ( among the total 44 men who were lost in the fire )
USS Oriskany fire
USS Oriskany fire
VA-163 (U.S. Navy)