Bobby Goodman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert O. Goodman
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Bobby Goodman shortly after his release, on January 4, 1984
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| Nickname(s) | Bobby |
| Born | 30 November 1956 |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1978–1995 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Unit | VA-85 |
| Battles/wars | Lebanese Civil War Gulf War |
| Awards | Prisoner of War Medal |
Robert O. Goodman (born 30 November 1956) is a former United States Navy bombardier–navigator. He was shot down in his A-6 Intruder over Lebanon on 4 December 1983. Captured upon ejection from his stricken plane, he was held captive for 30 days. His release on 3 January 1984 was facilitated by Jesse Jackson.
Background
In October 1983, aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) was diverted to Beirut, Lebanon, from her planned Indian Ocean deployment, after the Beirut barracks bombing killed 241 US military personnel of the Multinational Force in Lebanon. The ship spent the rest of that year and early 1984 patrolling the region. On 4 December, in response to two U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft having been fired upon the previous day, ten A-6 Intruders of VA-85 Black Falcons along with A-6 and A-7 Corsair aircraft from USS Independence (CV-62) took part in a bombing raid over Beirut.
Capture
While on a bombing mission, the two-man crew from VA-85 was hit by an infrared homing missile (SA-7 or SA-9) into the engine nozzle upon dropping its bomb load, while still in a dive through 1,800 feet (554 m) AGL. The fuselage and a wing were immediately engulfed in flames, and then the right engine erupted.
The pilot, Lieutenant Mark Lange, tried to control the aircraft in order to safely eject the crew. After a rapid, low-level descent, the Intruder was seen to pull up and likely stalled, resulting in a crash on a hill at 1,000 ft MSL, near a village surrounded by Syrian anti-aircraft artillery positions. Lange ejected both himself and Goodman in the final moment, but his parachute failed to properly deploy before he hit the ground. Lange's left leg was severely injured and he died shortly after capture by Syrian troops and Lebanese civilians. Goodman, rendered unconscious, broke three ribs, and injured a shoulder and a knee during the landing, but was otherwise stable. He was captured and awakened by the Syrians and taken to Damascus.
Captivity
Goodman was held for more than a month, during which the U.S. government made numerous attempts to free him. He had a few visitors, including Ambassador Robert Paganelli who brought him Christmas dinner.
Release
In December 1983, Jesse Jackson traveled to Syria with a delegation that included; Reverend Wyatt T. Walker, Louis Farrakhan, Jack Mendelson, Thelma C.D. Adair, Reverend M. William Howard Jr., Florence Tate (Press Secretary), Julia Jones (Photographer), Thomas Porter, Jesse Jackson Jr., Jonathan Jackson, and others. The mission's peaceful purpose was accomplished, as they secured the release of Goodman.
Aftermath
Following captivity, release, and return to the United States, Goodman remained in active service.
Goodman was featured in an episode of Wings Over the Gulf ("In Harm's Way", 1992) in which he discussed his experiences in the Gulf War of 1991 with Iraq, flying the A-6 Intruder.
Goodman retired with the rank of commander in 1995. He subsequently became a business owner in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
See also
