"I spent five years as a Navy pilot, starting in November of 1962," Tom Harkin said, in words that were later quoted in a book, Changing of the Guard, by Washington Post political writer David Broder. It was also posted on his blog until 2008, when he was forced to admit he lied. FOR YEARS.
"One year was in Vietnam. I was flying F-4s and F-8s on combat air patrols and photo-reconnaissance support missions. I did no bombing."
That clearly is not an accurate picture of his Navy service. Though Mr. Harkin stresses he is proud of his Navy record--"I put my ass on the line day after day"--he concedes now he never flew combat air patrols in Vietnam.
He was stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station at Atsugi, Japan. Damaged aircraft were flown into Atsugi for repairs or sometimes flown out of Atsugi to the Philippines for more substantial work. Mr. Harkin says he and three other Navy pilots flew these ferry flights. And, when the planes had been repaired, he and his fellow pilots took them up on test flights. "I had always wanted to be a test pilot," he says. "It was damned demanding work."
No doubt. But it wasn't flying F-4s and F-8s on combat air patrols, was it, Tom?
Applaud Tom Harkin for his service. Damn him for his lies. There were some very brave men that did what he lied about doing. In my opinion, this should be called Stolen Valor and Harkin should be drummed out of office..
It's an epidemic in the Dim Party.
It's hard to match Lyndon Johnson's Silver Star awarded for a short flight as an observer in a B-26 (had to turn back because of engine trouble).
Still a lie. He was flying post maintenance check flights. That doesn't make him a test pilot. If he didn't have a PMCF qual he would have been pretty useless as a ferry pilot accepting aircraft out of heavy maintenance.
I've been an FCF pilot in the two fighters I flew during my career and I have never referred to myself as a test pilot.