3 U.S. Navy Fliers Saved by Vietnamese

MANILA — A Vietnamese ship picked up three U.S. Navy aviators shortly after their plane crashed into the South China Sea three days ago, and the ship was taking them to Vietnam today, the Navy said.

The information office at Subic Naval Base said in a statement that Vietnamese authorities informed the State Department in Washington that the three were aboard the ship and headed toward Vietnam.

“Their conditions are unknown at this time,” the statement said.

The official Voice of Vietnam radio said in a broadcast later that the Americans “were given care and good treatment” by Vietnamese workers living on some islands in the Spratly group.

The aviators were returning to the U.S. military base at Subic Bay, 50 miles northwest of Manila, from Singapore on Tuesday when they radioed they were ditching their CT-39E twin-jet transport in the vicinity of the Spratly Islands.

An extensive search had been under way for the three, identified as Lt. Richard Maurer, Lt. (j.g.) Elizabeth Steinnecker and Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Neel.