THEY SERVED IN SILENCE

The Story of a Cryptologic Service and Sacrifice

The Loss of Ranger 12

25 January 1987

CTI3 Patrick R. Price

CT13 Craig R. Rudolf

... The missions themselves, with their long ranges and heavy payloads, were highly precarious, particularly 

EA-3B operations off carriers. Flying off aircraft carriers is a hazardous undertaking in ideal conditions

 

John R. Schindler from “A Dangerous Business: The U.S. Navy and National Reconnaissance the Cold War.”

There were many factors that led to the free world’s victory in the Cold War. One element that often escapes 

notice is the important role played by aerial reconnaissance. During the conflict, the information culled from 

airborne cryptologic intelligence missions greatly assisted policy makers and warfighters in accurately ascertain 

the capabilities of the Soviet Union and its proxies. 

Whether these missions were conducted on land, sea or air, the majority of them were dangerous due to the 

fact that the aircraft were unarmed, and often times had to fly near the periphery of hostile airspace. While 

all were dangerous, those who flew these mission from U.S. Navy carrier decks were particularly vulnerable. 

The EA-3B Skywarrior aircraft used was capable of taking off and landing while at sea, however the size of 

the aircraft and the payload it carried made routine landings a challenge for even the most gifted pilot. Most 

disturbing was the fact the aircraft had no ejection seats, and a small escape hatch was the only option in an 

emergency situation. 

All of these factors were part of the tragic loss of an EA-3B aircraft, codenamed Ranger 12, on 25 January 

1987. In early January, 1987, the pilot Lieutenant Alan A. Levine and crew were informed that they were being 

deployed to the U.S.S. Nimitz for operational purposes. They suspected they would be involved in collecting 

intelligence related to the ongoing crises in Lebanon. The Ranger 12 cadre consisted of seven men, including 

two experienced cryptologists, CT13s Patrick R. Price, and Craig R. Rudolf. Both men were 

members of the Naval Security Group, the U.S. Navy ‘cryptologic element at that time. 

Price was from Opp Alabama, and was a bit of a renaissance man. He was fluent in Russian 

and Spanish and a gifted musician. During his time at South Alabama College, he found time 

to join the band, rifle squad, cheerleading team, and volunteer regularly at the nearby Baptist 

Children’s Home. 
MP 33610

Rudolf joined the Navy in hopes of becoming a radar operator, but due to color blindness, transitioned over 

to linguistics. He first studied Russian, but was forced to drop out of the class due to illness. By the time he 

recovered, there were no slots left in the Russian language class, and he had no choice but to pursue Arabic, a 

far more difficult task. Undaunted, he persevered, and in time became a proficient Arabic linguist. At the time of 

the Nimitz mission, he had just been promoted, and was looking forward to a bigger and better future for himself. 

EA-3B missions were never easy, but as the crew left the ready room that day they had no reason to believe that 

the upcoming flight would be anything more than a routine operational mission. It was a moonless night, with a 

calm sea, and at 1900, Ranger 12 lifted off the deck, Hours later when the plane returned, tragedy struck. On its 

first approach, the aircraft came in too high, and was forced to power up and go around again. Levine tried four 

more times to get the plane down on the deck, all to no avail. Finally, flight control ordered him to give up, and 

head to an 8000 ft. land based runway in Crete, where it would ostensibly be easier to land. 

The problem was the plane was running low on fuel. In order to reach Crete, Levine would have to refuel while 

airborne. During the effort however, mechanical issues caused a crimp in the plane’s refueling line, making it 

impossible to replenish enough fuel to get them to the airfield. Now, there was no choice. They would have to 

try one more time to get the plane onto the deck. Landing crews made every preparation to get the plane home 

safe, but once again, the aircraft came in too high, this time with devastating consequences. 

As the crew of Ranger 12 made what they hoped would be their final approach, the plane’s front wheels caught 

the top of the emergency landing net, slamming it down onto the deck. The aircraft broke in two, careened off 

the deck, and dropped 60 feet into the sea. Rescue crews from the Nimitz searched for three days but found no 

trace of the men On January 28, the search was finally called off. The crew would be the last fatalities of the U.S. 

Navy cryptologic aerial reconnaissance program during the Cold War

The Palm Beach Post reported that the crew’s home base of Rota, Spain, “clung to itself in grief for a week. Flags 

flew at half-mast. The small base church filled to overflowing for a memorial service. Since there were no bodies, 

and no caskets, the seven flags that would have covered them lay folded on a table by the pulpit. The aviators’ 

anthem, High Flight was read, “Oh, I have slipped the bonds of earth.”

CT13 Patrick R. Price is memorized at Barancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida. In addition, in January 

1989, Rear Admiral McFarland, Commander Naval Security Group Command, dedicated the new fitness center to 

CTI3s Patrick R. Price, Craig R. Rudolf and five others who perished in the crash.

 

LT Stephen H. Batchelder

LCDR Ronald R. Callander

AT2 Richard A. Herzing

LT Alan A. Levine

CTI3 Patrick R. Price

LT James D. Richards

CTI3 Craig H. Rudolf