A Lehighton Navy pilot, only one of two men in his section of the aircraft carrier Oriskany to escape death when the ship caught fire, killing 43 men, is expected to arrive in California tomorrow from Vietnam.

Lt. Robert L. Hofford, son of Mr. and Mrs. William R. Hofford of 246 S. Second St., wrote he was on the flight deck checking his A4E fighter bomber when magnesium flares erupted into searing flames in a storage locker on Oct. 26.

Hofford had flown more than 200 missions over Vietnam and has made more than 400 landings on the Oriskany.

He holds the Distinguish Flying Cross, Navy Comendation Medal with a Distinguished Device, the Vietnamese Service Medal and Air Medals for his total missions.