| Date: 15 March 1967 |
| Aircraft type: F-8C Crusader |
| Serial Number: 147027 |
| Military Unit: VF-24 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Bon Homme Richard |
| Name(s): |
| Lt(jg) Dean Smith, Jr. (KIA) |
| The Bon Homme Richard arrived back on Yankee Station on 26 February for its third tour of duty off Southeast Asia. The cruise started badly as on the next day after taking up position one of its UH-2B Seasprite SAR helicopters crashed into the sea when it was taking off from the carrier’s deck and four crewmen died. The ship’s first loss on a combat mission took place during a coastal reconnaissance mission on 15 March. Two Crusaders were flying just off the coast south of Thanh Hoa at 1,500 feet when they flew over several fishing boats. The wingman, Lt Smith, started to turn and descend so the leader warned him to watch his altitude but the Crusader (call sign Page Boy 42) continued to descend until it hit the water near the island of Hon Me. No flak was seen at the time and it was surmised that the pilot may have been fixated on the fishing boats as potential targets and did not realise he was losing altitude despite his leader’s warning. |
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