| Date: 30 May 1967 |
| Aircraft type: A-4E Skyhawk |
| Serial Number: 151049 |
| Military Unit: VA-93 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Hancock |
| Name(s): |
| Cdr James Patrick Mehl (POW) |
| The SAMs claimed their tenth and final victim of the month during a raid on the Do Xa transshipment point 15 miles south of Hanoi. Cdr Mehl, the executive officer of VA-93, was leading an Iron Hand section in support of the raid and started to receive warnings of SAM activity near the target. The section evaded one missile but as Cdr Mehl sterted to climb through 16,000 feet to fire a Shrike, his aircraft (call sign Raven 301) was hit by another SA-2. He tried to make for the sea but was forced to eject near Hung Yen and was immediately captured. After nearly six years as a POW he was released on 4 March 1973. Cdr Mehl had joined the US Navy in 1951 and had flown Panthers, Furies and Cougars as well as Skyhawks. |
You may return to your search results, go to the Search Form, or go back to the Home Page.