| Date: 4 June 1967 |
| Aircraft type: A-1E Skyraider |
| Serial Number: 52-132681 |
| Military Unit: 1 ACS, 14 ACW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Pleiku |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Col Lewis Merritt Robinson (KIA) |
| Lt Col Robinson was taking part in an attack on a large North Vietnamese troop concentration that had been sighted near Tavouac in southern Laos, about 50 miles west of Hué. A B-52 strike preceded a heli-borne insertion by Special Force and Marines but strong enemy opposition resulted in the loss of several helicopters and caused many casualties. Two Skyraiders then arrived to assist the friendly forces. As Lt Col Robinson came round to drop napalm canisters on his second pass he was hit by .50 calibre gunfire. The aircraft (call sign Hobo 3) pitched up sharply, hit the wing of another Skyraider and entered an inverted spin, exploding as it hit the ground. No ejection or parachute was seen and it was assumed that the pilot died in the crash. The other Skyraider landed safely at Khe Sanh. In 1988 the Laotian government handed over remains claimed to be from this crash site. In 1993 and again in January 1998, joint US-Lao investigation teams excavated the crash site and recovered further remains of Lt Col Robinson along with items of personal equipment. Lt Col Robinson had served in the 93rd Bomb Squadron which flew the B-29 in the Pacific during World War Two. |
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