| Date: 14 July 1967 |
| Aircraft type: A-4C Skyhawk |
| Serial Number: 147709 |
| Military Unit: VA-76 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Bon Homme Richard |
| Name(s): |
| Cdr Robert Byron Fuller (POW) |
| The CO of VA-76 led a strike against the Co Trai railway and road bridge near Hung Yen on the Red River, 20 miles southeast of Hanoi. Just as the aircraft (call sign Sun Glass 688) commenced its attack it was rocked by the explosion of an SA-2 missile but Cdr Fuller delivered his bombs before he encountered any control problems with his aircraft. The Skyhawk’s tail was seen to be on fire and fuel was streaming from a leaking tank. As the aircraft started rolling uncontrollably, the pilot ejected and was soon captured. Cdr Fuller was the second CO that VA-76 had lost within eight months. He had taken command of the Squadron on 6 December 1966 when Cdr A D McFall was accidentally killed during a night launch in the Pacific. Robert Fuller had flown 110 missions in Southeast Asia and was released on 4 March 1973. He had started his flying career in 1952 in the F9F-5 Panther and eventually retired as a Rear Admiral in 1982. |
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