| Date: 17 November 1967 |
| Aircraft type: RF-4C Phantom |
| Serial Number: 65-0899 |
| Military Unit: 11 TRS, 432 TRW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Udorn |
| Name(s): |
| Maj R F Ross (Survived) |
| Capt F L Hobbs (Survived) |
| An RF-4C (call sign Academic) was returning from a photographic reconnaissance mission to Bac Giang, northeast of Hanoi, when it was hit by a SAM. Maj Ross had just completed his photo run over the target at 24,000 feet and was jinking in an attempt to throw off the AAA and SAMs. Unfortunately, a missile exploded just underneath the aircraft, badly damaging its tail surfaces. Maj Ross immediately headed towards the coast and he and his navigator ejected safely over the Gulf of Tonkin, about 60 miles south of Haiphong. They were rescued by a Navy helicopter.
HC-7 Rescue Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN (HC-7) was established September 1, 1967. While simultaneously providing several fleet support activities in the Gulf of Tonkin, HC-7 assumed the responsibility for North Vietnam naval combat search and rescue. HC-7 prepared for action using UH-2B Kaman Sea Sprite helos inherited from HC-1 and were stationed in detachments aboard small boys, destroyers (DDs) and Guided Missile Frigates (DLGs), patrolling off the coast of North Vietnam primarily for the purpose of Search and Rescue (SAR) duty. The information at the following link was compiled by Ron Milam, the historian for HC-7, from ship's deck logs, official HC-7 Rescue Reports, other official and unofficial documents, interviews with crew members and survivors, and other sources, including the Chris Hobson book upon which this site is based. The details for the rescue associated with this fixed wing loss can be accessed by clicking on this link. |
You may return to your search results, go to the Search Form, or go back to the Home Page.