| Date: 25 December 1967 |
| Aircraft type: TF-9J Cougar |
| Serial Number: 147381 |
| Military Unit: H&MS-13, MAG-13 |
| Service: USMC |
| Home Base: Chu Lai |
| Name(s): |
| Maj George W Fritschi (Survived) |
| Capt Allan D Smiley (Survived) |
| Air operations over Southeast Asia did not stop even for Christmas Day. The only TF-9J Cougar to be lost during the war in Southeast Asia was shot down during a visual reconnaissance mission in the A Shau Valley, 20 miles southwest of Hué. H&MS-11 and H&MS-13 had a small number of ageing, two-seat TF-9 Cougars in South Vietnam to fly visual reconnaissance or Tactical Air Coordination (Airborne) missions, a similar role to the USAF’s fast FACs. The Cougars were also used for artillery observation during coastal bombardments of North Vietnam by the Navy’s USS New Jersey battleship and other vessels. Using the colourful radio call sign of Furbritches 17, Maj Fritschi and Capt Smiley were diving through 1,700 feet to mark a target when their aircraft was hit in the aft fuselage by ground fire. Maj Fritschi headed east towards the coast in an attempt to reach the sea or Da Nang if the aircraft held together long enough. Unfortunately, the old Cougar did not quite make it and the crew had to eject about 12 miles southwest of Hué. They were both picked up safely by a USAF helicopter. This Cougar had previously had its windscreen shattered by small arms fire during a mission over the A Shau Valley on 27 October and was hit and damaged again during a mission on 17 December. The TF-9Js were retired and replaced by the TA-4F soon after this incident. |
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