| Date: 5 January 1968 |
| Aircraft type: A-4E Skyhawk |
| Serial Number: 152074 |
| Military Unit: VA-144 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Kitty Hawk |
| Name(s): |
| Cdr Robert James Schweitzer (POW) |
| After the loss of Lt Cdr Estes on the 3rd, another Iron Hand mission on the 5th resulted in the loss of another Skyhawk. Cdr Schweitzer was leading his formation against a SAM site just to the west of Haiphong and Schweitzer’s aircraft (call sign War Paint) was hit by 37mm flak just as the last of the aircraft had dropped its bombs. The aircraft suffered complete electrical and hydraulic failure making it impossible for the pilot to control. Cdr Schweitzer ejected close to Haiphong and was captured. For a time while in prison Robert Schweitzer allied himself with Cdr W E Wilber and Lt Col E W Miller and made propaganda tapes for the enemy. However, he later recanted and rejoined the ranks of the majority of the prisoners and returned from the camps with honour. After five years as a prisoner, Cdr Schweitzer was released on 14 March 1973. Robert Schweitzer was killed in an automobile accident on 24 January 1974. He was promoted to Captain posthumously and buried at sea from the USS Ranger. |
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