| Date: 22 January 1968 |
| Aircraft type: F-4B Phantom |
| Serial Number: 151414 |
| Military Unit: VMFA-323, MAG-13 |
| Service: USMC |
| Home Base: Chu Lai |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Col Harry T Hagaman (Survived) |
| Capt Dennis F Brandon (Survived) |
| The next aircraft to fall victim to the North Vietnamese defences around Khe Sanh was a Phantom from Chu Lai. Lt Col Hagaman, VMFA-323’s CO, was leading a flight of Phantoms against anti-aircraft gun positions around the base. As his Phantom was pulling up from a low-level pass it was hit by .50 calibre gunfire and burst into flames. Hagaman and Brandon ejected as the burning aircraft tumbled out of control just 100 feet above the ground. They both landed in tall elephant grass close to the base and were rescued by a Marine Corps helicopter as enemy troops searched for them. Lt Col Hagaman was the third CO of VMFA-323 to have to eject from a Phantom during the war. He retired from the Marine Corps as a Brigadier General in 1985 after a service career spanning 35 years. |
You may return to your search results, go to the Search Form, or go back to the Home Page.