| Date: 18 May 1968 |
| Aircraft type: RA-5C Vigilante |
| Serial Number: 149283 |
| Military Unit: RVAH-11 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Kitty Hawk |
| Name(s): |
| Cdr Charlie Negus James (POW) |
| Lt Cdr Vincent Duncan Monroe (POW (died)) |
| A Vigilante was on its way to photograph potential targets in the Vinh Son region when it ran into trouble. The aircraft (call sign Glen Rock 606) was hit by AAA and burst into flames when it was about 25 miles northwest of Vinh. The aircraft began to disintegrate at which point the crew ejected. Two SAR beepers were heard and the SAR forces were called in. The air defences in the area proved to be too intense for an attempted rescue and the search had to be called off. Radio Hanoi later reported the capture of two American pilots in the Vinh Son area and both men were listed as POWs. However, it appears that Lt Cdr Monroe did not survive as he was not seen in any of the POW camps and did not return during Operation Homecoming.
This was the last aircraft lost by the Kitty Hawk before finishing its third war cruise on 1 June and returning to the USA. The carrier had lost eight aircraft in combat and another seven in accidents during its 125 days on the line. Twelve of the Kitty Hawk’s aircrew had been killed and another three were taken prisoner. Cdr James was released on 14 March 1973 while the remains of Lt Cdr Monroe were returned to the USA as a result of a visit to Hanoi by Congressman Montgomery on 23 August 1978. Vincent Monroe was later buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Charlie James had enlisted in the US Navy in 1947 and was commissioned as a naval aviator in 1951. He flew 64 combat missions over Korea in the Skyraider with VA-55 and later became a flying instructor before converting to the A-3 and then the A-5. He was the executive officer for RVAH-11 at the time of his shooting down. |
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