| Date: 9 June 1968 |
| Aircraft type: A-4E Skyhawk |
| Serial Number: 151080 |
| Military Unit: VMA-121, MAG-12 |
| Service: USMC |
| Home Base: Chu Lai |
| Name(s): |
| 1Lt Walter Roy Schmidt (KIA) |
| A section of Skyhawks from Chu Lai was assigned to attack a weapons cache that had been discovered in a NVA base area on the Ho Chi Minh Trail about 40 miles southwest of Hué near the A Shau Valley. 1Lt Schmidt (call sign Hellborne 215) was making his fifth pass and was using his cannon to strafe the target when his engine was hit by .50 calibre ground fire. He ejected over densely wooded hills and broke his leg either during the ejection or when he landed. He spoke to his wingman and a SAR helicopter on his survival radio and told them that North Vietnamese troops were approaching. In fact 1Lt Schmidt had ejected over a large NVA encampment area and was surrounded by enemy soldiers and killed. A bold and determined rescue attempt was unable to recover 1Lt Schmidt and resulted in the loss of one of the helicopters involved. |
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