| Date: 25 July 1968 |
| Aircraft type: F-4J Phantom |
| Serial Number: 155540 |
| Military Unit: VF-102 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS America |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Charles Carroll Parish (KIA) |
| Lt Robert St. Clair Fant, Jr. (POW) |
| Another of the America’s new F-4Js was lost during a raid on North Vietnam. The target on this occasion was the railway marshalling yard at Vinh. As the Phantom (call sign Milkvine 112) was pulling up having released its bombs the NFO saw a bright orange flash and the aircraft snap rolled onto its back. The pilot attempted to regain control but the Phantom started a series of barrel rolls. which eventually ceased. As the aircraft descended through 1,000 feet the NFO initiated a command ejection. However, although Lt Fant was ejected successfully, it appears that Lt Parish’s seat never left the aircraft. Lt Fant was captured immediately after landing and spent the rest of the war as a POW until being released on 14 March 1973. The cause of the aircraft’s loss was either AAA or the premature detonation of one of its own bombs. |
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