| Date: 2 October 1968 |
| Aircraft type: A-4E Skyhawk |
| Serial Number: 151126 |
| Military Unit: VA-164 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Hancock |
| Name(s): |
| Cdr Donald Edward Erwin (KIA) |
| A section of A-4s on a road reconnaissance mission ran into 85mm AAA near the village of Ngoc Long Ha, 20 miles northwest of Vinh. Cdr Erwin was jinking his aircraft (call sign Milestone 411) in an attempt to avoid being tracked by the gunners but to no avail as his aircraft was hit in the wing. He turned his burning aircraft towards the sea, streaming a trail of leaking fuel. Cdr Erwin was unable to jettison his bombs and the fire was growing in intensity, so as soon as he crossed the coast he ejected. However, a split second after his seat fired, the aircraft exploded. The explosion probably stunned or killed Cdr Erwin as he did not surface after parachuting into the sea. One of the many small fishing boats seen in the area at the time probably retrieved the Commander’s body as his remains were handed over to the US and identified in March 1990.
HC-7 Rescue Attempt Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN (HC-7) was established September 1, 1967. While simultaneously providing several fleet support activities in the Gulf of Tonkin, HC-7 assumed the responsibility for North Vietnam naval combat search and rescue. HC-7 prepared for action using UH-2B Kaman Sea Sprite helos inherited from HC-1 and were stationed in detachments aboard small boys, destroyers (DDs) and Guided Missile Frigates (DLGs), patrolling off the coast of North Vietnam primarily for the purpose of Search and Rescue (SAR) duty. The information at the following link was compiled by Ron Milam, the historian for HC-7, from ship's deck logs, official HC-7 Rescue Reports, other official and unofficial documents, interviews with crew members and survivors, and other sources, including the Chris Hobson book upon which this site is based. The details for the rescue attempt associated with this fixed wing loss can be accessed by clicking on this link. |
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