| Date: 12 January 1969 |
| Aircraft type: F-4B Phantom |
| Serial Number: 151441 |
| Military Unit: VMFA-323, MAG-13 |
| Service: USMC |
| Home Base: Chu Lai |
| Name(s): |
| 1Lt William C Ryan (Survived) |
| 1Lt Gary L Bain (Survived) |
| During a strike mission the crew of a Phantom (call sign Manual 6) noticed flames coming from the portside rear fuselage and was forced to eject over the sea. The crew were rescued by a HH-3E from the 37th ARRS. The loss was attributed to mechanical failure rather than enemy action. This was the last of 11 Phantoms lost by VMFA-323 during its long residence at Chu Lai. Apart from two brief rotations to Iwakuni the Squadron had been in South Vietnam since December 1965 and had flown around 17,000 close air support, escort and strike sorties. The Squadron left Vietnam in March and transferred to the 3rd MAW at El Toro MCAS in California. |
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