| Date: 14 June 1969 |
| Aircraft type: F-4D Phantom |
| Serial Number: 66-7574 |
| Military Unit: 497 TFS, 8 TFW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Ubon |
| Name(s): |
| Capt James William Grace (KIA) |
| 1Lt Wayne J Karas (Survived) |
| A fast FAC was (call sign Wolf) lost in southern Laos during a BDA mission. As the aircraft approached a bridge it was hit by ground fire from a ZPU anti-aircraft gun site. Some time later Capt Grace and 1Lt Karas ejected near Ban Kapay. A USAF CH-3C Special Forces helicopter from the 20th SOS reached the area but as Capt Grace was being hauled up on the jungle penetrator he hit a tree and he fell, most probably to his death. His body could not be found despite a ground search later in the year and in June 1976 he was officially declared dead. 1Lt Karas was rescued by a UH-1F from the 20th SOS but the hoist cable became stuck during the rescue so the helicopter had to fly about three miles away to a safe area with the survivor dangling 100 feet below the helicopter before it could land and get 1Lt Karas on board. In 1997 the cockpit canopy of 66-7574 was found in the jungle and recovered by a JT-FTA team as a potential memorial for the 8th TFW. |
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