| Date: 1 October 1969 |
| Aircraft type: F-4D Phantom |
| Serial Number: 66-7546 |
| Military Unit: 555 TFS, 432 TRW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Udorn |
| Name(s): |
| Capt Robert A Gieleghem (Survived) |
| 1Lt George R Zesinger (Survived) |
| The 432nd TRW started its own fast FAC programme in April 1969 and lost its first aircraft in this role on 1 October. A truck park and storage site was discovered to the east of Ban Ban, about 35 miles east of the Plain of Jars in northern Laos. A flight of Phantoms was sent to attack the target and Capt Gieleghem and 1Lt Zesinger were acting as the FAC for the mission using the call sign Laredo 1. As they pulled up from their first pass over the target their aircraft was hit by 37mm AAA. One of the engines failed and the aircraft caught fire. The aircraft remained airborne long enough to get close to the Thai border before the crew ejected. They were rescued by helicopters from the 40th ARRS, Capt Gieleghem by a HH-3E and 1Lt Zesinger by a HH-53B. This Phantom had been flown by Capt W S Gordon and 1Lt J H Monsees when they shot down a MiG-17 on 26 October 1967. |
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