| Date: 5 April 1970 |
| Aircraft type: F-4B Phantom |
| Serial Number: 152325 |
| Military Unit: VF-151 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Coral Sea |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Thomas Terrill (Survived) |
| Lt Curtis Henry Cropper (KWF) |
| When returning from a BARCAP mission a Phantom crashed following an accidental fire and explosion that led to a loss of control. Both the crew ejected over the Gulf of Tonkin about 90 miles northeast of Dong Hoi. The aircraft was diving at high speed and the force of the ejection stunned both men. Lt Cropper, the NFO, appeared to be unconscious when he hit the water and he was not able to inflate his life jacket or release his parachute. The parachute quickly sank beneath the waves taking Lt Cropper with it. Lt Terrill was eventually rescued from the sea.
HC-7 Rescue 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 associated with this fixed wing loss can be accessed by clicking on this link. |
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