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Date: 17 February 1972
Aircraft type: F-4D Phantom
Serial Number: 66-8742
Military Unit: 13 TFS, 432 TRW
Service: USAF
Home Base: Udorn
Name(s):
Maj Robert Harry Irwin (KIA)
Capt Edwin Alexander Hawley (POW)

About one hour after the Wild Weasel went down a Phantom FAC (call sign Falcon) that was flying RESCAP for an attempted rescue was also lost. The aircraft was shot down by ground fire near Xom Quan just inland from the coast. Capt Hawley, the back seater, ejected first as per normal but it appears that Maj Irwin was not able to eject and was killed. Capt Hawley was released on 12 February 1973, still not recovered from the injuries he sustained during the ejection from his Phantom. On 20 November 1989 the US Government announced that remains previously handed over by the Vietnamese had been identified as those of Maj Irwin.

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