| Date: 16 June 1972 |
| Aircraft type: RF-8G Crusader |
| Serial Number: 145613 |
| Military Unit: Detachment 3, VFP-63 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Midway |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Paul Ringwood (Survived) |
| An RF-8G Crusader (call sign Baby Giant 601) was damaged by AAA as it attempted to obtain photographs of the Thanh Hoa Bridge which been severely damaged on 27 April and 13 May by Phantoms from the 8th TFW using Paveway LGBs. The Crusader was in a turn at 4,500 feet and 450 knots when it was hit by 37mm flak. The aft section of the aircraft was set on fire and Lt Ringwood headed out to sea and ejected about 10 miles off the coast. He was quickly rescued by a Navy SH-3 SAR helicopter.
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, along with this link and this link, which are rescues of SEALs but explain the reference to Operation Thunderhead. |
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