| Date: 8 September 1972 |
| Aircraft type: F-4J Phantom |
| Serial Number: 157302 |
| Military Unit: VF-103 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Saratoga |
| Name(s): |
| Cdr Richard Peter Bordone (Survived) |
| Lt Joseph Herbert Findley, Jr. (Survived) |
| One of the Saratoga’s Phantoms was damaged by 23mm AAA as it flew along Route 1A about 25 miles north of Vinh during a road reconnaissance mission. The aircraft (call sign Club Leaf 202) was hit in the fuselage and wing and the port engine began to run roughly. A small fire eventually went out but the aircraft’s hydraulic and pneumatic systems failed as the Phantom reached the carrier’s position 80 miles offshore and reduced speed. The pilot could not maintain control so both crew ejected successfully and were rescued by an SH-3G. Cdr Bordone had previously flown the A-6 Intruder and had survived being blown up by his own bombs during a Steel Tiger mission on 24 July 1965. |
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