| Date: 17 September 1972 |
| Aircraft type: F-105G Thunderchief |
| Serial Number: 63-8360 |
| Military Unit: 17 WWS, 388 TFW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Korat |
| Name(s): |
| Capt Thomas Oneal Zorn (KIA) |
| 1Lt Michael Stephen Turose (KIA) |
| A Wild Weasel on an armed reconnaissance mission received indications that it was being tracked by a Fan Song radar about 20 miles north of Haiphong. The aircraft (call sign Condor) was badly damaged by the explosion of a SAM at 11,000 feet causing major damage to the rear fuselage. Capt Zorn headed towards the southeast and crossed the coast. However, the aircraft crashed in the sea about 25 miles southeast of Haiphong and both the crew were killed, probably during the ejection sequence as they were observed to sink under the waves just as they were about to be reached by a swimmer from one of two HH-3A Sea Kings from HC-7 which were attempting a rescue.
HC-7 Rescue Attempt 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 attempt associated with this fixed wing loss can be accessed by clicking on this link. |
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