| Date: 29 October 1972 |
| Aircraft type: A-7C Corsair |
| Serial Number: 156762 |
| Military Unit: VA-86 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS America |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Cdr James Edward Sullivan (KIA) |
| A section of Corsairs set off on an armed reconnaissance mission on the lookout for water-borne logistic craft just off the coast of North Vietnam. About 25 miles north of Vinh the aircraft made a low-level identification run over a ship when Lt Cdr Sullivan’s aircraft (call sign Sidewinder) was hit by automatic weapons fire. The aircraft burst into flames when its ordnance or a fuel tank was hit. The pilot ejected seconds before the port wing separated from the aircraft which crashed near Mui Falise. Lt Cdr Sullivan was observed to be picked up by enemy boats but was last seen face down in one of the boats and may have been killed or drowned. Radio Hanoi reported the death of an American airman on this day, which apparently referred to Lt Cdr Sullivan. His remains were eventually handed over by the Vietnamese on 14 August 1985.
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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