| Date: 20 October 1965 |
| Aircraft type: B-57B Canberra |
| Serial Number: 53-3920 |
| Military Unit: 8 TBS, 405 FW attached to 6252 TFW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Da Nang |
| Name(s): |
| Maj Gerald T Hamilton (Survived) |
| Maj Harold E Holzapple (Survived) |
| The Special Forces camps in South Vietnam were particularly vulnerable to Viet Cong attack and air power was often called upon to assist the defenders. The attacks usually started at night when air support was at its least effective and one such attack commenced at the Plei Mei Special Forces Camp 80 miles west of Qui Nhon and close to the Laotian border. The attack was more intensive and prolonged than any previous such attack and it was later established that the attackers included NVA soldiers as well as local VC forces. In the early hours of 20 October two Canberras were scrambled from Da Nang and, despite the darkness and low cloud, dropped a total of four 500lb general purpose bombs and 42 x 250lb fragmentation bombs which halted the attack. The bombing had to be very accurate to avoid casualties to friendly forces and damage to the dirt airstrip at the camp. This in turn meant the aircraft had to bomb straight and level at a low altitude. However, the attack renewed soon after daybreak and two more Canberras were diverted from a strike mission north of Da Nang to assist in the fight for Plei Mei. By the time the Canberras arrived over the camp, a US Army helicopter and a U-6 Beaver had been shot down and the O-1 FAC reported heavy fighting around the camp perimeter. Again the Canberras were forced by low cloud and the proximity of friendly forces to bomb low and slow in level flight. On his seventh pass having expended all his bombs and having now resorted to strafing the enemy troops, Maj Hamilton’s aircraft was hit by .50 calibre machine gun fire which exploded the starboard wing tip tank and took with it a large section of wing. The other Canberra attacked the gun site that had damaged Hamilton’s aircraft but was also damaged by several rounds. Maj Hamilton turned north towards Pleiku where a rescue helicopter had been alerted but the aircraft soon became uncontrollable and Hamilton and Holzapple ejected just before the aircraft crashed into the jungle. The remaining Canberra, despite its own damage, stayed over the crew’s positions until they were rescued by the helicopter and the aircraft then landed safely at Pleiku for much needed repairs. |
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