| Date: 7 February 1966 |
| Aircraft type: A-4E Skyhawk |
| Serial Number: 152027 |
| Military Unit: VA-56 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Ticonderoga |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Cdr Render Crayton (POW) |
| During an armed reconnaissance mission between Vinh and Thanh Hoa, a flight of Skyhawks attacked a number of railway trucks on the coastal railway near Phu Dien Chau. Lt Cdr Crayton’s aircraft (call sign Champion 452) was hit by 37mm AAA as it dived to attack the target. His wingman reported seeing an explosion on the starboard side of the fuselage and the aircraft quickly became uncontrollable. Crayton was forced to eject before he could reach the coast. He made contact with the rest of his flight on his survival radio and two Skyhawks made several passes to keep the North Vietnamese at bay until Crayton could be rescued. Unfortunately, the Skyhawks began to run out of fuel and had to depart before the SAR force arrived. The helicopter and its escorts were damaged by ground fire and spotted only an empty parachute. Render Crayton was released from captivity in North Vietnam on 12 February 1973. Lt Cdr Crayton had flown in the first retaliatory strikes following the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964 and for 18 months was senior POW in the Son Tay prison camp. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during his last mission. |
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