| Date: 18 February 1966 |
| Aircraft type: A-6A Intruder |
| Serial Number: 151797 |
| Military Unit: VA-85 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Kitty Hawk |
| Name(s): |
| Lt(jg) Joseph Vaughn Murray (KIA) |
| Lt(jg) Thomas Anthony Schroeffel (KIA) |
| VA-85 lost its second Intruder on its initial deployment during a daylight armed reconnaissance mission over the northwestern provinces of North Vietnam about 70 miles west of Hanoi. Lt Murray spotted a truck on a mountain road and dived to attack it with Snakeye bombs. Moments after the flight leader cautioned Lt Murray (call sign Buckeye 812) about not leaving his pull out too late in the difficult terrain, the Intruder slammed into the ground 500 yards beyond its target. The inexperienced pilot had probably fallen victim to target fixation whereby intense concentration on the target leaves the pilot oblivious to all other circumstances. Many pilots will admit to having been affected by it, but for some the experience proves fatal. It is surprising that the highly capable Intruder should be used on daylight armed reconnaissance when it was better suited to its primary role of night and all-weather attack. |
You may return to your search results, go to the Search Form, or go back to the Home Page.