| Date: 9 April 1966 |
| Aircraft type: RF-8A Crusader |
| Serial Number: 144611 |
| Military Unit: Detachment L, VFP-63 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Hancock |
| Name(s): |
| Lt(jg) Thomas Gavin Walster (KIA) |
| One of the Hancock’s reconnaissance Crusaders was hit in the tail section by AAA during a run over Vinh. Although badly damaged the aircraft (call sign Cork Tip 908) still remained controllable and Lt Walster flew to Da Nang where he intended to make an emergency landing. The aircraft became uncontrollable as the landing gear was lowered and he realised that a safe landing was impossible. Lt Walster took the aircraft out to sea and ejected about five miles north of Da Nang but unfortunately he was drowned. Apparently his life jacket did not inflate and although a PJ jumped into the water and grabbed the pilot’s parachute he was unable to save Lt Walster from being dragged under and drowned. |
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