| Date: 27 April 1966 |
| Aircraft type: A-6A Intruder |
| Serial Number: 151788 |
| Military Unit: VA-85 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Kitty Hawk |
| Name(s): |
| Lt William Robert Westerman (Survived) |
| Lt(jg) Brian Edward Westin (Survived) |
| Photographic coverage following the attack on the coastal vessels on the 26th prompted the Navy to send a flight of Intruders to the same vicinity the next day. A number of wooden barges had been spotted in a canal just inland from the coast and the Intruders attacked with napalm from low level. As Lt Westerman (call sign Buckeye 811) started his run a small calibre bullet penetrated the cockpit and hit him in the shoulder. With Westerman slipping in and out of consciousness and his left arm incapacitated he ejected just offshore near the mouth of the Song Ca River, just north of Vinh. Lt Westin then realised how close the aircraft was to the coast so he unstrapped and leaned over to steer the Intruder a few more miles out to sea and made a Mayday call before he too ejected. Lt Westin was picked up first and when they found the wounded pilot, Lt Westin insisted on going down on the rescue hoist to ensure his pilot was rescued. Lt Westin then waited in the sea, surrounded by sharks, until he also was rescued, once more, by a second helicopter. Lt Brian Westin was later awarded the Navy Cross for his exploits to save his pilot. |
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