| Date: 6 January 1967 |
| Aircraft type: RF-4C Phantom |
| Serial Number: 64-1078 |
| Military Unit: 11 TRS, 432 TRW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Udorn |
| Name(s): |
| Capt W J Groves (Survived) |
| 1Lt L N Martin (Survived) |
| 1967 was the year that saw the balance of the reconnaissance effort over North Vietnam change from the RF-101C to the RF-4C. The Phantom may have been a more capable aircraft than the older Voodoo, but aerial reconnaissance was still a dangerous game and January proved to be an expensive month for the Udorn squadrons. Capt Groves and 1Lt Martin were on a mission to photograph a railway bridge near Bao Ha on the main western line to China, about 40 miles northwest of Yen Bai. As the aircraft (call sign Rattler 5) was completing its photo run it was struck by AAA and caught fire. The aircraft headed south and actually crossed into Thailand before the fire forced the crew to eject. |
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