| Date: 24 February 1967 |
| Aircraft type: O-1G Bird Dog |
| Serial Number: 51-5078 |
| Military Unit: 21 TASS, 504 TASG |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Nha Trang |
| Name(s): |
| Capt Hilliard Almond Wilbanks (KIA) |
| Capt Wilbanks (call sign Walt 5) was tasked with patrolling a line between Di Linh and Bao Lac in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam as the 23rd South Vietnamese Ranger battalion and their US ‘advisors’ swept the area for VC. The South Vietnamese troops were about to walk straight into an ambush but Capt Wilbanks spotted the VC foxholes and trenches and warned the ground troops. Their trap discovered, the VC opened up on the South Vietnamese soldiers causing heavy casualties. Capt Wilbank fired white phosphorous rockets at the VC positions so that three accompanying Army helicopter gunships could lay down covering fire. However, the gunships retired after one was hit by ground fire. A flight of fighters was on the way but the ARVN troops were taking heavy casualties as the VC advanced, so Wilbanks kept diving at the enemy positions firing marker rockets in an attempt to keep them pinned down. When he was out of rockets he stuck his automatic rifle out of the aircraft’s side window and swooped down firing at the VC. On his third pass firing his rifle Capt Wilbanks was hit by enemy ground fire and his Bird Dog crashed a few yards from the South Vietnamese troops he had so skilfully defended. He was pulled unconscious from the wreck and after a flight of F-4s plastered the hillside where the VC were dug in, a helicopter came in to evacuate Capt Wilbanks to Bao Lac. Sadly, Hilliard Wilbanks died in the helicopter en route to hospital but his outstanding bravery and devotion to duty was recognised by his country with the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor. Capt Wilbanks was on his 488th combat mission when he was shot down. |
You may return to your search results, go to the Search Form, or go back to the Home Page.