| Date: 20 March 1967 |
| Aircraft type: O-1G Bird Dog |
| Serial Number: 51-5150 |
| Military Unit: 19 TASS, 504 TASG19 TASS, 504 TASG |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Bien Hoa detached to Dau Tieng |
| Name(s): |
| 1Lt Walter Henry Forbes (KIA) |
| Capt Tonie Lee England (KIA) |
| The Army Fire Support Base at Suoi Tre in the Michelin rubber plantation, 20 miles northeast of Tay Ninh, was an important location in the battle for War Zone C. On 20 March 2,500 troops of the 272nd North Vietnamese Infantry Regiment suddenly attacked the base resulting in frantic calls for air support. One of the first aircraft on the scene was a Bird Dog (call sign Cider 5) flown by 1Lt Forbes. The FAC controlled a strike by a flight of F-5s and then 1Lt Forbes came down low to assess the damage caused by the jets. Unfortunately, the aircraft was hit by automatic weapons fire, its port wing disintegrated and the aircraft crashed killing both occupants. Two more FACs arrived as replacements and within two and a half hours had brought in 85 fighters, which turned back the North Vietnamese forces. |
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