| Date: 16 April 1969 |
| Aircraft type: O-2A Skymaster |
| Serial Number: 67-21437 |
| Military Unit: 19 TASS, 504 TASG |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Bien Hoa |
| Name(s): |
| Capt William Omer Burkett (KIA) |
| Capt Leon Joseph Pierce (KIA) |
| A Viet Cong bunker complex had been discovered near Long Thanh, about 15 miles east of Saigon and an air strike was arranged to destroy the target. An O-2 FAC (call sign Rake 1) from Bien Hoa was assigned to control the strike but as the aircraft dived on the target to mark it for the fighters, the FAC was hit by small arms fire that damaged the starboard wing. The aircraft crashed near the bunkers before either of its occupants could escape. Both men had flown KC-135 tankers before becoming FACs. |
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