| Date: 4 July 1969 |
| Aircraft type: A-1H Skyraider |
| Serial Number: 52-137512 |
| Military Unit: 602 SOS, 56 SOW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Nakhon Phanom |
| Name(s): |
| Col Patrick Martin Fallon (KIA) |
| Col Fallon was the vice-commander of the 56th SOW. Like many wing staff, he insisted on flying operational missions to remain current and to inspire the aircrew and ground crew under his command. He and his wingman were flying an armed reconnaissance mission over the southern half of the Plain of Jars when they were directed to a group of enemy troops that had been sighted near the village of Muang Pot, on the southwestern edge of the Plain. Col Fallon was pulling up from his second pass over the troops when his aircraft (call sign Firefly 2) was hit by 12.7mm anti-aircraft fire. He ejected near the enemy troops and came down between two high ridges. Both ridges were occupied by enemy troops and Fallon’s wingman attacked them until his aircraft was damaged forcing him to return to base. Col Fallon was in voice contact with the rescue forces but he was surrounded by enemy troops and was wounded. His final message was to request the Spads to bomb the enemy all around him as, in his own words “They have zapped me. I’ve had it.” It was presumed that he was killed by the enemy soldiers in a final stand of defiance. A few months later a report was received to the effect that a US airmen had been killed by grenades while defending himself with a pistol. Patrick Fallon had flown over 100 combat mission during his time in Southeast Asia and had flown 125 missions as a FAC pilot in the Korean War. |
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