| Date: 13 March 1971 |
| Aircraft type: A-7E Corsair |
| Serial Number: 157589 |
| Military Unit: VA-113 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Ranger |
| Name(s): |
| Lt Barton Sheldon Creed (KIA) |
| The reduced role of TF 77 at this period of the war is indicated by the fact that it had been nearly three months since a US Navy aircraft had been lost in action in Southeast Asia. On 13 March the Ranger lost a Corsair and its pilot during a Steel Tiger strike. Lt Creed (call sign Battle Cry 315) was strafing a truck on a road near Ban Sung, 30 miles southwest of the A Shau Valley, when his aircraft was hit by 23mm AAA. The Corsair’s starboard wing separated at the wingfold joint and Lt Creed ejected at about 2,000 feet. He was severely injured with a broken leg and a broken arm but was in voice contact with his wingman and rescue forces. A FAC located Lt Creed and attempted to lure enemy troops away by firing marker rockets at a false location. Three attempts were made by HH-53s from the 37th ARRS to rescue the pilot over the next two days but heavy ground fire prevented the rescue and wounded some of the helicopter crew. Two of the helicopters were badly damaged by small arms fire and had to force-land on their way back to base. At night a pararescueman was lowered on a jungle penetrator and spent some time looking for Lt Creed but did not find him. Lt Creed is presumed to have either died of his injuries in the jungle or been killed by his captors. |
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