| Date: 18 March 1972 |
| Aircraft type: OV-10A Bronco |
| Serial Number: 68-3823 |
| Military Unit: 23 TASS, 56 SOW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Nakhon Phanom |
| Name(s): |
| 1Lt David G Breskman (Survived) |
| Capt Steven L Boretsky (Survived) |
| The third Bronco to be lost in March was shot down as it was controlling a strike on a river ford 10 miles east of Pakse in southern Laos, in an area known to American pilots as the ‘Catcher’s Mitt’. The aircraft (call sign Nail 31) was hit in the fuselage by AAA and caught fire at 8,000 feet. Both the crew ejected and although the first rescue attempt had to be aborted due to a technical malfunction of one of the helicopters, the men were eventually rescued at first light the next day by a 40th ARRS HH-53C which had to refuel from a HC-130 tanker on the way back to Nakhon Phanom. One of the Bronco crew killed an NVA soldier who was attempting to capture him and brought the soldier’s AK-47 back with him. This was the first time that a USAF aircraft had been lost so close to Pakse which is situated on the banks of the Mekong close to the border with Thailand. |
You may return to your search results, go to the Search Form, or go back to the Home Page.