| Date: 26 September 1972 |
| Aircraft type: A-4E Skyhawk |
| Serial Number: 151099 |
| Military Unit: VMA-211, MAG-12 |
| Service: USMC |
| Home Base: Bien Hoa |
| Name(s): |
| Capt James P Walsh (POW) |
| Another of the Marine Corps Skyhawks from Bien Hoa was lost during a close air support mission in defence of An Loc. The target was enemy forces that had occupied Quan Loi airfield near the city and it was known to be well defended by many AAA sites. Two Skyhawks took off from Bien Hoa and rendezvoused with a FAC to start their attack. Capt Walsh’s aircraft (call sign Hellborne) was hit by ground fire as he began to pull out of a 30-degree dive on the target. With the aircraft’s tail on fire and the controls not responding, Capt Walsh ejected a few miles from An Loc and landed in a rubber plantation. A rescue helicopter was hit by ground fire and had to withdraw and Capt Walsh had landed in the middle of an enemy campsite and was already in captivity. He was the last US Marine to be taken prisoner during the war. Fortunately he was only imprisoned for five months before being released on 12 February 1973 having made an unsuccessful escape attempt en route to Hanoi. |
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