| Date: 1 March 1966 |
| Aircraft type: F-4B Phantom |
| Serial Number: 150443 |
| Military Unit: VF-143 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Ranger |
| Name(s): |
| Lt William David Frawley (KIA) |
| Lt(jg) William Murrey Christensen (KIA) |
| A flight of three Phantoms was on a coastal reconnaissance mission about 40 miles south of Haiphong in deteriorating weather when they received a SAM warning (probably from an EC-121). Flying under a 500 feet cloud base with less than one mile visibility the flight leader ordered a level 180-degree turn to head back out to sea. Half way through the turn the leader lost sight of Lt Frawley (call sign Taproom 310) who reported that he had lost contact with the formation. It was thought that the aircraft flew into the water in the poor visibility while the pilot was trying to relocate the formation. A search revealed a small amount of wreckage but no survivors. |
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