| Date: 20 April 1966 |
| Aircraft type: A-4C Skyhawk |
| Serial Number: 149495 |
| Military Unit: VA-113 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Kitty Hawk |
| Name(s): |
| Lt(jg) Harry Glenn Welch (Survived) |
| Soon after Cdr Abbott was shot down a section of Skyhawks was assigned to provide SAR cover for a possible rescue attempt. Just after the aircraft crossed the coast, about 15 miles north of Vinh, one of the Skyhawks (call sign Battle Cry 303) was hit by 37mm ground fire. With the aircraft on fire Lt Welch headed back out to sea and flew 80 miles to where the Kitty Hawk was waiting for him to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, as the Skyhawk approached the ship the fire burned through vital controls and Lt Welch was forced to eject and was picked up by one of the carrier’s Seasprite helicopters. |
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