| Date: 21 April 1966 |
| Aircraft type: A-6A Intruder |
| Serial Number: 151798 |
| Military Unit: VA-85 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Kitty Hawk |
| Name(s): |
| Cdr Jack Elmer Keller (KIA) |
| Lt Cdr Ellis Ernest Austin (KIA) |
| Two Intruders from the Kitty Hawk took off just before dusk for a night attack on the heavily defended Tan Loc barracks and supply area on the coast 10 miles north of Vinh. On the run in to the coast Cdr Keller’s wingman had a problem and broke away to dump his bombs on Hon Mat island, after which he waited for his leader to return. It was Cdr Keller’s intention to fly past the target then turn over high ground and bomb the target before heading straight out to sea. The wingman saw a bright flash, which he initially thought might have been a bomb explosion, but at the same time the Intruder disappeared from an E-2 Hawkeye’s radar screen. It was thought that the Intruder (call sign Buckeye 806) was either shot down or flew into high ground during the run in to the target. Cdr Keller had taken command of VA-85 on 22 December 1965 following the loss of Cdr Cartwright. |
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