| Date: 5 October 1966 |
| Aircraft type: F-4C Phantom |
| Serial Number: 64-0702 |
| Military Unit: 433 TFS, 8 TFW |
| Service: USAF |
| Home Base: Ubon |
| Name(s): |
| 1Lt Edward W Garland (Survived) |
| Capt William Richard Andrews (KIA) |
| A flight of two Phantoms was assigned to provide an escort to two EB-66s during a Rolling Thuunder raid on a bridge 45 miles southwest of Yen Bai. While orbiting the target at 30,000 feet the flight received a MiG warning and at about the same time the flight leader noticed that his No3 was missing. It was assumed that the aircraft (call sign Tempest) had been hit by a MiG although no one saw an actual attack. Both the Phantom crew had in fact ejected safely from their aircraft and Capt Andrews reported that he was uninjured but that North Vietnamese troops were approaching his position which was in a box canyon. He later radioed that he had been wounded and was losing consciousness. A SAR task force arrived on the scene and a HH-3, piloted by Capt Oliver O’Mara, attempted a pick up but his helicopter was badly damaged by ground fire and he had to withdraw. The second helicopter, piloted by Capt Leland Kennedy of Detachment 5 of the 38th ARRS, was also hit several times as it made five attempts until it eventually located and rescued 1Lt Garland. However, there was no trace of Capt Andrews. Capt Kennedy was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this rescue, which was his first combat rescue of his tour. His helicopter, 66-13290, was later selected for preservation by the National Air and Space Museum. Capt O’Mara was also awarded the Air Force Cross for his attempt to rescue 1Lt Garland. On 20 December 1991 the US Government announced that remains previously handed over by the Vietnamese had been identified as those of Capt Andrews. 1Lt Garland reported that his aircraft had been brought down by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG-21. If this was the case, this Phantom was the first US aircraft shot down by an air-to-air missile during the war. |
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