![]() There was no SAM warning reported from any source on that morning, and Cdr. When we spoke personally to the pilot and checked time, location, heading, etc., it became obvious he had spotted the SAM that had tragically gotten them. A SAR (search and rescue) was organized with helicopters, Spads, etc - after a thorough search only a tire was located.Ī subsequent (days later) report by a RA-5C Vigilante pilot, who on that day had been returning from another mission, stated that a SAM had been sighted lifting from a low cloud layer off the coast then level off just over the clouds on an easterly heading. He then descended below the clouds, and still found nothing. Turning, he saw only a smoky smudge in the sky over the cloud layer - no planes, and no answer to repeated calls. Wynn radioed Mark & Frank that he was ready to descend, but received no acknowledgment. Overwater and several miles out from the beach, they felt comfortable, not threatened, and were about to reach the area where they were going down to start a search for boats.Īt the time, there had been no surface to air missiles (SAMs) reported that far south, all previous SAM sights had been located much farther north and none were expected, especially well away from the beach.Ĭdr. They flew to north of Cap Muy Ron, let down till they were above a fairly low cloud deck. VA-94 was assigned the mission on March 23, 1966, led by Cdr. The solution was to send some sorties to specifically go sampan hunting, sink 'em if possible, but mostly scare them back inshore and discourage their venturing to sea. Our spook community thought the Vietnamese junks to be openly moving supplies to the south. ![]() Lieutenant Frank Compton, United States Navy (right)Įarly in 1966, Intelligence indicated many North Vietnamese junks were moving further down and off coast, thus posing a threat to our guys who might have to bail out. This Skyhawk website page is posthumously dedicated to: Lieutenant Commander Mark Tiderman, United States Navy (left) See FAQ/Research/Contact link under in the menu. Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO).
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