HC-7 RESCUE 102(1) 29-May-1972 (Monday)

HH-3A Sikorsky Seaking helo Det 110 Big Mother
Combat Day (2)
45 miles off North Vietnam coast

Pilot – LT Dennis P. Dilley
Co-pilot – LT William R. Ramsey
1st crew – AMH-2 Michael J. Foley
2nd crew – AT-2 Thomas M. McCann

A-6A Intruder 155650 NL-503 (Bengal 503) (6) VMA(AW)-224, USMC,
USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) Carrier Air Wing – 15

Lt Cdr Philip Schuyler
Capt Lou J. Ferracane

The Coral Sea’s Marine Corps squadron lost an Intruder during a Linebacker strike on the Uong Bi railway yard 12 miles northeast of Haiphong. About five miles prior to reaching the target one of the aircraft was hit by light flak but seeing no apparent damage the crew continued their bombing run. As the aircraft pulled up for a 10-degree run to drop Snakeye bombs the aircraft was again hit by flak. Still pressing on the aircraft was hit for a third time as it released its bombs on the target. As the aircraft headed back out to sea the starboard wing was seen to be on fire and the crew ejected over the sea about 75 miles southeast of Haiphong as the fire burned through the wing spar. They were both picked up by a Navy HH-3A SAR helicopter. (5)

1) Numbering as per HC-7 Rescue Log (accumulative rescue number)
2) HC-7 Rescue Log
3) HC-7 Det 110 Rescue report (NONE available)
4) Map – Goggle Earth
5) “Vietnam – Air Losses” By: Chris Hobson (with permission)
6) Unclassified Accident Report – B-2-43
7) Loss aircraft location data provided by: W. Howard Plunkett (LtCol USAF, retired)
10) HC-7 History collection; Ron Milam – Historian
11) USS Coral Sea – (CVA-43) – Deck Log – NO DATA

(Compiled / written by: Ron Milam, HC-7 Historian – HC-7, 2-1969 to 7-1970, Det 108 & 113)