Bombs Away, pt 8 - RAAF Canberra A84-231.jpg (1/1)

[Mitchell Holman]

[Dave Kearton]

"Mitchell Holman" > wrote in message
...




First RAAF Canberra to be shot down in Vietnam.


http://www.adf-serials.com/




"First flight 30/05/56. Delivered 19/06/56 Served with 2 Sqn in Vietnam as
part of USAF 35th Tactical Fighter Wing. Based at Phan Rang Air Base.
Arrived 16/04/67 after a 2 hour flight from Butterworth, Malaysia.
Disappeared 03/11/70 in poor weather during a skyspot mission over South
Vietnam. Crew MIA; FLTOFF Michael Herbert (Pilot) & PLTOFF Robert Carver
(Nav). After many years of countless missions without the loss of an
aircraft and its crew 2SQN suffered its first loss. Missing after a night
time bombing operation in the Da Nang area, Vietnam. Flying as Magpie 91 the
pilot. FLTOFF Herbert, last reported that he was flying at 22,000ft after
just having released his bombs over a target under the direction of a USAF
(not USMC as reported previously) Captain Bill Hanig working from OL-24
(Operating Location) located at Phu-Bai. His callsign MILKY. Acknowledging a
transmission from the controller, releasing Magpie 91 at 20:22hrs (no
heading or direction given to Phan Rang as previous mentioned), the aircraft
was not heard from again. Standard procedure was for aircraft to head east
then track south to Phan Rang. With the co-ordination of the US 3RD Air
Rescue and Recovery Group, and despite an intensive 3 day search, which saw
the squadron fly 38 sorties. Neither the wreckage nor the aircrew were ever
found. The aircraft had flown a total of 4193.35 flight hours at the time of
its loss. "







--

Regards

Dave Kearton

[Avsec]

A84-231 2 SQN Missing in action 3 November 1970. Pilot F/O M Herbert, Nav
P/O R Carver.

Avsec

"Mitchell Holman" > wrote in message
...