On June 13, 1966, LTCDR John Glanville, pilot; LTJG George Gierak, co-pilot; and Chief Petty Officer Bennie R. Lambton, photographic intelligenceman, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) in their RA3B Skywarrior aircraft on a night low-level photo reconnaissance mission in the Ha Tinh province of North Vietnam.
The flight was directed by Heavy Photographic Squadron 61, to which the crew was attached. During their mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and it was assumed they went down under heave fire. No communication
or distress signals were received. The escort aircraft observed a bright orange flash near the mouth of the Gia Hoi River and thereafter radio contact with the aircraft had been lost.
An extensive search was conducted in the immediate area, as well as over the adjacent waters by various aircraft, but results were negative.
On June 15, 1966, Radio Peking stated that a photo reconnaissance jet was shot down and the crew killed in the crash.
The crew escape system of this type aircraft does not provide ejection seats, and makes high speed bailout extremely difficult. Low-altitude bailout is virtually impossible. All information taken into consideration, the Commanding Officer of the squadron changed the crew's initial classification from Missing in Action to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered
on June 17, 1966.
The crew of the RA3B shot down on June 13, 1966 are listed with honor among the missing because no remains were found.
Viet Nam War Memorial; Panel 08E Line 047
The flight was directed by Heavy Photographic Squadron 61, to which the crew was attached. During their mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and it was assumed they went down under heave fire. No communication
or distress signals were received. The escort aircraft observed a bright orange flash near the mouth of the Gia Hoi River and thereafter radio contact with the aircraft had been lost.
An extensive search was conducted in the immediate area, as well as over the adjacent waters by various aircraft, but results were negative.
On June 15, 1966, Radio Peking stated that a photo reconnaissance jet was shot down and the crew killed in the crash.
The crew escape system of this type aircraft does not provide ejection seats, and makes high speed bailout extremely difficult. Low-altitude bailout is virtually impossible. All information taken into consideration, the Commanding Officer of the squadron changed the crew's initial classification from Missing in Action to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered
on June 17, 1966.
The crew of the RA3B shot down on June 13, 1966 are listed with honor among the missing because no remains were found.
Viet Nam War Memorial; Panel 08E Line 047
On June 13, 1966, LTCDR John Glanville, pilot; LTJG George Gierak, co-pilot; and Chief Petty Officer Bennie R. Lambton, photographic intelligenceman, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) in their RA3B Skywarrior aircraft on a night low-level photo reconnaissance mission in the Ha Tinh province of North Vietnam.
The flight was directed by Heavy Photographic Squadron 61, to which the crew was attached. During their mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and it was assumed they went down under heave fire. No communication
or distress signals were received. The escort aircraft observed a bright orange flash near the mouth of the Gia Hoi River and thereafter radio contact with the aircraft had been lost.
An extensive search was conducted in the immediate area, as well as over the adjacent waters by various aircraft, but results were negative.
On June 15, 1966, Radio Peking stated that a photo reconnaissance jet was shot down and the crew killed in the crash.
The crew escape system of this type aircraft does not provide ejection seats, and makes high speed bailout extremely difficult. Low-altitude bailout is virtually impossible. All information taken into consideration, the Commanding Officer of the squadron changed the crew's initial classification from Missing in Action to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered
on June 17, 1966.
The crew of the RA3B shot down on June 13, 1966 are listed with honor among the missing because no remains were found.
Viet Nam War Memorial; Panel 08E Line 047
The flight was directed by Heavy Photographic Squadron 61, to which the crew was attached. During their mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, and it was assumed they went down under heave fire. No communication
or distress signals were received. The escort aircraft observed a bright orange flash near the mouth of the Gia Hoi River and thereafter radio contact with the aircraft had been lost.
An extensive search was conducted in the immediate area, as well as over the adjacent waters by various aircraft, but results were negative.
On June 15, 1966, Radio Peking stated that a photo reconnaissance jet was shot down and the crew killed in the crash.
The crew escape system of this type aircraft does not provide ejection seats, and makes high speed bailout extremely difficult. Low-altitude bailout is virtually impossible. All information taken into consideration, the Commanding Officer of the squadron changed the crew's initial classification from Missing in Action to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered
on June 17, 1966.
The crew of the RA3B shot down on June 13, 1966 are listed with honor among the missing because no remains were found.
Viet Nam War Memorial; Panel 08E Line 047
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