670709- A4C lost to SAM, pilot KIA

9 July 1967: An A-4C of Attack Squadron 146 "Blue Diamonds" was shot down by a SA-2 surface to air missile over North Vietnam. The pilot, Lt C. R. Lee, was killed in action.

Charlie was shot down during an Alpha Strike against targets in the Nam Dinh area, about 30 NM south of Haiphong. The "feet dry" point was in the vicinity of Thai Binh, around 20-30N, 106-30E. (see map below.)

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Pilot Charlie Buffkin and I were tasked with providing instant battle damage of the target area. We had been orbiting a few miles off the coast, and were about to go feet dry when over the strike frequency we heard: "601 is hit! Eject, Charlie, eject!" Evidently Lee had been hit by a SA-2 surface to air missile he likely never saw.

Buffkin reported that he was not likely to be able to eject. We did a quick 360 turn, then proceeded in to get our pictures.

The wingman's call to eject have been etched into my memory ever since. However, it is only recently that I was able to put a person to the name and to reconstruct the flight from my records.