ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 158673
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| Date: | Wednesday 6 March 1968 |
| Time: | night |
| Type: |  Grumman A-6A Intruder |
| Owner/operator: | VA-75, US Navy |
| Registration: | 152922 |
| MSN: | I-226 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Railroad Yard, Haiphong Port City, North Vietnam -
 Vietnam
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) off coast of Vietnam |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
A‑6A Intruder BuNo. 152922 of VA‑75,US Navy, on board the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) was lost on combat operations on March 6 1968 during a night low‑level strike against a railroad yard outside of Haiphong Port City, North Vietnam, after it encountered heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire and no emergency signals were heard. Aircraft believed came down at approximate Coordinates: 20'52.00"N 106'41.00"E
Both crew members - Lt Richard Crawford Nelson (pilot) and Lt Gilbert Louis Mitchell (bombardier/navigator) were listed as missing. Subsequent information from Nhan Dan, a Vietnamese newspaper, indicated that the two crew were probably dead. This information was apparently not confirmed, however, as both men were classified at the time as Missing in Action, rather than Killed.
On July 1, 1984, the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of Lt. Richard Nelson and returned them to U.S. control. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on August 10, 1994. The 10-year delay between repatriation and burial was due to difficulties in tracing surviving relatives and obtaining DNA for a match and positive identification.
The Vietnamese Government have yet to "discover" the fate of Lt. Gilbert Mitchell. His status was changed from MIA to KIA with effect from October 9 1973. His remains were not recovered and his name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
Sources:
1. http://web.archive.org/web/20180422222159/http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/A-6.html
2. http://web.archive.org/web/20171103001143/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm
3. http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/n/n002.htm
4. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rcnelson.htm
5. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries19.html
6. https://www.findagrave.com/page=gr&GRid=15176750
7. https://www.findagrave.com/page=gr&GRid=100044881
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Aug-2013 07:56 | Uli Elch | Added |
| 20-Aug-2013 08:06 | Uli Elch | Updated [Date, Registration, Cn, Location, Narrative] |
| 18-Mar-2016 19:13 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 18-Mar-2016 19:15 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Location] |
| 18-Mar-2016 19:20 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
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