ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 158707
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| Date: | Wednesday 27 December 1972 |
| Time: | 20:20 |
| Type: |  Grumman A-6A Intruder |
| Owner/operator: | VMA(AW)-533 USMC |
| Registration: | 155666 |
| MSN: | I-392 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near Xuan Noa, 15 mi SE of Dong Hoi, Quang Binh Province, North Vietna -
 Vietnam
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RTAFB Nam Phong, Nam Phong district, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
A‑6A Intruder BuNo. 155666/'ED-05' (Call sign TINY 05) of VMA(AW)‑533, MAG‑15, US Marine Corps, based at RTAF Nam Phong AFB. Lost on combat operations December 27, 1972: Night‑time road reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. Thought to have been shot down on the coast near Xuan Noa, 15 miles southeast of Dong Hoi, Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam at approximate Coordinates: 17'15.00"N 106'45.00"E
Both crew - Captain Ralph J. Chipman (pilot) and 1st Lt Ronald Wayne Forrester (bombardier/navigator) - posted as MIA when the aircraft failed to return. The fuel on board would have been exhausted by 22:44 hours on December 27 1972. A subsequent article in Quan Doi Nhan Dan, a daily Vietnamese newspaper described an aircraft downed by the Vietnamese. Apparently the pilot was reported to be dead, and possibly the co-pilot as well. Although this article was thought to possibly relate to Chipman and Forrester, it was not definite enough for proof of death.
The status of Captain Ralph J. Chipman was changed from MIA to KIA, body not recovered, with effect from July 1, 1974. July 2023 boddy parts of Captain Ralph J. Chipman were retrieved in Vietnam by a recovery team. Burial took place on 11 November 2023.
Sources:
1. A-6 Intruder Units of the Vietnam War By Rick Morgan
2. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries19.html
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20171103001143/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm
4. http://web.archive.org/web/20180422222159/http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/A-6.html
5. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/6688405623
6. http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/f/f081.htm
7. http://www.faraway-soclose.org/forrester.html
8. https://www.findagrave.com/page=gr&GRid=61996435
9. https://krcgtv.com/news/nation-world/burial-held-for-marine-captain-after-remains-identified-50-years-since-vietnam-war-crash-veterans-day-funeral-memorial-fallen-hero-ralf-jim-chipman-pilot-training
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Aug-2013 09:00 | Uli Elch | Added |
| 20-Aug-2013 09:42 | Uli Elch | Updated [Date, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Narrative] |
| 26-Mar-2016 04:12 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 27-Dec-2019 22:06 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator, Operator] |
| 12-Nov-2023 12:36 | gerard57 | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
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