ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 148187
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| Date: | Thursday 29 August 1968 |
| Time: | 02:58 |
| Type: |  Grumman A-6B Intruder |
| Owner/operator: | VA-85, US Navy |
| Registration: | 151561 |
| MSN: | I-43 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Vinh Son Area 20 miles NW of Vinh, Nghe An Province, North Vietnam. -
 Vietnam
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | USS America (CVA-66) Yankee Startion, Gulf of Tonkin |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
A-6B Intruder BuNo. 151561 of VA‑85/'AE-521', US Navy, as part of CVW-6 on board the USS America (CVA-66). Lost on combat operations August 29 1968: Shot down by SA-2 SAM of 257th SA Missile Regiment of North Vietnamese Army during night‑time "Iron Hand" mission in the Vinh Son area, 20 miles northwest of Vinh, Nghe An Province, North Vietnam at approximate Coordinates: 18'39.00"N 105'43.00"E
The area was known as "hot" with AA and small arms fire and an active "SAM" site. The stricken aircraft was being held on radar by an E-2A. An A-7A operating 20 miles south reported 3 "SAM's" lifting off and the E-2A advised the stricken aircraft but received no acknowledgement. One minute and thirty seconds later, the aircraft disappeared from radar. The E-2A then advised the A-6 to squawk emergency. Again there was no acknowledgment.
According to eyewitness, the aircraft was completely destroyed in powerful explosion immediately upon collision with the ground.
Both crew members - Commander Lt (JG) Robert Ray Duncan (pilot) and Lt (JG) Alan Frederick Ashall (Bombardier/Navigator) - ejected. Initially posted as MIA from August 28 1968, the status of Lt Duncan changed to KIA with effect from October 22 1975. Lt Ashall was carried as "Missing in Action" for ten years from August 28 1968; during this time he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. On August 2 1978, his status was changed to "Killed in Action".
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://www.aero-web.org/specs/grumman/a-6b.htm
5. http://www.gonavy.jp/CVW6-AE1968.html
6. http://web.archive.org/web/20180422222159/http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/A-6.html
7. http://www.virtualwall.org/dd/DuncanRR01a.htm
8. http://www.virtualwall.org/da/AshallAF01a.htm
9. http://www.nhat-nam.ru/vietnamwar/oldfoto23.html
Images:
Photo of a document that once belonged to the air crew, taken on site by Soviet military adviser attached to 257th SAM Reg, Engineer Major Mihail A. Vanyukov.
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Aug-2012 05:41 | Uli Elch | Added |
| 20-Mar-2016 01:19 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 20-Mar-2016 01:48 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 27-Oct-2017 14:27 | QinetiQ | Updated [Date, Time, Source, Narrative, Photo, ] |
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