Recommended Reading

This aircraft was shot down by soldiers of the VC- 274 Regiment on June 6, 1966. Their commander decided to lay an ambush around the plane hoping the battalion would send out a search party. But no one knew where it went down. Recce Platoon, who was operating to the front of A. Company, found the aircraft in January 1967. It was invisible from 30 yards away and it was by chance that it was discovered. The pilot had been killed on impact and the observer had been able to climb out and the small pile of empty cartridge cases beside his skeleton testified that he had held the VC off until his ammunition had run out. They had then shot him through the back of the head.

Footnote: Thanks to Brian Tate [email protected] the identities of the two airmen have been revealed. Brian's thorough research at the US Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) has identified the two airmen as:

Major John Charles JACOBS, USAF, 30
years old, married, Caucasian, born 10/7/35
of Milhousen, Indiana, length of service 10
years, casualty on 7/6/66, died from hostile
action while missing, pilot of a fixed wing
aircraft which crashed on land. The body was
recovered.

Major Jacob's entry on the wall is on Panel
08E, Line 17

Captain Charles Stephen FRANCO, USAF,
25 year old, single, Caucasian, born 12/6/40,
ofNew York, New York, length of service 4
years, casualty on 7/6/66, died from hostile
action while missing, crew of a fixed wing
aircraft which crashed on land. The body was
recovered.

Captain Franco's entry on the wall is on Panel
08E, Line16

A personal word from the authors: The Bulletin is interested in the story about the amazing fight that the U.S. Observer, Captain Franco, put up against Nam Hung and his 274 Regiment. They were heroes both of them, Franco just wouldn't surrender.