LAMBTON, BENNIE RICHARD

Name: Bennie Richard Lambton
Rank/Branch: E7/US Navy
Unit: Heavy Photo Squadron 61, USS HANCOCK (CVA-19)
Date of Birth: 07 August 1930 (Harrisburg IL)
Home City of Record: Indianapolis IN
Date of Loss: 13 June 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 181557N 1060659E (XF180198)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: RA3B
Refno: 0361

Other Personnel In Incident: George G. Gierak; John T. Glanville (both
missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1990 from one or more of
the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence
with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W.
NETWORK 1998.

REMARKS: HIT-N TRACE-FBIS SEZ DED-J

SYNOPSIS: On June 13, 1966, LTCDR John Glanville, pilot; LTJG George Gierak,
co-pilot; and Chief Petty Officer Bennie R. Lambton, photographic
intelligenceman, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19) in
their RA3B Skywarrior aircraft on a night low-level photo reconnaissance
mission in the Ha Tinh province of North Vietnam.

The flight was directed by Heavy Photographic Squadron 61, to which the crew
was attached. During their mission, the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft
fire, and it was assumed they went down under heave fire. No communication
or distress signals were received. The escort aircraft observed a bright
orange flash near the mouth of the Gia Hoi River and thereafter radio
contact with the aircraft had been lost.

An extensive search was conducted in the immediate area, as well as over the
adjacent waters by various aircraft, but results were negative.

On June 15, 1966, Radio Peking stated that a photo reconnaissance jet was
shot down and the crew killed in the crash.

The crew escape system of this type aircraft does not provide ejection
seats, and makes high speed bailout extremely difficult. Low-altitude
bailout is virtually impossible. All information taken into consideration,
the Commanding Officer of the squadron changed the crew's initial
classification from Missing in Action to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered
on June 17, 1966.

The crew of the RA3B shot down on June 13, 1966 are listed with honor among
the missing because no remains were found. Their cases seem quite clear. For
others who are listed missing, resolution is not as simple. Many were known
to have survived their loss incident. Quite a few were in radio contact with
search teams and describing an advancing enemy. Some were photographed or
recorded in captivity. Others simply vanished without a trace.

Reports continue to mount that we abandoned hundreds of Americans to the
enemy when we left Southeast Asia. While the crew of the RA3B may not be
among them, one can imagine their proud willingness to fly one more mission
to bring in the intelligence needed to secure their rescue and flight to
freedom.

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