WHAT I CAN DO - I WILL -

POSS DEAD/QUAN DOI NHAN DAN

The Grumman A6 Intruder is an all weather, low-altitude, carrier-based attack plane. The A6A primarily flew close air support, all-weather and night attacks on enemy troop concentrations, and night interdiction missions. Its advanced navigation and attack system, known as DIANE (Digital Integrated Attack navigation Equipment) allowed small precision targets, such as bridges, barracks and fuel depots to be located and attacked in all weather conditions, day or night. The planes were credited with some of the most difficult single-plane strikes in the war, including the destruction of the Hai Duong bridge between Hanoi and Haiphong by a single A6. Their missions were tough, but their crews among the most talented and most courageous to serve the United States.

On 27 December 1972, Lt. Ron Forrester and frequent flying companion Captain Ralph J. Chipman, a Mormon missionary from Utah, were assigned a night bombing mission north of the twentieth parallel in North Vietnam. They were to reconnoiter a road and drop their lethal pay load on any target they deemed worthy of destruction. A secondary target was assigned should reconnaissance fail to identify anything of military significance.

Few other facts could be ascertained. At 1944 hours, the A6A, designated as Tiny 05, lifted off from the Royal Thai Air Force base in Nam Phong. At 2020 hours, Tiny 05 radioed Moonbeam, which was the code for Ground Control. Tiny 05 informed Moonbeam, which was on site and were going tactical. That meant that maneuvers were to commence. They had flown into the danger zone.

That was it. Moonbeam had no other contact with Tiny 05. Since the mission was of the standard sortie variety, no other aircraft had visual contact. Fuel exhaustion for Tiny 05 was estimated at 2244 hours. When the aircraft did not return, both airmen were listed as missing.

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. Both men were classified Missing in Action. It is believed that the Vietnamese could account for them.

Ronald Wayne Forrester graduated from Texas A & M in 1969, and was promoted to the rank of Captain during the period he was maintained missing. To learn more about Forrester, as related to me by his best friend and his brothers, go here.

Biographical and incident of loss information was obtained from either POW/NET and/or Task Force Omega, Inc (unless otherwise noted). Additional information may be found via remembrances at The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund or The Virtual Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial.