Douglas A-1 Skyraider pilots of the 1st SOS in June 1972 (230201-F-IO108-002)

The four U.S. Air Force Douglas A-1 Skyraider pilots of the 1st Special Operations Squadron following the rescue of Captain Roger Locher (callsign "Oyster 01 Bravo"). From left to right are Lt.Col. Bill Latham, Maj. Jim Harding, Capt. "Buck" Buchanan, and Capt. Ron Smith. On 10 May 1972, the start of "Operation Linebacker", a flight of four McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom IIs from the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron took off from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, to provide escort cover for strike flights heading into North Vietnam. Oyster 01, s/n 65-0784, was shot down. Its pilot, Robert Lodge, did not escape, though his weapons system operator, Captain Roger Locher, ejected safely. He evaded capture for 23 days and was rescued on 2 June 1972.

Date

1972-06

Photographer / author

U.S. Air Force

Archive

Wikimedia Commons

Type

image

Original size

3,821 × 2,642 pixels

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